BBC World Service collaborates with Zain

LONDON, UK: BBC World Service said it is partnering mobile network operator Zain, in a collaboration that will provide Zain users with quick and easy access to BBC content via mobile Internet.

Zain has now added BBC World Service banners to nine of its mobile portals across the continent. Users in Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Chad, Congo, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Uganda will be able to click through to BBC World Service news and sports coverage via their mobile handsets, direct from the Zain portal homepage, said a press release.

Founded in Kuwait, Zain has a commercial presence in 23 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The mobile network operator now serves over 70 million active customers. Recently Airtel signed an agreement to buy the African assets of Zain for $9 billion.

Simon Kendall, Head of Business Development for Africa and Middle East at BBC World Service, says, "We are always looking for ways to drive traffic to our news and sports sites, and this collaboration provides simple, one-click access from one of Africa's most popular mobile portals, increasing our reach across the continent."

Chris Gabriel, CEO of Zain Africa, adds, "This partnership with BBC World Service provides a valuable service to Zain users. BBC World Service has an important place in the hearts of people across Africa, and an unrivaled heritage in delivering impartial news and in-depth sports coverage to the continent, so we're delighted to enable our users to gain easy access to it."