Zain Bahrain and New Sky reshape retail experience with region's first dedicated third language store

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About Zain
Zain is a leading emerging markets player in the field of telecommunications aiming to become one of the top ten mobile operators in the world by 2011. Today it is the 4th largest mobile network in the world in terms of geographical footprint with commercial presence in 24 countries spread across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to 64.7 million active customers as at 31 March 2009.

Zain operates in the following countries: Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In Lebanon, the company manages the network on behalf of the government operating as mtc-touch. In Morocco, Zain in a joint venture, owns 31% of Wana Telecom.

On May 18, 2009, Zain entered into a merger agreement with Palestinian Telecommunication Company Plc (Paltel) that will result in Zain attaining 56.5% of the company subjective to regulatory approvals.

Zain offers innovative services in its markets such as One Network, the world's first borderless mobile telecommunications network enabling customers to receive calls and sms without charge and to make them at local rates throughout many countries in Africa and the Middle East. Customers can also top up their mobiles with airtime bought in their home country or from more than 1,000,000 outlets across 18 countries.

Zain Bahrain entered the Kingdom's telecoms market in 2003 as the second mobile service entrant. Riding on the promise of innovative business practices and cutting-edge technology, Zain Bahrain has delivered on these promises by putting Bahrain on the global telecommunications map with a string of firsts - the first country with nation-wide 3G, then 3.5G and now, WiMAX coverage. Today, Zain Bahrain has developed into a successful fixed wireless service operator offering full-spectrum corporate telecoms solutions, voice and data services to customers in the Kingdom.

The company is committed to nurturing the finest Bahraini talent and has an energetic and inspired majority-Bahraini workforce. It's strong CSR initiatives have made Zain Bahrain an active partner in Bahrain's development and progress.
The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.