Vodafone in Middle East tie-up with Zain

Mobile communications titan Vodafone has signed a multi-country partner agreement with Kuwaiti outfit Zain.The agreement will see Zain offering Vodafone services and using the Vodafone brand across several of its key networks in the Middle East.The two firms have identified Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq as the first markets in which they will cooperate.Britain's biggest mobile operator says there will be important benefits to multi-national customers operating in the region and adds it will work with Zain to enhance network coverage and harmonise roaming rates.Ravinder Takkar, Chief Executive of Vodafone Partner Markets explained: "Our agreement with Zain provides an opportunity for Vodafone to build its presence and work with a leading operator in the Middle East. "By combining the geographical reach of our companies' respective networks, we can strengthen and deepen the benefits to our customers operating in these large and dynamic markets."BS