BY DESIGN cA Zain Magazineh | October 2009aos Issue 08
MAMA MIA HELPING AFRICA’S GREATEST ARTISTS TAKE THE CONTINENT BY STORM
RAMADAN ACROSS THE OPCOS • IN NYC FOR MANDELA DAY • ANOTHER GLOBAL FIRST FOR MOBILE BANKING • BLACKBERRY CULTURE One Network Four diverse features
With the world’s first borderless network, while roaming you can: • Receive calls for free • Make calls at local rates • Recharge with local recharge cards • Access home network services (Voicemail, Customer Care, Credit Transfer…)
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Staying connected to the web while traveling has never been easier! Thanks to One Network, all you need is your mobile phone to access both voice and data services (such as Internet, e-mail, chat, Corporate VPN, e-GO, etc.) at the local rates of the country you’ve traveled to! So if you want to log on after getting off a flight, you can with One Network. LETTER FROM THE CEO
Setting our hearts ablaze with passion
hese last three months have been I am delighted that the Group website interesting. I have looked at faces (www.zain.com) was ranked 3rd best site in the Twondering what kind of people we are: GCC and first in Kuwait by the inaugural does it bother us when we doubt ourselves, or ‘Webranking’ survey. The Saudi Arabia website do we simply just throw ourselves into the fight ranked number three in the Kingdom, quite an regardless? The Art of War by Sun Tzu teaches us achievement for a company that has been to rely on our own readiness to embrace conflict, operating commercially for just over a year. to make our position unassailable. I have found that the world knows who we are because we are In the entertainment world, for the second year passionate warriors with a common dream. We running Zain sponsored the 2009 MTV Africa take pride in our accomplishments and meet our Music Awards, or MAMAs, exemplifying the best objectives, while striving for excellence. that African music has to offer. We also sponsored the first ‘Mandela Day’ concert in The only constant is change. Despite the current New York for Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and economic situation and fierce market icon of freedom Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday competition, Zain continues to grow, a testament to help raise funds for his charitable to our hard work and that of our partners. foundations. The concert featured some of the world’s most famous musicians and was Continuing in our quest to offer customers designed to ‘celebrate the idea that each improved voice, data and multimedia services, individual has the ability to make an imprint and Zain will soon implement the Middle East’s first make the world a better place’. Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology for its customers in Bahrain. The experience and know- Our Ramadan CSR activities gave us a chance to how gained from this latest technology will be, share our values and make lives better. In where applicable, rolled-out across our Jordan, we gave a house to a homeless family, operations. while in Africa we continue to rebuild schools as part of the Build our Nation program. The artist We have made another world first with our and poet, Khalil Gebran wrote, "It is easy to rapidly expanding and innovative mobile give when asked, but it is better to give commerce service, currently available to over 100 unasked, through understanding." million people in East Africa. Customers can now swiftly and securely receive money from any Our mission and purpose is to enhance the lives bank account around the world and easily send of the communities we serve, fulfilling our brand money to banks through their mobile handset. I promise of ‘A wonderful world’. keenly look forward to this service in operation across all Zain operations in the near future. Our minds can give us better technology, but we are at heart a company that operates on the real We also made history launching our cross-border values. We believe that if we want success in life, data services ‘One Office’ on the ‘One Network’ we have to set our hearts ablaze with passion. platform. We are the first mobile operator in the world to successfully introduce cross-border local Enjoy the ride! GRX-based data access, an innovative technical solution which ensures faster access speeds at Dr Saad Al Barrak cost effective local rates. CEO, Zain Group
3 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CONTENTS
29 Talking to the world Shining at the Geneva telecom expo
30 Bright ideas in Bahrain eShabab empowers future leaders
31 On the frontline for a day Favorable call rates for Jordan’s armed forces and security services
32 It’s F.U.N at the top Career support program rolled-out in Bahrain 64 34 On the fast track in KSA Signing the $2.5 billion Murabaha financing facility
3 Letter from the CEO 35 Breaking into the big time Brand ranks high in African survey MOMENT IN TIME 8 Adventures in Arabia 36 Dream big, win big T E Lawrence and the Arab revolt Ghana makes it all come true
REAL LIVES 38 Among the best 12 Walking for awareness Group and KSA websites rank Lebanon’s north-south trail highly in regional survey
48 MY CITY 39 Making the top 20 16 Birth of a city Awards reflect Zain’s impact on Lagos in all its glory global telecom
CORPORATE SPIRIT 40 Going global 20 The counter attack Roaming updates for Madagascar, Kuwait responds to third entrant KSA and Zambia
24 Fast and furiously efficient 42 Another world first Region’s first LTE implementation Zap users can receive money from any bank on the planet 25 On top of the world Tanzania reaches new heights 43 Coming home in style New arrival hall is opened at 26 Zambia under one roof Khartoum International Airport $8 million head office opens in Lusaka 44 Going for platinum Mobile numbers sell for $4 million 28 Scoring financial goals Sponsoring the KSA Football 45 Conference calls 45 league Job creation in KSA
4 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Contributors: Megan Bainbridge, Abigail Fielding-Smith, Nicholas Lowry, Matt Nash, Anne Renahan, Norbert Schiller, Gareth Smyth
Photography: Norbert Schiller private collection, Focus Mideast, Zain Group, Reuters
Editing: Vinehouse Media
Color Separation and Printing: www.raidy.com
Produced by: 56 Zain Group Communication and Investor Relations 46 Networking partners Department with Vinehouse Offering a forum for innovation Media 78 Life savers RAMADAN SPECIAL Greater coverage on Lake Victoria 48 One month in ‘A wonderful world’ 80 Flying on eco-wings Celebrating the spirit of giving Green scratch cards in Jordan and caring 82 In the line of duty LIVING A pledge to security in Nigeria 56 MAMA Mia! MTV Africa Music Awards rock 83 Unfailing support Nairobi Kuwaiti health fund gets a boost
64 A day to remember 84 Charity begins with a home Mandela Day concert in NYC Al Fiqh family starts a new life
67 Just the ticket 86 The gift of communication Sponsoring basketball in Bahrain Millennium Village Project update Head Office Bldg Bldg 401, Road 2806 68 A kaleidoscope of sound 88 Duty calls Block 428, Al Seef District Gabon festival a springboard to Helping tomorrow’s musicians P.O. Box 5808 success Manama MOBILE LIFE Kingdom of Bahrain 72 To be the top 90 The BlackBerry revolution Tel.: +973 1 3605000 ZAC final sees University of Why everyone has one www.zain.com Ibadan take the top prize [email protected] 94 ULCHs? I’ll have 300 million GIVING BACK The rise of affordable handsets 74 Belief in the next generation Odumase school gets facelift 98 From the archive
5 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Lighting ‘A wonderful world’ Bahrain Group head office set to become a landmark on the Manama skyline
The lights illuminating the Zain Group’s Bahrain Zainers, is the embodiment of the new sense of headquarters that can be seen for miles around are the optimism coursing through Zain’s corporate veins. The culmination of a process that has seen Zain move to brand has achieved so much in such a short space of Manama and acquire a new, more vibrant, brand time, it is a fair bet that the corporate colors idenity. The 23 storey, state-of-the-art office, which illuminating the Manama skyline cannot but enhance took three years to complete and is ‘home’ to 300 Zain’s standing in the region.
MOMENT IN TIME
Jordan’s Wadi Rum as it would have looked to Lawrence of Arabia’s Arab army Adventure in Arabia A little more than 90 years ago, a band of Arab warriors and one eccentric Englishman launched one of the greatest exploits of World War I
8 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Seven Pillars is named after TE Lawrence’s book and has figured prominently in Jordan and Arab history thanks to the Englishman who was so enchanted by its natural beauty
interlocking towers that seem to sway The war did not end Lawrence’s even as they project immense solidity, travels in the region, but rather presents itself. propelled them. Because of his experience in the Levant, he was sent Here are the Seven Pillars, one of the by the commander of Britain’s highlights of Jordan’s Wadi Rum, which Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1917 after Petra is the country’s most popular to act as a military advisor to Emir tourist destination. The rock, which is Faisal, a Hashemite Arab leader who named after TE Lawrence’s book, Seven was leading a revolt to break free of Pillars of Wisdom, is part of a landscape the Ottoman yoke. Lawrence himself, that has figured prominently in Jordan however, did not feel particularly and indeed Arab history, thanks in no qualified. small part to the Englishman who was so enchanted by the natural beauty he “I was unfortunately as much in charge encountered here. of the campaign as I pleased, and had had no training in command to fit me While Wadi Rum must look today for such a work... Tactically the only much as it did when Lawrence first campaigns I had studied step by step gazed upon the Seven Pillars, Aqaba, were the ancient affairs of Hannibal the city that the Arab warriors and and Belisarius, Mohammed and the Lawrence would make famous could Crusades!” wrote Lawrence in his not be more different. What is now article, “Evolution of a Revolt,” which Jordan’s major resort city – an was printed in the Army Quarterly in amalgamation of large boxy concrete October 1920. structures, chain hotels and package tourists – was 90 years ago, just a During the World War I, the long sleepy Bedouin village, albeit one with declining Ottoman Empire was a very strategic location. aligned with Germany, while many Arabs who for centuries had resented Lawrence was not yet 30 when he Turkish rule found allies in the British. came up with the idea of taking Aqaba Although the principle theaters of the from the Ottoman Turks. An eccentric war were in Eastern and Western English scholar turned soldier, the man Europe, true to its name, the conflict whose name is now forever linked to also included battles and campaigns Arabia (thanks to the movie Lawrence in more far flung regions. Lawrence he ancient formation appears at of Arabia), Lawrence knew more about was to capture England and much of first as only a blur, just one of many the region than most Englishmen the Western world’s imagination, no Trough interruptions of the desert when the First World War broke out. doubt because the galloping plain. As you approach, however, and the adventures he and his Arab allies dimensions of the distant rock begin to In 1909, he decided to explore the undertook so contrasted with the come into focus, the sense that this is crusader castles of Syria on his own by bloody paralysis of the Western front, not just some random hill in the desert foot. He ended up walking a thousand where an entire generation of young grows. After a few dozen squat, cement miles in three months, and was men was being sacrificed for a mile of houses and a car park, the road suddenly sufficiently taken with what he saw that territory here or there. In the deserts ends, and with it any indication of the he returned to the region less than a of Arabia, the Arab warriors would modern world. A universe of sand and year later, sailing to what is now cross hundreds of miles, launch scrub punctuated by some of the most Lebanon to learn Arabic and work on a daring raids, and eventually defeat dramatic rock formations on earth, number of archeological excavations. the Ottoman Empire.
9 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 An eccentric English scholar Doomed hero: Lawrence astride the motor bike that would eventually kill him turned soldier, Lawrence first arrived in Arabia, the the Ottomans and that the best way to revolt seemed far from victory. In Seven do so was to first launch an attack on Lawrence knew Pillars, his account of his Arabian the small port town of Aqaba located odyssey, Lawrence wrote, “I had on the northern tip of the Red Sea. With more about the believed these misfortunes of the revolt its Turkish garrison, Aqaba could to be due mainly to faulty leadership, or threaten British forces operating in region than most rather to the lack of leadership, Arab Palestine or the Suez Canal, as had Englishmen when and English. So I went down to Arabia happened two years earlier. But the port to see and consider its great men. The was lightly defended by the Ottomans the First World first, the Sherif of Mecca, we knew to be because it was thought that the aged. I found Abdulla too clever, Ali too surrounding desert was impenetrable to War broke out clean, Zeid too cool. Then I rode up- attack. Faisal did not accompany country to Feisal, and found in him the Lawrence during the Aqaba campaign, leader with the necessary fire, and yet rather it was an ally and legendary That they were able to do so was due in with reason to give effect to our warrior named Auda, of the Abu Tayi part to the shared sense of science. His tribesmen seemed tribe, who was to lead the raid on understanding and conviction of sufficient instrument, and his hills to Aqaba. Though already an old man, by Lawrence and Faisal that victory was provide natural advantage.” standards of the time, Auda was an possible. It was a sentiment that irrepressible force who had fought Lawrence’s British commanders were With these assets, Lawrence was innumerable battles when he and his initially skeptical of. Indeed, when convinced that Arab forces could defeat warriors set out for Aqaba.
10 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Lawrence had confidence in the Arab forces in part because of the fortitude life in the desert had imbued in them, but also because they were animated by a cause
Lawrence had confidence in the Arab forces in part because of the fortitude life in the desert had imbued in them, but also because they were animated by a cause. “Any of the Arabs could go home whenever the conviction failed him, Lawrence would write in the Seven Pillars, “Our only contract was honour.”
If honor kept them together, it was freedom that drove them forward. “We were a self-centered army without parade or gesture, devoted to freedom, the second of man’s creeds, a purpose so ravenous that it devoured all our strength, a hope so transcendent that our earlier ambitions faded in its glare.”
