Zain Launches One Network in South Africa as Super Eagles arrive Durban

Zain, the leading mobile telecom provider on the Africa continent, announces the expansion of its ground-breaking 'One Network' platform to South Africa in a strategic partnership with Cell C, the country's most dynamic mobile operator.

Over 41 million Zain customers in all Zain Africa's 15 mobile operations can now benefit from 'One Network' services when visiting South Africa, which will provide immediate and enormous benefits for thousands of visiting soccer fans this summer.

The award-winning 'One Network' borderless mobile phone platform enables pre-paid and post-paid Zain customers when travelling to another “One Network' partner country to be treated as local customers in terms of pricing, while retaining home country service functionalities.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Zain Nigeria, Alain Sainte-Marie, soccer fans visiting South Africa, can use their Zain Nigeria lines as local customers and enjoy prevailing local call, SMS and Internet rates.   

He explained that there is no need for customers to pre-register, no roaming deposits, and no complicated dialling formats, adding that this initiative is coming at a special time in the history of the continent, which makes it even more exciting.  

  “We have reached a significant milestone by our presence in South Africa, the region's superpower, which this summer will be the focal point of world attention with the upcoming World Cup,” said Zain Africa CEO Chris Gabriel. “'One Network' is unstoppable. In every new country in which we plant the “One Network' flag, we are redefining the concept of mobile coverage and roaming by delivering on our brand promise of 'A wonderful world'”.

On his part, Cell C CEO, Lars P. Reichelt said “Simplicity is one of the core values of Cell C and 'One Network' makes roaming a lot simpler for our Zain customers. We are happy to enable Zain visitors to South Africa to make use of our network at prices similar to what local customers would pay.”

" Working with Zain has been smooth and decisive and we are proud that the "One Network" flag also bears the colours of the rainbow nation and of Cell C,"  said Cell C CEO, Lars P. Reichelt.

Since its introduction in East Africa in September 2006 and its cross-continent expansion thereafter, “One Network” has been recognized by the international mobile industry for its innovation and for setting new standards in cross-border mobile communication.