ZAIN, taking the lead in rural coverage in Tanzania

TANZANIA’s leading mobile phone operating company, Zain Tanzania Ltd is the leading operator in the country in terms of coverage and reaching people in rural areas, a senior official said in a statement recently. According to the firm’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Chiruyi Walingo, the company is more emphasizing on rural coverage program to reach even further into remote. He says his firm has enhanced coverage in the Lake Zone and covered areas such as Busulwa, Bubombi, Mugumu, Fort Ikoma, Nyamongo, Binagi and Bugire in Mara rural districts as well as Mugango, Majita, Makutano, Butiama, Nyamuswa and Kiriba in Mara urban areas. "Zain has the widest coverage in the country will soon be extending its coverage to Mugeta and Kiriba areas also in Mara urban area. It is currently the only network in Namuhula, Nyasamo, Nyangili, Misasi, Mbarika, Sumve, Maligisu, Kisorya, Kanguguli and Kadashi in the lake zone”, he said. "The expansion is going hand in hand with upgrading the network in other zones. Zain has upgraded its network in areas such as Mbunyani in Ngorongro, Serengeti, Babati, Karatu and Mbuli in Manyara Region as well as Monduli, Mererani and Namanga in Arusha Region," the statement noted. "Other areas covered are Sikonge, Igurubi, Kashindi, Tumbi, Ipole, Ukubisi, Ganga, Usinge, Mambali, Mwisi, Nkinga, Tura, Igalula, Ndata in Tabora region and Makere, Mahembe, Kasanda, Manyovu in Kigoma region." The company will be covering numerous new districts and several underdeveloped rural areas as well as upgrading its network in other regions as well, it elaborated.

This is Africa's map showing ZAIN Network coverage that's confined within 15 African countries. In Tanzania, the network is underway to expand its coverage in rural areas.

"Considering the role mobile communication has in helping to improve the quality of life for people, we believe that extending access in communication is the area where we can make the biggest contribution to society," Mr Walingo said. Efforts at network expansion are going hand in hand with the supply of affordable handsets and tariffs to ensure Tanzanians have access to one of the most vital facilities in this age of globalization, where telecommunication is no longer a luxury but a necessity. To mark the launch of its new colourful identity across Africa, Zain also announced the creation of the world’s first cross-continental borderless network, extending and linking its one Network service between Africa and the Middle East. The service will be available to 500 million people stretching from the west coast of Africa to the Middle East, covering an area larger than the United States. One Network allows Zain customers affordable cross-border communications, helping friends and families stay connected. This truly is a defining moment in the history of global telecommunications. The connecting of One Network across two continents demonstrates how under one brand, Zain is able to offer enhanced mobile telephone services. Going forward it will now be easier and more affordable for people to keep in touch and support cross-continent trade and enterprise. This is the essence of the Zain brand promise to create 'A wonderful world. All Zain customers (pre-paid and post-paid) in Africa and the Middle East using 'One Network' enjoy the benefits of being treated as 'local' customers wherever they are. Customers can make calls and send messages at local rates when communicating with a traveling Zain customer who will receive incoming calls free-of-charge and be able to make calls back home at local rates. Pre-paid customers can also top up their phones with recharge cards bought from either their home country or more than one million outlets available in one of the 15 One Network countries. The One Network service is automatically activated upon crossing the geographical border into one of the countries, with no prior registration required or sign-up fee. Tunu Kavishe, corporate social responsibility manager for Zain in Tanzania said: "We are confident that our Tanzanian customers will embrace the vibrant and colourful Zain identity. As one brand, we will be better positioned to offer customers more innovative products and services alongside the best network coverage on the continent." The re-branding of Celtel comes less than a year after the brand became the group's master corporate brand that was successfully launched across its Middle Eastern markets.