Whether they could turn that purpose into a practical reality was put to the test in May 1917, when they began riding towards Aqaba. Lawrence had intended for the Turks to believe the Arab Ally: Emir Faisal in a 1919 portrait by Augustus John real target of their maneuvers was Damascus, but the Turks realized the own demise, as Auda, upon hearing shortcomings where he saw them, but deception before the Arabs had the news, rallied his troops, mounted he remained thoroughly enamored by reached Aqaba and sent hundreds of his horse and charged the Turks. the lifestyle and landscapes of Arabia, soldiers in pursuit. Arabs forces, and the passion, courage and honor of however, proved too nimble for the It was an unmitigated success, and soon those who lived there. Perhaps, not Turks, losing more men to snakes the whole garrison would surrender. surprisingly, when he considered the than Ottoman soldiers when they Eventually, after a slew of similar raids, two places he knew best it was his arrived in Aqaba in early July. At the Damascus would fall, bringing centuries native England, rather than adopted time a separate but allied Arab force of Ottoman hegemony over the region Arabia, that suffered in comparison. In had seized a nearby Turkish to a conclusive end. Seven Pillars, Lawrence writes that his blockhouse. The Turks launched a years in Arabia, his total immersion in successful counterattack, taking back Lawrence’s views of the Arab forces he Arab culture “quitted me of my the blockhouse and attacking the fought among were a balance of English self, and let me look at the Arabs camped in the vicinity. In so romantic and realistic. He didn’t West and its conventions with new doing, however, they ensured their hesitate to describe faults and eyes: they destroyed it all for me.”
11 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 REAL LIVES
n April, six intrepid hikers walked the newly inaugurated 440 km Lebanon IMountain Trail (LMT), the first long- distance hiking trail in the Arab world. Beginning in the town of Al Qbaiyat, in the very north of Lebanon, the trail winds its way through the center of the country until it reaches Marjaayoun in the south. There are 26 stages or day long segments, ranging anywhere from 12 to 24 km. In total, the trail climbs 22,000m (roughly two and half times the height of Mount Everest) and crosses 75 towns and villages.
The LMT is more than just a path; it is the brain-child of Joseph Karam, a Lebanese American, who was inspired in the early 1980s after discovering the 3,500 km Appalachian Trail which spans from Georgia to Maine along the east coast of America. Karam, a student completing his Masters degree at Boston’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wanted to create a similar trail through Lebanon that would not only showcase the beauty and diversity of the country but also could be used as a mechanism for protecting the environment. Karam believed that if you could bring sustainable economic benefits from tourism to the mountain villages the people in these remote hamlets would in turn look after their surrounding environment, and maintain the trail.
Between 2005 and 2007, with the help of multi-million dollars grant from USAID and the cooperation of Lebanese environmentalist and the Lebanese government, ECODIT, the company headed by Karam, set out to Walking for awareness Lebanon is more than eager to show the rest of the world another side; one less explored and waiting for the intrepid traveler
12 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 make his vision a reality. Today income has come from farming and with its protected Cedar forest. This Lebanese and foreign tourists who hike animal husbandry. However, today many part of the country is mainly inhabited the LMT for a few days, a week; or even of these villages are nearly empty with by Maronite Christians. The areas longer are encouraged to use local only a few elderly people looking after around Ehden, Bcharre and Laqlouq guides, stay in local guest houses, eat what little crops they still grow. are well known to the outdoor local food, buy locally made handcrafts Unfortunately, much of the youth has enthusiast and it is not uncommon to and partake in village festivals. In this moved away. Spring is always the most see downhill and cross-country skiers way the money that is earned remains in dramatic season with rivers running at full in winter and backpacks the rest of the these rural communities. capacity and flowers transforming the year. After Ehden, is the decsent into countryside into a patchwork of different the Qadisha Valley which, for And so the team set off on its inaugural colors. centuries, has been used as a refuge journey, starting in the Akkar region in for Christians during times of the north is mostly made up of Sunni After five days, the hikers reached the persecution. Today, there are only a Moslem villages whose main source of Horsh Ehden Nature Cedar Reserve handful of monks and a few elderly
13 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 people that still live in the valley which days the team was pounded by high such landmarks in the area related to was recently declared a World winds, rain, hail and snow and at one acclaimed local poets and novelists Heritage Site. point, had to trudge through so much including Amin Maalouf, Mikhail snow that it seemed as if spring has Naimy, and Abdallah Ghanem. From the Qadisha Valley, the trail takes reverted back to winter. By the time you to the resort town of Bcharre and the climbers reach the Roman ruins at After nearly three weeks on the trail, the birthplace of the poet, philosopher Faqra they found themselves caught the hikers entered the Chouf Khalil Gibran. The trail passes beside his inside a thunder cloud as it lashes out Mountains, which are dominated by tomb, housed inside a museum with one lightening strike after the Druze, a sect that has roots in dedicated to his life. From Bcharre, the another. Eventually, they reached the Islam and Maronite Christians. Since trail proceeds up to one of Lebanon’s convent-turned-guest-house in the the 19th century, the Christians and oldest and most picturesque cedar village of Kfar Aqab. Druze have had a volatile relationship forest then continue on along the base but thankfully now, these mountains of the Lebanon Mountain range until La Near the town of Baskinta, the team are once again quiet. On the Reserve, one of Lebanon’s first eco- diverted from the LMT for the day and environmental front there continues to lodges located near the famous cave of join a separate themed trail called the be much progress made in protecting Afqa and the temple of Venus. “Baskinta Literary Trail” aimed at the Lebanese cedar trees. Since the promoting literary and cultural 1950s there has been sustained effort The accommodation varies from family landmarks in that region. There are 22 to reforest the mountains with cedars. homes to guest houses and small hotels depending on the number of people traveling at any one time. On weekends and holidays, guest hikers were encouraged to join for a few days. Over the course of the month, the core team was joined by people from different parts of the world including France, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, and the United States.
After leaving La Reserve, the weather turned for the worse. For the next few
There are 26 stages or day long segments, ranging anywhere from 12 to 24 kilometers. In total, the trail climbs 22,000m (roughly two and half times the height of Mount Everest) and crosses 75 towns and villages
14 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Today, there are three such forests in the Chouf that make up the Chouf The idea was that the trail through Cedar Nature Reserve. Lebanon would not only showcase the After four days, the hikers reached the Christian town of Jezzine where the beauty and diversity of the country but original LMT had to be rerouted. also could be used as a mechanism for Originally, ECODIT, the organization that founded the trail, designed the protecting the environment LMT to continue due south into a predominately Shiite Moslem region. However, because of landmines and foreigner who wants to reach the end comes to an end, but the feeling of unexploded ordnance left over from of the trail at Marjayoun. melancholy is overshadowed by one of the Israeli occupation of South shared accomplishment. The only Lebanon and the 2006 war, ECODIT The LMT continues south through more nagging issue is the environmental decided to just redirect the trail over fields and rolling hills blanketed with damage witnessed along the way. the Mount Lebanon range. wildflowers until it reaches the Hasbani Lebanon is a small country that has much River. With only a few kilometers left to to offer to the outdoor enthusiast but the From Jezzine, the LMT heads east and go, the hikers encountered a Lebanese problem now facing the environment is descends from the Chouf mountains military patrol and then a group of unregulated development. Along some into the fertile Beqaa valley until it French United Nations troops, who while portions of the LMT, they saw illegal rock reaches the town of Rachaiya at the offering words of encouragement, were and sand quarries, garbage dumps, and base of Mount Hermon. Rachaiya is a stark reminder that the south is not ugly skeletons of unfinished buildings the end of the road for non-Lebanese always peaceful. dotting the otherwise breathtaking who do not have a special military countryside. One hopes that steps will pass authorizing entry into the South. At the end of the trail, in the town of be taken to arrest the degradation and It’s not difficult to get this Marjaayoun, the hikers have mixed protect Lebanon’s delicate wilderness for authorization, but it’s a must for any feelings. It’s always sad when a trip future generations to enjoy.
15 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 MY CITY
agos, Nigeria, located on the Gulf on the coast of what is today Nigeria in of Guinea, was originally made up the 15th century. From there, the Lof small islands divided by creeks, Portuguese exported peppers, ivory a large lagoon and protected from the and slaves. The Portuguese also named ocean by a long sand bar. The the port Lagos after the Portuguese inhabitants were traditionally tribes of town in the Algarve with the same hunters and fishermen that fought one name. ‘Lago’ in Portuguese means lake, another for superiority. One of the last and since Lagos was surrounded by tribes to settle in the area was the water, it was only natural that the name Awori, a subset of the Yoruba people, stuck as trade expanded with other who make up the largest ethnic group European nations. in West Africa. From the early 18th century up until the According to Awori folklore the Yoruba middle of the 19th century, Lagos was King Oduduwag gave Olofin, one of one of the main centers for the African his trusted soldiers, a mud plate and slave trade. The area around Lagos was told him to take a group of warriors controlled by a succession of Yoruba and follow the plate downstream. He kings who helped fuel the trade by said that when the plate stops and buying prisoners of war from tribes sinks to the bottom that is where they fighting in the interior and then turning must set up a permanent settlement. around and selling them to European The plate floated down stream and slave traders, who brought them across stopped at a number of places, the Atlantic to the New World. sometimes for a few weeks, other times for much longer. At one point, In 1841, Oba Akitoye ascended to the the plate didn’t budge for over half a throne of Lagos and tried to ban the year and Olofin told his warriors to slave trade but was met by stiff settle down. However, just when opposition from the merchant class. As everyone was settled, the plate began a result of his unpopular move, he was moving again, so Olofin and a few of overthrown and replaced by his his men continued down river until it brother. A frustrated Oba Akitoye then finally sank near what is today central joined forces with the British, who Lagos. When Olofin went back up successfully restored him to the throne stream to see what had become of his in 1851. The British then went on to warriors, they all asked what had annex Lagos and the south of the become of the plate. Olofin replied country in 1861, making it a colony “Awo Ti Ri,” or “the plate sank.” and banning the slave trade all According to tradition, that is how the together. The British colonized the rest Awori got their name and how they of Nigeria in 1887. settled on the islands around Lagos. The British took a more active role in The Portuguese were the first ruling Lagos and the south west of the Europeans to establish a trading post country, and ruled the Muslim northern Lagos is a metropolis and the second most populous city in Africa, after Cairo Birth of a city Founded on a mud plate, today the great city of Lagos serves as the gateway to Nigeria and the rest of Africa
16 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Unlike most capitals in southern Africa, Antananarivo is unique because it was already a capital city long before colonial rule
One of the last tribes to settle in the part by proxy. As a result, the south area was the Awori, a subset of the became more Westernized, economically better off, and better Yoruba people, who make up the educated with English being the largest ethnic group in West Africa unifying tongue. The north, on the other hand, remained more traditional and far more rebellious. By 1911, a rail link was Things began to take off economically by investment and before long, Nigeria was established between Lagos and Kano in the end of the First World War, when an exporter of raw materials such as the north and in 1914, the north and thousands of kilometers of roads and rail cotton, timber, tin and groundnuts. south of the country were integrated as were laid across the country as well as a one and Lagos became the “Colony network of telephone and telegraph The industrial developments that took and Protectorate” for a united Nigeria. poles. With infrastructure came foreign place in Lagos between 1900 and 1950
17 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 paved the way for the economic boom of the 1950s and 60s. The annual rate of growth between 1901 and 1950 was 3.4% and then it suddenly jumped to 18.6% between 1951 and 1963.
Nigeria was granted independence from Britain in 1960. With the British gone from the capital, northerners began flooding into Lagos in search of work. The influx did not stop, and in the 1970s it only multiplied with the country’s oil boom. The economic success of Lagos had its drawbacks, however – most notably, the unregulated development of housing all the newcomers. Suddenly, a city that was With infrastructure came foreign investment and before long, Nigeria was an exporter of raw materials once manageable was out of control such as cotton, and timber and by the late 1970s, plans were drawn up to create a new city in the center of Today, Lagos is a metropolis and the second fastest growing city on the the country that would act as the second most populous city in Africa, continent after Bamako, Mali. Even capital. In December 1991, the capital after Cairo, with nearly eight million though Lagos is no longer the capital, was officially transferred from Lagos to inhabitants according to a 2006 it still remains the financial, the newly completed town of Abuja. government census. It is also the commercial and economic hub of Nigeria. The increased demand for oil has also raised its status globally. The The Yoruba king gave Olofin a mud port of Lagos is one of the busiest and largest in Africa, with a plate and told him to follow it continuous flow of finished products and raw materials transiting its docks. downstream until it sank to the bottom. At any one time, there are hundreds On this spot, Lagos was founded
There is no place where religion and culture interact more harmoniously than in Lagos
18 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Lagos is awash with religious and cultural celebrations, Not only is Lagos one of the most one of the most colorful being the Eyo festival densely populated cities in Africa, it is of ships and tankers waiting to unload and or pick up goods and oil. also one of the most colorful and vibrant urban centers of the world Not only is Lagos one of the most densely populated cities in Africa – suffering, as all megacities do, from traditional African labyrinth of has died. Different clans come out pollution, congestion and crime – it is crowded open-air markets with dressed in full costume and parade also one of the most colorful and Awolowo Avenue, a place for fine through the streets, drumming, vibrant urban centers of the world. dining, galleries, museums and dancing and performing acrobatics, Lagos is a city with a continuous fashionable boutiques. And then while crowds of spectators clap and pulsating beat that makes it distinctly there is Vitoria Island, with its sing in appreciation. Some say that the African in nature. Take a walk down diplomatic quarter, hotels, and Eyo celebration is the forerunner of any street, day or night, and you feel financial and business centers. Carnival in Brazil. as though you are drifting down a river of humanity – a constant mesh of There is no place where religion and Nobody can deny that Lagos is one of color that changes with every bend in culture interact more harmoniously the most important and influential the road. Open markets, densely then in Lagos. Christianity, Islam and cities in Africa, if not the world. Not populated neighborhoods and traffic traditional African beliefs seem to take only is Lagos the gateway into Nigeria, give the visitor an unforgettable eye- on a life of their own sharing from one but it is also a major doorway into the opening experience that is far more another in a uniquely African way. African continent. Whatever happens rewarding than just pretty postcards Lagos is awash with religious and in Lagos is felt around the region. As and tourist brochures. Take, for cultural celebrations, the most colorful Nigeria continues to become an example, Lagos Island, the city’s being the Eyo festival held in honor of economic power, Lagos will be there oldest quarter, which blends a a highly respected Oba, or chief, that leading the way.
19 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT
Plain sailing: Kuwait is one of the Group’s strongest perfoming operations Change can be our differentiator Zain Kuwait CEO, Khaled Al Hajeri on the challenges of taking over the opco at a time when the third entrant came into the market
ain in Kuwait (formerly MTC) is the Group’s flagship above 60% compared to its competitors. Zain in Kuwait had operation. It was established in 1983 and made history an ARPU (average revenue per user per month) of $69 in Zin 1994 by becoming the first telecom operator to 2008 – the highest in the Group. launch commercial GSM services in the region. Building on a reputation of being able to deliver the latest The operation had more than 1.816 million active customers products in the local market, Zain in Kuwait scored a series by half-year 2009, an increase of 9% compared to half-year of ‘firsts’ in 2008, when it became the first company to 2008. Its customers accounted for 3% of Zain’s total introduce 3G; the first to announce plans to launch 14.4 customer base. Zain Kuwait maintained its market Mbps internet and the first to provide mobile internet for leadership with a customer share above 50% (despite the the prepaid segment. These firsts were reflected in an entrance of a 3rd mobile operator) and a revenue share excellent annual performance in 2008 underpinned by a
20 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 We are heavily into on environmental issues – both inside the company and out – and performing countless charitable deeds in the community over the years record Net Income. Zain Kuwait CEO, Khaled al Hajeri was appointed in late 2008. He previously held the position of Zain Group CTO. He recently talked to Chaos by Design.
2008 was a record year. Can you give us a quick overview of Zain Kuwait’s performance in 2009 to date and what your end-of-year targets are? As for the end of year targets, I’ll be very happy if we match and exceed our budget, despite the global financial crisis, the third entrant [in the Kuwaiti market] and the fact that Kuwaiti sector is still not regulated. We’ll be ok. So far we are hitting our targets and when you consider the presence Spreading the word: Khaled Al Hajeri addresses Kuwaiti students in the US of the third entrant, this is no mean achievement. Across the operations, we are still the crown jewel; the cash cow. mobiles. The country has a penetration rate over 100%. We have the highest broadband and data customers in the How has the entrant of the 3rd competitor in Kuwait Group and we have the most advanced broadband affected your strategy and the targets? network. It has a 21.6 Meg download speed and we are We expected them to be aggressive, a situation not helped currently carrying a staggering 20 terra-bytes of traffic on by Kuwait’s non-regulatory environment. Normal 3G everyday. This has never been recorded in any of the competition didn’t happen. There were no rules of operations worldwide and has lead to an increase in ARPU competition. But we soaked up the pressure. We knew it and data revenues where it now accounts for 20% of the was hype, so we protected our market and we laid low. top-line, whereas in the rest of the Zain group it’s less than Then we came back strong in volume and numbers and it 10%. Most Kuwaitis are hooked into our network with our was during this period that the Zain brand helped us a lot. I Wi-fi. We have invested in broadband to allow our 1.86 can’t emphasize this enough. Our counter attack was the million customers internet access in Kuwait whenever and Data and the BlackBerry and we hit them very hard with this. wherever they are, be it in the car, while camping, on the In any case, they were targeting the mass market and the boat or at the coffee shop. We have been the pioneers in lowest ARPU in Kuwait, so I left them in that particular 3G in the whole group; first for voice and now data. In fact I corner. Our first defense was for post paid and the higher am proud to say that we are the biggest ‘unofficial’ Internet ARPU pre-paid. Service Provider (ISP) in Kuwait.
Did you lose many staff to the third entrant? Zain Kuwait has just launched ‘One Office’- a data version We lost around 3% of our staff to them. But among our of ‘One Network’? What has been the response among senior leaders none even considered a move, and once Zain customers and how will belonging to the platform again we have the Zain values to thank for this. We didn’t affect Zain’s positioning in the local market? replace them and some even came back and asked for their Kuwaitis are mainly exporters, they travel, so the take up has old jobs back. They missed the culture. Sadly we could not been slow inside Kuwait. But it will pick up. By the way, let’s accommodate their wishes. not forget that data roaming is normally very expensive but ‘One Office’ removes this for Zain’s travelling customers. The mobile phone and the internet have changed our When our customers travel to KSA or Bahrain they will save lives. How specifically have they changed Kuwaiti society, around 95% on their data bills, so it’s a very useful tool in especially in the way Kuwaitis do business and how they customer loyalty and retention. spend their leisure time? Despite the fact that Kuwaitis can make free calls from In Africa, mobile-based financial commerce has proved a landlines to mobiles, they are still very attached to their big success and a value added to the ‘one network’
21 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Achievement driven: the last six years have been a “remarkable and enjoyable” experience for Al Hajeri platform. What appeal would such an offering have to Zain Create is one of the company’s most important Kuwaiti customers? offerings? Why was Kuwait chosen to launch Zain Create We have a lot of expatriates in Kuwait who I anticipate will and what has been its impact? be using this service to receive remittances. This will make It is a differentiator, a unique value proposition that has M-commerce useful retention tool in our battle with the contributed to the vitality of our brands playing its part in third entrant for the lower ARPU segments. We will have it fulfilling our brand promise of ‘A wonderful world’. in 2010 and I am looking forward to it as it will be a fantastic asset. But you know, talking of other services and their What other products and services have you released success in the local market, we have been the historic this year? testing ground for the group in broadband, 3G, business The most important is Ego to go, the pre-paid broadband excellence, customer experience and customer value- concept we are using to tackle the untapped market again proposition programs. All have been tested here, certified made of customers from the lower ARPU segments who and sent off to the other opcos. want to access internet, their emails and so on.
Eid el Fitr has just ended. How important is Ramadan and the culture of Islam to Zain’s community relations and FUN Kuwait has blossomed brand positioning? On the whole, CSR has been a big deal for us. Many years into a leading entity in back we opened the biggest ENT hospital in Kuwait, which which university students we built from A-Z and equipped for the government at a cost of KD5.5 million or nearly $18 million. We are heavily aspire to be a part of. We into on environmental issues – both inside the company and out – and performing countless charitable deeds in the have 2000 registered community over the years. Also our many sponsorship members that participate in programs support various institutions on many fronts. Zain’s commercial and Mobile telecom is a fast changing sector. How do you see the local market evolving and what trends do envisage in social activities the short and medium terms? Value-added services is where the future lies. Our focus is
22 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 You cannot have an ego. We have to listen to our customers. We are supposed to listen. If we can do this, change will be our key differentiator for the future Firm favorite: Zain has a special place in the heart of Kuwaiti society on Broadband and increasing the ARPU% of data. Voice will activities that involve training in presentation skills, selling continue and maybe shrink a little bit so we have to offset it manners, business etiquette, responsibility and so on. and the only way is through value-added services and data. It will be challenging with the added costs associated with On a personal note, what has been the most rewarding the technology. Of equal importance is the fact that we are part of your job and how has working as part of the Zain revamping the operation with a customer centricity family shaped your professional growth? program. We must start listening to the customer, be more The last six years have been a remarkable and enjoyable humble. We have revamped our customer care, billing our experience, but difficult for me in several ways. I spent many customer complaints center. In fact our whole organizational years on the road, or the air, I should say. As the former structure has changed accordingly. CTO of the Group and part of Dr Saad Al Barrak’s senior management team that took Zain from a local company to a What would you say have the tangible results of the global brand, I was only seeing my family once a month. arrival of the Zain brand? Then suddenly [in November 2008] I had an office that I had Kuwait is different. Since the company was born 1983, to come to every day where I am face to face with 1,300 Kuwaitis have loved our brand. The Kuwaiti people are staff. This is not an easy transition to make. I was used to very proud of Zain. It has huge value and is highly setting up deals. In Bahrain in 2003, I was there on holiday recognized, conquered the world, that we went into Africa in jeans and a t-shirt and I get a call from Dr Barrak telling and became a global name. You sense it in the street. The me “Khaled take care of it”. I had to structure the move transition to Zain was easy with the brand equity of the literally from scratch, finding offices, hiring, buying and former MTC name. Kuwait is small, and don’t forget MTC organizing. But on a business level the results speak for was three ‘English’ letters. Now we had an Arab name. We themselves. I do not fail; it is not an option. could relate to the colors. In this way it has worked very well. The media loved it and the launch campaign was And the future? well-executed. Change is the only way to move forward. You cannot ask people to change unless you yourself change. The move to FUN has been a huge success in Jordan. It was recently Kuwait presented me with a huge challenge with three launched in Bahrain and Kuwait will have its first players in the market and no regulatory body. It was chaotic anniversary in December 2009. What initiatives Zain and it required a complete change of mindset across the Kuwait created to identify, nurture and attract leaders of board. Change is everything: the way we do business, the future? understand our market and our customers. It has to be The youth have always been a great part of our social continuous. The biggest challenge in change is to listen. responsibility and regarded as our main focus of Being in the international market has changed me for the development, whether in Zain as employees or via our better. When you deal with different people, cultures and support of educational and developmental programs here attitudes you have to listen carefully. It pushes you to accept in Kuwait. FUN Kuwait has blossomed into a leading entity people. You cannot have an ego. We have to listen to our that university students aspire to. We have 2,000 registered customers. We are supposed to listen. If we can do this, members that participate in Zain's commercial and social change will be our key differentiator for the future.
23 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT Fast and furiously efficient First LTE implementation in the region promises better all-round products and services
ain in Bahrain customers will soon enjoy faster data upgrade will increase Zain Bahrain’s competitiveness, downloads and an enhanced customer experience, enhance operations and processes and lead to a faster Zthanks to its transition to an all-IP, flat network. The and higher return on investment – all translating into change was made possible through the introduction of the products and services that make a qualitative difference to Middle East’s first Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. customers’ lives.” Implemented by Nokia Siemens Networks, the new technology will vastly boost Zain’s state-of-the-art services, Nokia Siemens Networks will also replace the existing including improved voice, data and multimedia offerings. network with the latest Mobile Soft Switching (MSS) solution. The charging system will be upgraded to the “This project will not only create a world class network, but Nokia Siemens Networks prepaid solution, based on will be a showcase for the all Zain Group’s 24 operations charge@once select. Network and service management will across the Middle East and Africa,” declared Dr Saad Al be provided by NetAct and Traffica. Barrak, CEO of Zain Group. “This upgrade will ‘future proof’ the network, allowing us to offer Bahrain and “This project has been driven by Zain Bahrain’s short term visiting ‘One Network’ Zain customers a plethora of expansion needs, but the investments they make today, will wonderful mobile services for many years ahead. The contribute to long-term benefits,” said Ahmad Othman, experience and know-how gained from this advanced Head of Zain Group Customer Business Team for Nokia technology in Bahrain will be exported to and shared with Siemens Networks. all our operations.” “By implementing our latest base station, mobile soft Zain Bahrain customers will find a dramatic improvement switching and charging offering, not to mention our in accessing the internet, with speeds of up to 14 Mbps in comprehensive LTE solution portfolio,” continued Othman, the first stage with I-HSPA, and even higher speeds in the “Zain Bahrain will be the first mobile operator in the second stage with LTE. There will also be a dramatic Middle East to enjoy affordable and advanced plug-and- improvement in coverage throughout the Kingdom, where play services.” ongoing infrastructure development necessitates parallel the development of the mobile network. In short, Zain customers will continue to experience the best quality service wherever they are.
Additionally, with Bahrain being part of Zain’s ‘One Network,’ all traveling inbound Zain customers will benefit from this improved technology and faster access speeds without any additional roaming fees.
“In the mobile broadband era, we needed a scalable and versatile platform to plan for and preempt our customers’ needs,” said Zain Bahrain General Manager Mohammed Zainalabedin. “This
24 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Standing tall: the Zain team unveils the company logo on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro at an altitude of 5,892 meters On top of the world Tanzania reaches new heights for charity
t’s been a busy summer for Zain in Tanzania, and the emphasis has been – quite literally – on scaling new Iheights for HIV/AIDS and repairing a school damage caused by an accidental explosion.
In July, a team from the operation set out to test themselves by climbing Africa’s highest mountain, the volcanic Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises from the ground to a height of 5,892 meters. The group raised funds for the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS. The charity climb was organized by the Geita Gold Mine initiative and sponsored by Zain.
The group included Zain Tanzania Chief Commercial Officer Chiruyi Walingo and BSS Support Engineer Abdallah Ali The Youngest climber of the Kilimanjaro Challenge against HIV/AIDS Charity climb, Salim. The three proudly showed-off the Zain flag after Robert Masolwa (centre) shows off his certificate he received from the Minister of Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja (left), after conquering the mountain conquering the summit. Meanwhile, the country offce donated equipment worth It wasn’t the first time that the magic mountain has felt the Tshs 30 million ($22,700) to rehabilitate Maendeleo and impact of Zain. East Africa COO, Bashar Arafeh, has also Mbagala Kuu secondary schools, both of which were climbed the treacherous route, one which climbers must damaged by accidental bomb blasts at an army camp on combat severe weather and altitude sickness. the outskirts of Dar es Salaam last April.
25 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT
Efficiency all round: Zain House, the operation’s new head office was inaugurated by Zambian President Rupiah Banda Zambia under one roof A new $8 million head office creates new synergies and a better work environment
ain in Zambia recently unveiled its new, state-of-the- Zain, which began commercial operations in 1998, is one of art head office, aptly named Zain House, which is Zambia’s leading employers, with a workforce of over 700 Zaimed at catering to the company’s rapid growth as covering a wide range of professional disciplines. The company well as housing its expanding technologies. An $8 million changed Zambia’s telecommunications landscape when it venture, Zain House is a modern and expansive building, became the first mobile operator to cover the country’s 72 including several meeting rooms, a cafeteria and a fully- districts in 2006. The change in the communication landscape equipped staff gym. brought with it many other positive benefits, both directly and indirectly, with additional job opportunities for over 20,000 “Zain Zambia has grown considerably over the years, resulting people in the sector and related industries. in a fragmented work space to accommodate everyone. Teams were working in different geographic locations in Lusaka and Zambian President Rupiah Banda commended Zain for its this caused inefficiencies,” said David Holliday, Managing huge investment in the country, which has greatly Director of Zain Zambia. “Operating in one building has contributed to its national development. In a speech read increased our efficiency, as everyone is working closely together on his behalf by the Minister of Transport and to react quickly to outside market forces, thereby facilitating Communications, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, the president said decision-making and improving cross-functional working.” the liberalized business environment in Zambia helped Zain
26 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 to succeed, making it possible for the government to share in the rewards of the company’s success through tax contributions.
“Over the past decade, you have invested hundreds of millions of US dollars, and continue to invest, to roll out the network to virtually every corner of this country, and I wish to personally commend you for the confidence you have in the growth of the Zambian economy,” read President Banda’s speech.
Zain is one of the highest tax contributors in Zambia. Between 2007 and this year, the company paid over 800 billion Kwacha ($170 million) in taxes, making it possible for the government to channel the revenue towards national development, which includes building new roads, schools, improving health facilities, fighting poverty and unemployment.
In response, Holliday said Zain was committed to bringing innovative products and services that would help create a healthy business environment to make Zambia a more attractive Minister of Transport and Communication Geoffrey Lungwangwa at the opening investment environment. He thanked the government for granting Zain a 3G test license through the Communications Authority. “Zain has invested hundreds
“We have invested heavily in our 3G preparedness, complying of millions of dollars to roll out with all legal requirements to ensure Zambia is not left out of the great technological advancements that are key to national networks across the country.” development. This allows us to deliver high-speed broadband President Rupiah Banda internet with myriad applications, from healthcare through 3G handsets, to incubating new Zambian content entrepreneurs for youth and businessmen alike,” said Holliday. “Using our economies of scale, we have abolished all roaming charges among the 20 countries connected to the ‘One Network’ service,” said Holliday, adding that the group had ably equipped the Zambian operation (the only country not connected to ‘One Network’ in Africa) to ensure the country benefited from this borderless service as soon as the ICT legal framework allowed.
President Banda said his government was committed to providing an enabling regulatory environment that encourages private sector participation and investment in national development. He added that he was confident the current Information and Communication Technology (ICT) reform process would prepare the groundwork for national development through the use of information and communication technology.
“I believe making these technologies that I have seen today readily available in Zambia will enhance our national profile
Testing technology: Minister Lungwangwa with (R-L) Chairman of Zain Zambia, and exploit our perfect geographic position as a natural George Sokota, Zain Zambia MD, David Holliday, Sales Director, Mark Ocitti and destination and a ‘hub’ for international conferences and Customer Care Manager, Venada Mwape meetings within the region,” the president concluded.
27 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT Scoring financial goals Sponsorship of the Saudi Arabia Professional Football League takes the sport to new heights
he logo of the Zain Saudi Arabia Professional Football League was unveiled at a ceremony in Riyadh on TOctober 11, hosted by HRH Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, President General of Youth Welfare and Chairman of the Saudi Football Association.
Present was HRH Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, Vice President of Youth Welfare, Vice President of the Saudi Football Association and head of the Saudi Professional Football League Commission and a host of Saudi football stars, including Saleh Khalifa, Hamza Idris, Mohamed Abdul Jawad, Yusuf Al Thenayan and Majid Abdullah.
Addressing the audience, HRH Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of Zain Saudi Arabia, said that the creation of the Zain Saudi Professional Football League was a big leap for Saudi Arabian sports and a milestone in the history of Zain in the Kingdom. “Even before the launch of our commercial services, we had already sponsored the Saudi national soccer teams,” he reminded the audience. The decision to sponsor the Saudi football league – ranked 16th in the world, 2nd in Asia and 1st in the Middle East – was, he said, “born out of a belief in the importance of sport in Saudi society”.
The logo for the new league was unveiled by Prince Sultan, who is responsible for the development of human resources Kicking off: The new Zain Saudi League logo
in sport. Already the Saudi Professional Football League Commission has sent young talent on special European courses, such as the FIFA Master program, which has places for just 30 youths – three of whom are Saudi – picked from around the world.
In organizational terms, Prince Sultan explained that the Commission also seeks to develop the administrative and financial systems within the Saudi football sector. Clubs are now obliged to register their brand, while key tasks such as accounting, budget preparation and financial flows are being contracted to outside parties as part of an overall five-year plan ending in 2013.
He also said that the Commission is working to create a The star-studded event was attended by Saudi Royalty and Zain executives high-quality technical environment in which fans can
28 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 The sponsorship will see revenues ploughed back into the sport in a bid to attract investment in the Saudi football league purchase tickets via the Internet and enter stadia through electronic gates (the first in the region). All this is part of a program to ensure that stadia in the Kingdom are of a world class standard. Finally, the Saudi Professional Football League Commission has opened the first Saudi e-store to sell products bearing the logo of the Commission, as well as the logos of Saudi football clubs, as part of an initiative to ensure that the minimum income for any given Saudi club amounts to 15 million riyals ($4 million) each season.
On this note, Prince Nawaf declared that most important financial step taken so far by Saudi soccer has been the sponsorship deal with Zain, a brand whose values tie in exactly with the bold aspirations of sport in the Kingdom. He said the move would see revenues spent on creating a new Saudi football environment, one capable of attracting investment, supporting professional growth and elevating the overall standard of football in Saudi Arabia. Talking to the world Zain KSA shines at international telecom exhibition ain KSA was present at the five-day Geneva this international forum in collaboration with the Saudi International Telecommunications Exhibition which Arabian Ministry of Communications and Information Zbegan on October 5. The exhibition was a global Technology, and its presence in the Kingdom’s pavilion, are event attended by major telecom companies and part of the company's efforts to “highlight the active role government institutions worldwide. “Zain’s participation in played by the telecommunications sector in the Kingdom, and strides made by this vital sector in all technological and service aspects,” declared Ismael Fikree, Zain KSA’s COO.
The event also signaled another step in Zain’s bid to achieve greater global exposure in its aim to be a top ten mobile telecom operator by 2011. “We have to keep testing ourselves,” said Zain Group CEO Dr Saad Al Barrak. “To do this we have to step outside our comfort zone and position ourselves with the global players. The Geneva show was just such an opportunity. We Zain KSA’s COO, Ismael Fikree with UNSG Ban Ki-Moon (R) and Rwandan President Paul Kagame proved that we can stand among the very best.”
29 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT Bright ideas in Bahrain The eShabab program plays its part in empowering future generations with knowledge
s a telecommunication company that firmly believes and we believe it gave the young eShabab participants a in the power of youth to transform society, Zain valuable insight into where telecoms technology is heading.” ABahrain has consistently empowered young people to realize their full potential. It is for this reason that the The program is a combination of three main elements: training, company launched the eShabab Program in partnership guidance, and competition. When first entering the program, with the Bahrain Internet Society (BIS) at the Seef Zain participants listen and learn from experts from around the Carnival. Consisting of an panel of industry insiders, the world. During the second stage, participants break into teams program aims to educate the young on the future of the and decide on their project. The teams are supported by a sector through a series of similar sessions. coach/mentor to assist them throughout the process.
Titled “Mobility is the Future,” the panel at the opening forum The Zain eShabab program is only once aspect of Zain’s was led by Khalid Al Khateb and Hasan Al Shehabi, the co- mission to promote the youth and help guide them towards founder and former board member of the BIS respectively. The building a prosperous future. inaugural discussion covered the subjects of mobility technologies, their social implications and their impact on business opportunities. The eShabab program is a
“One of the key components of the Zain eShabab program is combination of three main that young people can learn from experts on the hottest topics in technology, innovation and creativity,” commented elements: training, guidance, eMarketing Project Manager Ali Sabkar. “This lecture at the and competition Seef Mall was conducted in the spirit of knowledge and enquiry
30 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 National service: Zain in Jordan staff (above) and CEO Abdel Malek Jaber (below, right) dress up to show their support for Jordan’s defense and security services On the frontline for a day Jordanian servicemen and women can now call each other at favorable rates
n a gesture of gratitude and appreciation of the essential role they play in maintaining security and stability in the IKingdom, Zain in Jordan has made it possible for serving and retired members of Jordan’s armed forces, including members of the security forces and civil defense, to make calls to colleagues with the same line at reduced rates. Each customer will be entitled to three other lines within the same offer. Zain’s agreement is with Masafat, which will have exclusive distribution rights.
“Zain is proud to further cement its tradition of cooperation with Jordan’s armed forces, security and civil defense bodies,” said Zain Jordan CEO Dr. Abdel Malek Al Jaber. “The role they play allows us to feel safe. They contribute to our ‘wonderful “The role they play allows us to world’. The least we can do is recognize them.” feel safe. They contribute to To mark the occasion and truly demonstrate Zain’s solidarity with the nation’s soldiers, all Zain staff wore army uniforms at our ‘wonderful world’. The least work for a day, even when dealing with customers. They too are part of the front line in delivering excellent service. we can do is recognize them”
31 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT It’s F.U.N. at the top Innovative career support program rolled out in Bahrain
t a gala ceremony on October 15 in Manama, Zain student team members opportunities to develop projects Bahrain reinforced its commitment to the country’s and come up with innovative business ideas and test them Ayouth by unveiling its version of Zain’s Future University against the real world, gaining management, hands-on Network, or F.U.N., the company’s innovative career support know how. Present at the announcement ceremony was Zain program. F.U.N. gives university students the opportunity to Group CEO, Dr. Saad Al Barrak, Zain Bahrain GM gain experience and nurture their corporate skills under the Mohammed Zainalabedin, and Youth Programs Director guidance of Zain experts, who will prepare them for rigors of Dina Sa’ad along with senior Bahraini government and the job market or the challenges of entrepreneurship. education officials.
Bahrain launched the project, following similarly successful “The F.U.N. project was born out of Zain’s commitment to launches in Jordan and Kuwait. F.U.N. is a youth the youth of Bahrain, who make up 25% of the total development entity made up of university students who population,” said Dr. Al Barrak, “We believe that every invest in themselves, under Zain’s guardianship, to feed country that seeks to progress and develop exponentially their minds and sculpt their professional skills through must focus on youth. It is a strategy that has been one of teamwork, collaboration, training and practical field work. the cornerstones of the Zain’s growth story, and we F.U.N. project is more than just an internship; it also gives believe it should be disseminated into the community.”
32 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 In Jordan, F.U.N. has had such an impact that it has evolved into a separate stand-alone company, providing Zain services and products to the youth segment as well as managing some of Zain’s corporate events
Dr Al Barrak added that the initiative was in line with the F.U.N. project is not a paper chase but a hands-on Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development blueprint. “The experience that will allow team members to grow into harnessing of the talent and vision of young people is vital admirable professionals who will contribute richly to the for Bahrain’s progress and Zain can offer an exciting growth and development of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” platform for this purpose through the F.U.N. project.” Zainalabedin said.
The groundwork has already been laid with the selection of In Jordan, F.U.N. has had such an impact that it has evolved the first group of F.U.N. team members through extensive into a separate stand-alone company, providing Zain interviews to assess their technical and networking skills. services and products to the youth segment as well as Over 50 young Bahraini students will be inducted into the managing some of Zain’s corporate events. It is part-owned Zain F.U.N team by the end of 2009. and run by the students with its own office space and is managed by a senior Zain executive. The F.U.N. members Zain Bahrain General Manager Mohammed Zainalabedin, are fully exposed to the corporate environment and where himself a recognized “young” leader in the regional they are invited to in-house training sessions. telecommunications arena, had recently been acknowledged in the top global 40 telecom leaders by Over the years, Zain has welcomed student interns from Global Telecoms magazine. He promised that the Bahrain all local universities to help enhance the personal and F.U.N. operations would represent a cutting-edge incubator professional skills needed for today's job market. A in which youth leadership and entrepreneurial skills would number of ‘Future University Network’ graduates are be recognized, nurtured and rewarded. He said the impact currently employees of Zain in Jordan as well as with the of F.U.N. would echo around the community, far beyond the Zain Group Head office in Bahrain, including the current corporate borders of Zain Bahrain. Youth Programs Director Dina Sa'ad. The F.U.N. project will be soon rolled-out in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, “It is about giving young people room to expand their Nigeria and Sudan, all countries in which Zain has creativity and test it against real obstacles,” he said. “The a presence.
33 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT On the fast track in KSA A financial boost through a landmark $2.5 billion Murabaha financing facility
n August 11, Zain Saudi Arabia (“Zain KSA”) closed Zain KSA’s marketing and customer acquisition strategy paid a $2.5 billion Murabaha financing facility. The funds off in the first half of 2009, capturing over 50% of total net Owill be used to repay its existing Murabaha, additions in the mobile telecom market. The company’s state- facilitating the mobile telecom operation’s ongoing network of-the-art network covers 65% of the populated areas – the expansion and future growth. The term of the facility is two remaining areas are now covered through national roaming years with options of extending for a further twelve months. agreements – with 85% targeted by the end of 2009. Al Rajhi Capital, Banque Saudi Fransi and Calyon acted as Financial Advisors, with a total of eight regional and “Despite the challenging financial environment and a shortage international financial institutions participating in what is of liquidity, the successful closing of this Murabaha is a one of the largest Islamic financings this year. testament to Zain’s strong relationships with the banking community, the Group’s financial health and overall confidence Al Rajhi Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi and Calyon acted as in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond,” said Mr Sam Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, while Deeb, Chief Financial Officer of Zain Group. “This is an National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) and Arab National Bank excellent addition to Zain Group’s enviable track record of (ANB) acting as Senior Mandated Lead Arrangers and successfully raising over $25 billion over the last five years.” Bookrunners. Saudi British Bank (SABB) acted as the Senior Mandated Lead Arranger with Gulf Bank and Standard Bank Zain KSA is a key member of ‘One Network’, Zain’s award- acting as Mandated Lead Arrangers. winning borderless mobile platform that allows Zain’s travelling customers in 21 countries to receive incoming “This is an enormous vote of confidence by the calls from their home country for free and making outgoing International financial community in Zain KSA’s performance calls and sms at local rates. The benefits of ‘One Network’ to date and its future expansion plans in the region’s largest are especially evident during the holy month of Ramadan economy,” said Dr Saad Al Barrak, CEO of Zain Saudi when millions of Zain customers from neighboring Arab Arabia and Zain Group. “The growth and success of this nations, not to mention African countries such as Sudan and mobile operation is critical to Zain Group’s 2011 ambition of Nigeria, visit the Kingdom. being a top ten global mobile telecommunications company. The Murabaha facility, which comes at a vital stage of Zain KSA’s business growth cycle, will play an important role in achieving this goal.”
In less than 12 months, and despite the very competitive nature of the mobile telecom market in the Kingdom, Zain Saudi Arabia has acquired 4 million customers. For the first half of 2009, Zain KSA reported gross revenues of US$ 342 million with Average Revenue Per User Per Month (ARPU) of $19. Going for gold: Regional and international financial institutions participated in one of the biggest Islamic financings of 2009
34 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Breaking into Africa Brand ranking reflects consumer confidence
ne year after launching in Africa, Zain has been Ovoted the top telecom brand in East and Central Africa. It also broke into the overall top 15 brands in the two regions.
The recognition not only reflects the power of the Zain brand in general, but also the success of Zain products and services in the East African markets in particular. Both the ground breaking, borderless ‘One Network’ service and its Zap mobile banking offering were launched there before being rolled out across the rest of Zain’s opcos in Africa and the Middle East. Performance in the region has also been reflected in the growth in number of Zain customers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, all three of This reflects, not only the new which have seen their markets grow by 27%, 57% and 33% respectively between June 2008 and June 2009. brand and its vibrant identity, In Central Africa, customer growth was similarly impressive with but also its innovative range Congo B, DRC, Gabon, Madagascar, Malawi and Zambia showing 20%, 29%, 15%, 56%, 66% and 23% respectively of services, including ‘One Network’ and Zap The other mobile telephony players ranked in the survey included Vodacom TZ (86) MTN (88) Tigo (94) and Uganda Telecom (208). The gap between Zain and its rivals Acquiring a Superbrands status is based on market dominance, demonstrates the huge impact Zain has had on the African longevity, goodwill, customer loyalty and overall market consumer in such a short space of time. acceptance. Superbrands is not a nationwide consumer view of brands but a high-level regional industry view of which brands “A year ago, when we started, our aim and justification for this the council perceives to outperform their peers. new brand was to bring the then 36 million customers with many cultural differences to a shared a common identity, that of Zain,” The 2009 league table is a result of an independent and said Bashar Arafeh, Zain’s East Africa Chief Operating Officer. rigorous selection process that evaluate more than 28 different sectors over a period of months. But as usual, the The survey, which was conducted by Superbrands and its East Africans consumers had the final say. panel of independent experts from across the region listed Zain just behind such global giants as Nokia, Blue Band, Zain’s performance came as a surprise to many industry Omo, Coca-Cola and Colgate. According to the Superbrands gurus and analysts because it emerged top among many website, Zain’s brand values of Radiance, Heart and well-established brands including British Airways, Samsung, Belonging invite customers to look at the world around with Shell and even Safaricom which was ranked 46th in the a fresh perspective. national survey that covered over 2,500 consumers.
35 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT Dream big, win big Sometimes dreams do come true, thanks to Ghana’s ‘Live Your Dream’ program and its multitude of cash and prizes
ain Ghana held the grand draw of the “Live Your Dream” promotion in September live on local Zchannel TV3, and rewarded three lucky customers – John Biney, Mirriam Essuman and Seyram Agbemenya – with GHC 75,000 ($52,000), GHC 25,000 ($17,000) and GHC 10,000 ($7,000), respectively. Created in order to help customers make their dreams a reality by providing the necessary funds, the initiative has proved an unmitigated success.
“The objective of the ‘Live Your Dream’ program was to empower our customers to do something they have always wanted to do,” said Country Manager for Zain Ghana, Philip Sowah, while speaking at the presentation for the top three cash winners. “Today, we are proud to be funding the dreams of Kojo, Mirriam and Seyram. Although the promotion has ended, Zain will continue to empower customers and make a difference in their lives, not just through exceptional products and services, but also through community outreach programs.”
In the grand draw, 100 customers were rewarded with either When Zain asked him what dream he wanted to live out with cash prizes or Zain prizes, which ranged from airtime to his prize money, he responded that he will use a majority of the Netbooks, 3G phones and internet modems. The top three funds to invest and grow his business. Biney said that he had cash prize winners were presented with their cheques at the big plans for his business, but did not have the capital to make Zain store in Accra’s Osu district. the necessary investment. A customer since the beginning of the year, Biney has been a dedicated user on the network. “Throughout the competition, I didn’t really take notice of the draw because I thought I would never win,” said grand An education co-ordinator from Accra, Mirriam Essuman prize winner John Kojo Hamlto Biney, a 49 year old won the second prize of GHC 25,000. Essuman is an businessman who runs a family business with his wife. “I was education co-ordinator who runs a tertiary education really shocked when I received the call live on TV3. There center. Her dream is to complete her family housing must be the hand of God in here somewhere.” project and to establish an ICT center in her school with
36 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 internet solutions. The third prize winner of GHC 10,000, her life when she won GHC 1,000 ($700) in the draw last 24 year old student Seyram Awushie Agbemenya, recently week; she now has plans of opening a hairdressing salon. graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Her dream is to complete and furnish her A first prize winner in a monthly draw bought a shop for his house. Each winner will have a financial advisor from wife, and a truck driver, who did not know how he was going to Ecobank at their disposal for advice on how to make the pay his children’s school fees, won GHC 2,500 ($1,750) to allow best of their newly won money. them to continue their education.
Zain additionally facilitated the dreams of 33 other Zain has given many customers the means to start their own customers during the eleven weeks of the promotion, companies or invest further in their businesses and will making a positive impact on their lives and that of their continue to develop programs that reward and enrich the families. A waitress was given an opportunity to transform lives of their customers.
37 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT Among the best Group and KSA websites beat off 85 other blue chip GCC companies to rank 3rd in inaugural regional survey
he website of the Zain Group (www.zain.com) has been ranked 3rd Tbest site in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The inaugural “GCC Webranking” survey of the top 85 blue chip GCC companies was conducted by on- line consultancy Hallvarsson & Halvarsson’s (H&H) who specializes in such rankings across the globe.
Notably Zain Group ranked first in Kuwait where the company is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange while Bahrain, the location of Zain’s new corporate headquarters was the GCC country with the highest average score in the region.
Remarkably Zain’s Saudi Arabia mobile operation which is listed on the Tadawul Stock Exchange attained the number three ranking in the Kingdom, an achievement for a company that has been operating commercially for just over a year. Zain Group’s Chief Communication Officer Ibrahim Adel said that the recognition was a reflection on the strength of The sites of those shortlisted were assessed according to the two-year-old brand and its ability to establish itself as a 140 criteria gleamed from H&H’s annual survey of business firm fixture in the GCC’s business landscape. “As a new journalists, analysts and investors to identify what brand, Zain has hit the ground running,” he said. “This information and functionality they value most highly from a recognition represents one stage in an ongoing process of listed company's corporate website. building a global brand and being a top ten mobile telecom operator by 2011.”
Staffan Lindgren, Executive Partner of H&H said that the number of listed companies in the Gulf has increased over the past few years and the region is becoming increasingly interesting for international investors. “This is why we have included the GCC in our annual Webranking survey,” he said. “Any company looking to compete on an equal footing for international investor attention needs to utilise high quality online communication.”
All the Zain Group’s individual country websites are currently undergoing further enhancements, design changes and technology upgrades that will further appeal to, and assist, website visitors.
38 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Up with the best in the world: (L-R) Dr Saad Al Barrak, Chris Gabriel and Salah Al Fouzan Movers and shakers Zain executives make it into the GTB top 100
eading industry magazine Global Telecoms Business over, this award is a (GTB) has ranked Dr Saad Al Barrak in 20th position in its nonetheless LTop 100 most influential telecom executives, up nine encouraging milestone places on his 2008 ranking. Two other senior Zain executives, and a welcome boost Zain Africa CEO Chris Gabriel and the company’s Chief to spur us on to greater Business Development Officer, Salah Al Fouzan, were ranked achievements.” 46th and 95th respectively. The rankings published by the London based magazine are yet another indicator of Zain’s CEO of Zain Africa, growing influence in the international telecom sector and Chris Gabriel, who further evidence that the company’s bid to be a global top ten ranked 46, was mobile operator by 2011 is gathering momentum. described by the magazine as the person “widely acknowledged as the person who has led Zain’s operations Dr Barrak was listed among some genuinely influential names, in Africa with enthusiasm. Colleagues say that he is decisive, coming in ahead of such industry giants as Sprint’s Dan Hesse has a passion for community development and is accessible (22) and Apple’s Stve Jobs (27) and being piped by to all staff in all levels. He has instigated a culture of Vodafone’s Vittorio Colao (11) and Google’s Eric Schmidt (14). performance and ownership of the business and its results.”
GTB noted that Dr Al Barrak, having already expanded the Salah Al-Fouzan has overseen the company’s mergers and Kuwait-based MTC into the Middle East, bought Celtel in acquisitions, geographical expansion and adjacent Africa and then rebranded them both into Zain, had created business development activities for the group, including one of the most powerful brands in a large chunk of the wireless broadband initiatives. He started in the network planet. Under his leadership, Zain also launched such engineering division of what was the Kuwait operator MTC ground-breaking services as the company’s borderless ‘One in 1997 and moved to group business planning and Network’ platform, a product that reflects Zain’s strategy development in 2002. commitment to reducing tariffs and making mobile communications genuinely affordable to all. Calling him There, he has managed $15 billion worth of international M&A “inspirational”, “dynamic”, and “ambitious” the magazine’s acquisitions on behalf of the Zain, including the $3.4 billion citation concludes that he is “a towering figure… who has purchase of Celtel, the $1.05 billion acquisition of V-Mobile in helped to drive innovation and expansion”. Nigeria, the $1.33 billion acquisition of Mobitel in Sudan and the $1.2 billion acquisition of Iraqna in Iraq, as well as the “My charge up the rankings must be seen in the light of greenfield licences in Bahrain, Iraq and Saudi Arabia for a Zain’s global advancement,” said a delighted Dr Al Barrak. world record $6.1 billion. He has also worked on a variety of “While our journey to global telecom player status is not equity offerings and debt financings for Zain.
39 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT Going global Round-up: Madagascar joins ‘One Network’, KSA and Zambia expand roaming offerings and ‘One Office’ now available
ll Zain’s 21 Middle East and African ‘One Network’ countries in which ‘One Network’ is operational. countries now have cross-border data services, ‘One Furthermore, there is no need for pre-registration, no AOffice’, on the company’s revolutionary platform. It is extra fees, no roaming deposits, and no complicated yet another demonstration of Zain’s commitment to expand dialing formats. the offering in terms of geographical coverage and product offerings. Zain was the first mobile operator in the world to “‘One Network’ will be a huge innovation and a boost for successfully introduce cross-border local GRX-based data Madagascar mobile users,” said Ihab Al Fouly, CEO of Zain access, an innovative technical solution which ensures faster Madagascar. “The fact that wherever they go, they can keep access speeds at cost effective local rates than traditional the same number and SIM card, and receive free incoming internet roaming. Now the jigsaw is complete. calls and make outgoing calls at a local rate will go a long way to make our nation’s mobile users feel part of the Now, in addition to being able to move freely across global telecom community. We also must not forget the geographic borders without roaming call or sms surcharges huge economic benefits that such a service can bring to our and without having to pay to receive incoming calls (except nation. Now we can truly say that Madagascar is plugged in Kuwait), all Zain customers, both pre-paid and post-paid, either to the world.” in the Middle East or Africa ‘One Network’ countries, can easily and quickly access internet, email, MMS, BlackBerry service KSA OFFERS ROAMING IN MORE THAN 115 COUNTRIES and other Zain Portals. Zain KSA continues its worldwide expansion by providing competitively- priced roaming for all its customers, “This is a milestone day for Zain in its bid to be a top 10 including those with pre-paid lines less than ten months of mobile network operator by 2011,” declared Dr Saad Al being operational. As well as signing voice and SMS Barrak, Zain Group CEO. “The benefits and synergies of roaming agreements with more than 215 operators in more having one brand are taking shape, and in our own quiet than 115 countries – the most recent being Austria France, and methodical way we are building a network of nations Italy, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland – Zain has also agreed that by their ability to communicate affordably through all with 35 operators in 30 countries around the world to media is setting new standards in mobile technology and provide data roaming service. customer expectation.”
MADAGASCAR GOES ‘LIVE’ In August, Zain Madagascar has launched ‘One Network’ on The benefits and synergies the African island nation. The move brings to 21 the number of one brand are now taking of countries in Africa and the Middle East to operate on the ground breaking platform. shape. Quietly and
The One Network service is a borderless mobile phone methodically, Zain is building network that enables all prepaid and post-paid Zain customers when travelling in Zain countries in the Middle a network of nations that can East and Africa to be treated as local customers allowing communicate affordably them to make calls and SMS at local rates and to receive incoming calls and sms free-of-charge. ‘One Network’ across borders and enables them to top-up their mobile phone credits with locally purchased scratch cards, which are widely available continents from more than 1 million sales outlets in any of the
40 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 “Realizing this achievement in such a short time demonstrates Fikree added that Visitors’ Line also falls within Zain’s our eagerness to give our customers all the services they commitment to support the efforts exerted by the public expect from a leading network operator,” said Ismael Fikree, and private sectors in the Kingdom to serve Hajj pilgrims. Zain Saudi Arabia’s COO. “Concluding roaming agreements for those countries most visited by Zain’s Saudi Arabian NO LIMITS IN ZAMBIA customers was always a priority. We now cover 98% of those Responding to customer demand, Zain in Zambia recently destinations, in some cases signing roaming agreements with launched its prepaid roaming service. For the first time, more than one operator to ensure the highest quality service customers can make and receive voice calls and SMS using and choice.” their local Zain prepaid line while traveling abroad, allowing them to stay in touch with family and friends. Until now, only TOURIST RATES post-paid clients have been able to use the roaming service Meanwhile, Zain KSA has conducted a study on the number on their Zain line. of tourists visiting the Kingdom each year. The study’s findings have prompted the company to launch Visitors’ Initially, all pre-paid customers will be able to roam away Line, a competitively-priced, pre-paid mobile from home on their local numbers when they travel to South communication package for tourists – including pilgrims, Africa or the United Kingdom, where currently 80% of all vacationers and elderly visitors, among others – who want mobile roaming communication is undertaken by Zambian to stay in touch with friends and loved ones back home. customers. The number of countries will keep on growing as Visitors’ Line’s unique selling point is a 25% discount for any Zain adds more and more destinations. international number called. Zain Zambia Managing Director David Holliday reaffirmed “Since its launch, the company has made a priority of Zain’s belief that the small and medium enterprise (SME) servicing the large number of visitors that the Kingdom sector, which commands great growth opportunities, needs receives annually,” said Fikree. “This has been achieved, to be supported with the right business tools to realize its even though the company has only been on the local inherent potential. “Pre-paid roaming is an ideal business market for 10 months. Visitors’ Line is yet another tool that can help unlock the business potential in the SME example of Zain delivering on its promise to put the sector and speed up business transactions that could needs of its customers first.” otherwise be delayed due to communication limitations.”
41 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT Another world first Zap users can now receive money from anywhere on the planet
ain recently introduced a revolutionary enhancement to Zap, its rapidly expanding mobile banking service, which Zis run in partnership with CitiBank and Standard Chartered Bank and which is currently available to over 100 million people in East Africa. Zap customers can now swiftly and securely receive money from any bank account around the world and easily send money to any bank in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Globally, this is the first time any mobile bank account has been configured so that its users can receive funds from anywhere in the world directly to their mobile handset as well as send funds directly to their bank accounts.
Zap has been available in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for over six months, and will soon be rolled out across all Zain operations. Zap customers in East Africa use the service to pay for electricity and water bills, pay for petrol at Shell and Total stations, settle satellite television bills with DSTV and pay for groceries.
The service is easy to use and has been used by more than five million people since it was launched. Zap is also used by major international businesses in the region to quickly settle payments with distributors, enabling them to reduce the cash carried in transit from upcountry shops and offices. As a result, insurance costs are decreased and they are able to secure their funds within seconds. The Zap service is also part of Zain’s pioneering ‘One Network’, meaning that customers will be able to manage their Zap accounts even while away from their home country.
Zain and its international and regional banking partners are confident that Zap will increase access to banking services in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, where formal banking services are Bank in your pocket: More people can manage their money than ever before largely restricted to urban populations. At least 80% of Kenya’s and 95% of Tanzania’s and Uganda’s populations do not “This enhancement of Zap is another world first from Zain. It currently have access to banking services. means that our customers in remote towns and villages as well as those in the cities can receive money from anywhere Zain, in partnership with Citigroup and Standard Chartered in the world their business colleagues or family and friends Bank, is ensuring that services meet all local and are,” said Dr. Saad Al Barrak, Zain Group’s Chief Executive international banking regulations as stipulated by each Officer. “Ability to send money from the mobile phone to country’s respective Central Bank. In addition, Zain’s any bank account in East Africa will enable businesses to banking partners will facilitate payments and settlement perform more efficiently. This will be of great assistance to processes in accordance with the terms and conditions all of our customers and enhance their livelihood, thereby agreed with their national banking regulations. fulfilling our brand promise of ‘A Wonderful World’.”
42 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Coming home in style Sudan’s travel industry gets a boost as the 550 m2 Zain Arrival Hall is opened at Khartoum International Airport
ain in Sudan recently unveiled the Zain Arrival Hall at the Khartoum International Airport at a ceremony held Zunder the auspices of the Civil Aviation Administration. The project was in line with Zain’s CSR commitment to improve communities and the lives of those who live in them. The arrivals hall was Zain’s contribution to upgrading Sudan’s travel industry infrastructure.
At the opening ceremony was the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Lieutenant General Bakri H. Salih, together with the Director General of the Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, The 550 m2 Zain Arrival Hall took 18 months to complete Mohamed Abdel Aziz, and General Yousif Ahmed, the and provides the optimum facilities, including a spacious airport’s General Manager. seating area, a comfortable cafeteria as well as a high-tech Zain services shop. Lieutenant General El Fatih M. Erwa, Zain Sudan’s Managing Director, said that Zain had contributed to the Director General Abdel Aziz said that Khartoum’s airport’s enhancement of the national economy as well as the capacity increased from 800,000 passengers to over two million prosperity of the country on the whole. The choice to in 2008, a clear indicator of how the Sudanese economy is support the Khartoum International Airport in particular growing. He went on to say that Zain Sudan’s initiative was an symbolizes the company’s support of Sudan’s growing example of how the private and public sectors can cooperate business sector, especially since the hall is the first area that together to develop Sudan’s economy and described the foreign investors pass through upon arrival. beautiful new area as a “piece of Zain’s ‘wonderful world’.”
43 CHAOS SUMMER 2008 CORPORATE SPIRIT Going for platinum Highest selling mobile number goes for record breaking $601,000 at auction in Beirut
or the third time in less than a year, Zain’s Lebanese afiliate, mtc touch, organized its third public auction Ffor 25 new platinum mobile numbers. The hugely popular event that draws interest from across the region, was held at the Movenpick Hotel in September 2009, the company raised a total of $1,684,641 from auctioning off 23 platinum numbers.
The highest bid was an astounding $601,000 for the number 70-000000, which is to date, the highest selling platinum number in Lebanon. The second highest selling number, 71-111111, was sold for $263,000, while the number 70-000007 was sold for $150,000. The lowest selling number was 71-120000, which was sold for a still impressive $9,000.
The latest event follows two previous successful public auctions held by mtc touch. All in all, a record breaking 77 platinum mobile numbers have been sold so far for more than $4 million.
Highest selling numbers at the September auction were:
71-120000 – $9,000 70-070000 – $26,000 70-000080 – $10,000 70-077777 – $28,000 70-600006 – $10,000 71-200000 – $42,750 71-122222 – $13,000 71-100000 – $54,840 70-088888 – $15,000 71-400000 – $55,000 70-066666 – $15,000 71-222222 – $88,000 70-011111 – $15,000 71-333333 – $88,000 71-110000 – $15,051 70-666666 – $100,000 70-700007 – $16,000 70-000007 – $150,000 71-330000 – $20,000 71-111111 – $263,000 70-770000 – $25,000 70-000000 – $601,000 70-600600 – $25,000
After three auctions, a record breaking 77 platinum mobile numbers have been sold for a staggering $4 million
44 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Conference calls Creating a framework for job creation in Saudi Arabia
ain in Saudi Arabia recently sponsored the inaugural conference on Saudization and job creation in Riyadh. ZThe conference was attended by Saudi Royalty as well as leading businessmen and CEOs of major companies. The aim of the conference was to link public and private entities to the banking sector to boost employment through the adoption of bespoke financial mechanisms. As a result, two programs were adopted during the conference. “Al- Iqtesad”, which aims to improve the standard of living of Saudi citizens, and “Aman”, which will promote local training schemes within the private sector, aimed especially at those living outside Riyadh.
“Zain’s sponsorship of this conference reflects its strong CSR ethos,” said Ismael Fikree, Zain KSA’s COO. “We want to help train those wishing to enter the job market and create a framework for job creation in Saudi Arabia.”
The conference is not the first that Zain has supported in the Kingdom. Under the “Professionally, we can achieve” theme, Islamic Affairs Meetings and provided the telecommunications and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, it was the infrastructure and technical know-how for the 27th Circle of the Golden Sponsor of the Second Occupational Guidance Forum, World Understanding Council in the King Abdullah bin Abdul held at Al-Faisal Academy. Zain was also one of the prominent Aziz Economic City. Finally, Zain KSA established the Mashroee sponsors at the 8th Conference of the Ministers of Awqaf and - My Project - initiative to encourage female entrepreneurs.
MEANWHILE… ZAIN KSA IS AWARDED TWO ISO CERTIFICATIONS
Zain KSA has been awarded the commitment to providing the best exceed our customers’ expectations International Quality Management information protection available. by providing products and services Systems Certification (ISO “Information Security Management of truly international standards.” 9001:2008) and Information Security Systems emphasize the consistency Torkr Pardseth, DNV’s Vice President Management Systems Certification of information protection against a and Middle East Regional Director (ISO 27001:2005), by Det Norske wide variety of threats and risks, said that the certification reflected Veritas (DNV), the international thereby ensuring business continuity, Zain’s tireless efforts to establish a company that specializes in reducing damage to a minimum, as culture that can effectively classification, verification and well as enhancing the rate of return contribute to global standards certification processes. on investments and business development and observance, “by “The awarding of these certificates opportunities to the maximum accepting and adopting the will assure our customers that Zain level,” he also noted. recommendations and proposals of operates within the international Ismael Fikree, Zain KSA’s COO, also the development process, and specifications and standards for expressed his delight: “Zain KSA’s promoting mutual respect and information protection,” said Zain KSA acquisition of these certifications effective communication between CEO, Dr Saad Al Barrak, who added represents another important step in the company and its customers, that the awards highlighted Zain’s the company’s ongoing challenge to employees and suppliers”.
45 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 CORPORATE SPIRIT
A wonderful world of partnership at the Zain Group technology conference in Bahrain Networking partners Tech event offers forum for sharing knowledge and latest innovations
he inaugural Zain Technology Conference was held by Among the blue chip companies present, Ericsson, the Zain Group over three days starting on October 12 presented the next generation of charging systems and Tat the Bahrain Ritz Carlton Hotel. The aim of the event showed how the core network will evolve from today’s Multi was to meet vendors, review the latest technologies and Service Network into a shared processor blade cluster discuss issues and concerns in a relaxed environment. solution. Its radio presentation focused on how radio networks will evolve into a multi-standard soft radio The first day was devoted to Zain Group presentations by environment built for future needs in voice and mobile CEO Dr Saad Al Barrak, CTO Khaled Al Omar and other broadband with an accent on Zain’s current networks. senior executives, while days 2 and 3 were given over to vendors and “five parallel technology tracks” that included, Nokia Siemens Networks mission was to help Zain offer an core networks, transmission, radio networks, value added enriched customer experience while increasing services and intelligent networks. operational efficiency. During this event, the company took practical approach on how to do this by sharing its In addition, vendors had their own stands from where they strategy and technology roadmaps and showcasing could show off their latest technologies and field questions. interactive end-user services, including a live LTE demo in Those present included Acision, Airwide, Alcatel-Lucent, the popular ‘Experience Lounge’. Astellia, Bluecoat, Cisco, Ericsson, Huawei, ITS2, JnetX, Juniper, METCO, Motorola, NSN, Qualcom, Tango, Finally, Huawei presented all leading product roadmaps tecnoman, Tekelec and ZTE. related to Zain's business, with a series of solution
46 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 exhibition and service shows, including ‘One Network’, Outsourcing, MBB, Low ARPU market solution, New Zain Group CTO, Khaled Al Omar addressing conference attendees services and Site solution.
“This kind of show highlights the importance in maintaining solid relations with our vendors, or should I say partners,” said Zain Group CEO Dr Saad Al Barrak. “We place a lot of emphasis on our CSR and other high-profile activities, but it is the nuts and bolts, our technological know-how, that allows us to do these things by making us a leader in our core business of providing the best products and services in an efficient operating network. The inaugural Zain Technology Conference has met and surpassed all our expectations and I look forward to next year’s event with much anticipation.”
47 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 RAMADAN SPECIAL
Carrying on the tradition of giving: A Zain Jordan sponsored iftar One month in ‘A wonderful world’ Zain opcos celebrate Ramadan by giving back to the community
n celebration of the holy month of Ramadan, Zain opcos children during the iftar, which he attended alongside the donned ther CSR hats and got among local communities orphans and a number of Zain employees. “Lending support to Ito celebrate a month of reflection and giving. In Jordan, this segment of our society is an integral part of our company’s Zain held an iftar banquet for the children of Mabarrat Um message in establishing these valuable concepts within society. Al Hussein orphanage under the patronage of Her Highness The success we have seen thus far has made us acutely aware Princess Basma Bint Talal, chairwoman of the Mabarrat Um of the role that we must play to participate in the Al Hussein’s orphanage. Dr. Abdel Malek Al Jaber, CEO Zain comprehensive development of Jordan. This is what makes us Levant, expressed Zain’s commitment to underprivileged take part in such activities and encourages their mission.”
48 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Zain in Jordan distributed school bags and gifts to orphans and launched community initiatives
sectors across Jordan, including sports. Zain has launched its mobile clinic to provide free healthcare for children living in the Kingdom’s rural areas. Al Jaber went on to add: “At Zain, we have always been one family and we hope that this sense of oneness has been Additionally, eight mawaeed al rahman (iftar tents) were set-up passed on to the children, making them feel like an integral in seven governorates as part of Zain’s Ramadan campaign for part of society. The happiness evident on the children’s the ninth consecutive year. The initiative aims to promote social faces and their response to us has given us a new objective solidarity amongst Jordanians and reflects the humanitarian to maintain a strong connection and be attuned to their side of Zain’s strategy, which is built on a commitment to social needs. We also aim to create businesses and projects that development and its sustainability. Through the mawaed, Zain will benefit society. We wholeheartedly support the provided more than 32,000 iftar meals across the country – orphanages’ annual charity bazaar, organized by the including two in Amman (eighth circle and Wehdat) as well as in diplomatic mission and the Royal Hashemite Court, which Zarqa, Irbid, Kerak, Aqaba, Salt, Maan – with the tents held will be held in October.” open for ten days in each governorate.
Zain has launched a number of other initiatives during the “The company prepared the necessary outlets and infrastructure holy month of Ramadan. It bought a home for the family of services for the venues on which the tents were launched. The Jamal Bashir Al Fiqh (see page 84-85) and provided all his tents were equipped with the necessary elements for the feast, daughter’s healthcare needs. Zain also lent support to the including tables, seats and a praying section, all in a comfortable Towards Life campaign, in collaboration with the King atmosphere for fasters,” said Al Jaber. Hussein Cancer Foundation. Al Jaber added that Zain will continue to focus on adopting During the iftar, Zain distributed school bags and gifts to the a robust and sustainable policy along with a comprehensive orphans to help them during the new school year. With these program that offers social development and improving the initiatives and others like it, Zain hopes to support many social standards of living of citizens.
49 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Bahrain: A thirst for knowledge The community benefits from a wealth of special offers and prizes
his Ramadan, Zain in Bahrain blended the company’s Tvalues of radiance, heart and belonging with the generosity, spirituality and thirst for knowledge associated with the holy month.
Among the community outreach programs Zain participated in was a trip by the Corporate Communications Department to the town of Hidd to visit the UCO Care Center for the Elderly. Zain customers were also encouraged to donate financial assistance via SMS to children with special needs using special 1111 number. Meanwhile, between noon and 6pm, all Zain customers – post-paid as well as pre-paid – secret number, and if they failed, the game would restart were able to register for the free calls service and make two more times. Each day, the player who guessed correctly unlimited calls to any Zain number for only 300 fils a day. most often won a handset.
To help accommodate the additional phone usage during To enhance its ability to inform customers about its special the holy month, Zain decided to reward “early bird” bill Ramadan offers and other perks throughout the year, Zain payments with free talk time. All customers who paid their also initiated an extensive media campaign and members of bills on time were rewarded with 30 free minutes of local the local press were invited to a special ghabga at the Gulf talk time and entry into a raffle. Hotel tent.
The Zain SMS Competition tested competitors’general Zain also launched “Faker Zain,” or “Think Zain” a television knowledge in the form of multiple choice questions. Once a special hosted by the well-known TV personality Abdullah Malik customer registered for the competition, Zain Bahrain sent and aired after Iftar and highlighted Zain Bahrain’s award- questions every day. Contestants won three points for every winning flagship store, featuring contests and games. correct answer and one point for every wrong response. At the end of each day, the player with the most points won The popular “Zain Dreams” was broadcast on the radio for and received BD 50. The “Winner of the Week,” the player one week in late August, when Bahrain’s airwaves were who amassed the most points throughout the week, was abuzz with the “Dreams Come True with Zain” program on awarded BD 150. 93.3 FM. The “Zain Dream” campaign was born in 2008 and has so far empowered 12 winners, who each received BD There was also the “Secret Number Game,” which 5,000 and Zain’s support, to enrich society with art projects, challenged players to guess a randomly generated secret sports projects for special needs children, a women’s number. Players were given three chances to guess the business forum and Bahraini craftspeople, among others.
50 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Kuwait: Sharing, caring Iftar tents help all those in need, showing the true community spirit
n Kuwait this year, Zain continued its journey of giving meals were distributed to needy residents throughout the through a multitude of activities that reached out to the holy month. Additionally, for the third consecutive year, Zain Icommunity. Each event took place thanks to the distributed boxes of Ramadan food supplies (locally known as dedication of the Zain Kuwait CSR team and, for the first ‘machla’) to needy families. The machla food box contained time, volunteers from the general public got involved and monthly basic food necessities, such as rice, flour, dates, joined in the spirit of the holy month. tomato paste and powdered milk. At least 2,200 boxes were distributed to more than 400 needy families. As part of the The Zain team oversaw two iftar tents that served fasters in ‘We Raise with What We Give’ campaign, the employees also the Amghara and Khaitan areas in Kuwait. Daily free iftar donated money for each box.
Zain Kuwait also understands the value of the gift of time and throughout Ramadan, the company organized morale- boosting visits to children in hospitals as well as the elderly in care facilities and orphanages, where employees distributed gifts and shared the joy of the holy month. In coordination with the Al Amal (Hope) Club, Zain also organized a party for children diagnosed with cancer, which involved many activities in addition to the distribution gifts.
As part of the ‘Care for Them’ campaign, Zain also sent a message to the general community, encouraging people to donate food during Ramadan to the needy people in partnership with the charitable organization, Food Donation.
51 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Sudan: Meals on wheels The ‘Mobile Iftar’ project eases stress for commuters on the streets of Khartoum
hartoum, Sudan’s capital, is known for its major traffic jams, and crowded Kstreets. When the holy month of Ramadan approached, Zain in Sudan devised a project to ease the tension that is often associated with fasting in hot climates and the rush to get home in time for sunset and the official breaking of the daily fast.
The project was appropriately named the ‘Mobile Iftar’ and involved handing out to commuters a box containing a soft drink, a bottle of water, a handful of dates, fruit and a sandwich, which was distributed on the road during rush hour by Zain volunteers a few minutes before the breaking of the fast.
The brainchild of a Zain staff member, who was often frustrated by being stuck in traffic as iftar The ‘Mobile Iftar’ initiative approached on a long hot day, the program saw the enthusiastic participation of the rest of the Zain team. The gave commuters a box success of the project was evident in the number of Zain volunteers, who overwhelmingly registered to distribute the containing a soft drink, a 1,000 or so meals a day on the streets of Khartoum. bottle of water, a handful of “The satisfaction received from the gratitude of the frustrated dates, fruit and a sandwich commuters is beyond words, and I am so glad to be part of this project, which reflects Zain’s value of belonging,” said Zain employee Elhusseini Yousif Salih, one of the 200 volunteers. PRISONERS GO HOME FOR EID AL FITR Zain also organized the release of 70 prisoners before Eid el Fitr Zain Sudan Chief Administration Officer, Ibrahim Al Hassan, in partnership with the Al Nazeel Organization for the third year dubbed this unprecedented initiative as “a real representation in a row. of Zain values, and one of Zain’s many means of connecting and interacting with all people, wherever they are.” The prisoners release program for the Eid was conceived by the Public Relations Department after an Iftar event held in Dafallah Noor from Zain Sudan Government and Corporate one of Khartoum’s prisons. Al Hassan said the move was an Relations dept, and the head of the Mobile Iftar Project, noted extension of the company’s mission to connect with the that more than 200 packages per day per site were caringly community. Zain’s role is not only to provide advanced distributed to commuters on the road by Zain staff, who communication services, but also to play a role in improving continuously promoted the Zain values. the lives of the people it serves.
Apart from the ‘Mobile Iftar’ program, a further 130,000 meals Al Hassan maintained that releasing 70 prisoners to celebrate were delivered to student hostels, and 10,000 meals were sent Eid el Fitr with families and relatives complements Zain values, to different prisons and institution centers across the country. which is why all Zain management, including Lieutenant The media was also not forgotten as Zain hosted yet another General El Fatih Erwa, Zain Sudan’s Managing Director, have Iftar, this time for some of the nation’s journalists. lent their genuine support to the initiative.
52 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Iraq: Blessed delivery An expansive food drive helps many people during the holy month
hroughout its comprehensive program during the holy month of Ramadan, Zain in Iraq has led a huge Tcampaign to distribute dry foodstuffs to the needy in all Iraqi governorates. Zain teams efficiently moved in all directions in and around the cities and suburbs to implement their food program.
This charitable effort was coordinated with governorate councils and a number of civil community organizations in charge of overseeing the state of the poor, the orphans and widows. A number of mosques in different areas also participated in the expansive food distribution mission that helped a number of families.
The food drive organized by Zain Iraq was very well- received by the people, who received much needed relief and support during trying times. Many government and non-government institutions also praised Zain Iraq for their
The teams efficiently moved in all directions in and around efforts in aiding the needy. Not only did the food initiative the cities and suburbs to help those in need, it also enhanced the company’s relationship with the people of Iraq and proved the implement their food program company’s dedication and commitment to the people.
TANZANIA: IFTAR FOR ORPHANS
Zanzibar Labour, Youth, Women Development and Children Minister Asha Abdallah Juma (4th from right) at an Iftar for orphans hosted by Zain Tanzania in Zanzibar recently. With her are special seats member of parliament Al Sheymaa Kwegir (3rd from Right) and Zain staff. Zain hosted several iftar events and also donated various food items to orphans in various regions in Tanzania to help children living under difficult conditions during this month of Ramadan as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program.
53 CHAOS SUMMER 2008 Lebanon: Promoting giving by having fun Iftars bring much joy to hundreds of local children
ain affiliate, mtc touch, brought together around 500 children from various Lebanese associations for a week Zof iftars at the Rotana Hotel in Hazmieh. Organized from September 7 to 11, the Ramadan events included daily entertainment activities involving a group of mtc touch staff, which worked hand-in-hand to spread joy and happiness to the children. Adding to the Ramadan spirit, mtc touch distributed school bags and supplies to help the children during the upcoming school year.
Events included daily entertainment activities involving mtc touch staff, “In line with its strategy to reinforce ties with different social which worked hand-in-hand segments, mtc touch chose to organize their own iftars this year, rather than just sponsoring other associations’ iftars. to spread happiness to the The children were very enthusiastic and interactive during the activities, which made us achieve our initial goal of children who celebrated in doing something tangible and worthwhile this year,” said ‘A wonderful world’ Ghada Barakat, Corporate Communications and Relations Manager at mtc touch.
54 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Palestine: The gift of giving Worshippers at Al Aqsa mosque and residents in and around Jerusalem receive a helping hand
he Zain Group launched an Iftar campaign at the Al during the month of Ramadan. The campaign was Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan as part of coordinated for the first time this Ramadan with the Tits CSR program in the city of Jerusalem. The Department of Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem (Al Quds), Mecca objective was to connect with the increasing number of and Medina in Saudi Arabia. worshippers at Al Aqsa and to spread the ideals of compassion and social solidarity throughout the Holy City The project included providing iftar meals for the worshippers and for impoverished families in Khaskji Sultan Tekke in the Old City of Jerusalem. Food baskets were also distributed to families in Jerusalem and to the villages and refugee camps surrounding the city.
Zain activities in Al Aqsa included providing suhour meals (before the dawn prayer) and special gear for the worshippers that spent the last days of Ramadan worshipping at the mosque. Gifts were also given to the orphans during the Eid el Fitr celebrations.
On the occasion, Dr. Saad Al Barrak, CEO of Zain Group, inaugurated the Zain Iftar Ramadan campaign in coordination with Dr. Abdul Malek Jaber, CEO of Zain Levant. KSA: Feeding the devout Zain offers free Iftar meals to pilgrims at the Two Holy Mosques
ain Saudi Arabia provided hundreds of thousands of free meals for pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy ZMosques during Ramadan as part of its bid to help Muslims perform their spiritual duties. “This is nothing new for Zain,” said Dr Saad Al Barrak, CEO of Zain Saudi Arabia. “The initiative is very much in keeping with our corporate social responsibility goals in reaching out to as many members of the community as possible.” Dr Al Barrak added that Zain had employed orphans from Mecca and Medina helped prepare and distribute the meals to show the company's commitment to supporting those in need in the community.
55 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 LIVING MAMA MIA! A night of spectacular music and entertainment highlight the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain
56 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 A delighted Amani receives the trophy for Best Female Performer
or the second year running Zain sponsored the annual MTV Africa Music Awards, or MAMAs as they Fhave become affectionately known. Last year saw the MAMAs shake the Nigerian capital of Abuja to its foundations; this year carnival rolled into the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where at the Moi International Sports Complex on 10 October, African music once again took the continent, and the world, by storm.
Nameless (Kenya) and MI (Nigeria) were the big winners of the evening, with the two artists scooping up home two trophies each at the pan-African music celebration. Nameless won the coveted Best Male artist category at the awards, which honors and celebrates Africa’s contemporary music stars, as well as the Listener’s Choice category, which recognizes the biggest radio hits of the year. Zain partnered with 10 of the hottest radio stations in DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia to make the Listener’s Choice award possible.
The MAMA’s other big winner, MI, clinched a brace of trophies for Best New Act and Best Hip Hop. Best Female artist went to Kenyan star Amani, who followed in the footsteps of her compatriot, Wahu, the winner of the same award in Abuja the previous year.
Ghanaian star Samini put dancehall firmly on the map with a win for Best Performer, a fitting tribute to his trademark high energy live performances. Artist of the Year went to D’Banj, showing the Nigerian star remains at the top of his game after a triple win in 2008 and his MTV Europe Music Awards win in 2007. The other top awards went to Lucky Dube (who received the MAMA Legend), HHP (Best Video) and Zebra & Giraffe (Best Alternative).
Host, Wyclef Jean set the uplifting tone for the evening with an electrifying live set, including monster hits like ‘Sweetest Girl’, ‘No Woman No Cry’ and ‘Ready or Not’. Wyclef kept
57 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 AY in a playful mood
D'Banj receives Artist of the Year award
show-stopping version of his track, ‘Beautiful’. The Senegalese-American star has had two multi-platinum albums and 25 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Akon is more than just a musician. He’s launched Konvict Clothing, an affordable street wear collection, started a youth focused charity called the Konfidence Foundation and recently donated $1,300 to Keyna’s Starehe Boys Center to rehabilitate pianos for the school that gives opportunities to those less-privileged children (see page 88).
The hip-hop hero had this to say about his first trip to Africa: “Africa is my heart. I feel especially blessed to finally be able to perform in Kenya and am honored that MTV and Zain asked me to be a part of such an incredible event.”
Akon was not the only one excited about the MAMAs. Dr Saad Al Barrak, CEO of Zain, the co-sponsor of the MAMAs, All mine: My Video winner Patricke-Stevie Moungondo from Congo Brazzaville said the evening confirmed the huge talent that Africa possesses and the influence it had upon the world of music. the party bumping all night, giving the 4,000 guests more “Much of the music we listen to today has its roots in this than they could have expected, and expectations were great continent. I cannot emphasize strongly enough what a high. Zain and MTV hosted party after party in the lead-up privilege it is for Zain to lend its name to such an event. In to this year’s MAMAs. To announce the nominees, Zain kept doing so, we are both keeping alive the flame of Africa’s The Loft, one of Nairobi’s hottest nightspots, dancing all cultural consciousness and delivering on our promise to evening. After the announcement MTV threw several bring you “A wonderful world.” hopping MTV Base parties featuring many of the nominees. In keeping with the show’s purpose of bringing Africa Hip hop phenomenon Akon, making a long anticipated trip together, the MAMA event featured multiple to Kenya, set the night on fire, rousing the crowd with a collaborations between artists from different countries and
58 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 MAMA 2009 WINNERS!
Artist of the Year: D’Banj (Nigeria) Best Male: Nameless (Kenya) Best Female: Amani (Kenya) Best Performer: Samini (Ghana) Best Group: P Square (Nigeria) Best Alternative Artist: Zebra and Giraffe (South Africa) Best hip-hop: MI (Nigeria) Best R&B: Darey Art Alade (Nigeria) Best New Act: M I (Nigeria) Best Video: HHP (SA) Legend Award: Lucky Dube (SA) My Video: Patricke-Stevie Moungondo (Congo Brazzaville) Listeners Choice: Nameless (Kenya) Global superstar Akon wows the crowd
Wyclef Jean lets the crowd get up close and personal
59 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 “I cannot emphasize strongly enough what a privilege it is for Zain to lend its name to such an event. In doing so, we are both keeping alive the flame of Africa’s cultural consciousness and delivering on our promise to bring you ‘A wonderful world’.” Dr Saad Al Barrak, Zain Group CEO Host for the night: Wyclef Jean in total control
Sway registers his support for the MAMAs
music genres – mixing up hip hop with R&B, alternative, soul and dancehall, among others. Among the acts thrilling the 4,000 plus crowd was a three-way performance featuring HHP, Brickz and 2FACE as well as a mesmerizing collaboration between Kenyan divas Amani, Wahu and Tanzania’s AY, and a dramatic hip-hop/rock mash-up between Zebra & Giraffe and Da LES. The evening closed with a moving performance of Michael Jackson’s crowd
Thokozani Dube receives the MAMA Legend Award on behalf of his late father, pleaser ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’ with Akon and all Lucky Dube the other performers.
60 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 The My Video Award was won by Patricke-Stevie Moungondo from Congo Brazzaville, who beat out thousands of amateur singers to win the coveted MAMA trophy – a retro/futuristic microphone balanced on top of a globe of the world with Africa poised symbolically at the top.
Among the many show highlights were Wyclef’s Jean’s opening number and a touching tribute by Wyclef, Nameless and Samini to the MAMA winner Lucky Dube who died tragically in 2007. The ‘One Time’ star also called attention to the plight of the 17 million people in East Africa affected by drought and famine.
Other performers at the MAMA 2009 included Samini, Lizha James, STL, Lira, and Blu3. Guest presenters included Zamajobe, Kel, Redsan, Churchill, the cast of the MTV Staying Alive Ignite TV series and Shuga.
But the party did not end there. Special after-parties in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya stretched on until Zain lights up the night in Nairobi the early morning. Zain and MTV also offered special behind-the-scenes glimpses of the year’s hottest event with The MAMAs were re-televised across Africa. Even those a special show called “What went down” – featuring never- who missed the live event were able to see the pulsating before-seen footage, red carpet fashion, winners’ reactions, action. Zain and MTV made the MAMAs a wild success. gossip and chat from the MAMAs. Africa can’t wait for the party again next year.
61 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 One contestant’s story My Video finalist Debra Phiri from Zambia attends the MAMAs for a shot at stardom
first heard about the My Video Category at the MTV Music Awards with Zain on Radio Phoenix on the Len Breakfast IShow. From the moment I knew about it, I was interested and told myself this was for me. The catch was that I couldn’t tell my aunt because I thought she wouldn’t let me audition. But I was so convinced that I should do it, that I gathered the courage to tell her that I wanted to take part and, surprisingly, she agreed and encouraged me to audition.
On the day of the audition, I got jittery and decided that I shouldn’t do it. On my way there, though, I met someone who was also going, and when I told her I was thinking of not auditioning, the girl encouraged me to go ahead as it could be an opportunity of a lifetime. At the Auditions, which were held at the Zain Center in Kitwe, we were asked to do a two minute recording of our favorite song. I was overwhelmed by the huge crowd of youngsters that turned up and I thought I didn’t have a chance. But all the same, I auditioned. I sang a song by one of my favorite artists, Elliot Yamin, entitled “Waiting for You”.
Although I was nervous, I gave the song my all. I believe when the judges saw the video, they were impressed because I was singing with a lot of emotion. After the audition, we had to wait for over a month before we were called. When I got the call that I was nominated as being among the top three, I was so thrilled I couldn’t hold back the joy.
But I knew the competition was far from over. When I heard that the two other contestants were Faith Sichinga and Thoka Kazhila, I thought they had such beautiful voices that even I had a tough time guessing who would win. From the time the three nominees were announced, Zain gave us a As we go to the MAMA night in Nairobi Kenya, I hope that I lot of publicity on the Zain shows on the Copperbelt. We will be the one to win the My Video award. I am young and traveled to Lusaka and we got a lot of mention in the print talented, and I am set to take the Zambian and African media, radio and television. I was totally taken aback by all music scene by storm! I believe I will represent my country the publicity, but all the same, I loved the exposure. to the fullest. When I travel to Nairobi, I want to use the experience to better myself as a person and, of course, I think this experience will open doors for me in my musical make contacts for my career in music. career, as it is a great opportunity for youths to showcase their talent in a positive way. I also believe that Zain should Editor’s note: Debra was unsuccessful at the MAMAs but has be commended for partnering with MTV to expose raw and no regrets. “To Zain I would like to say thank you for touching untapped talent. my life and making me a part of your ‘wonderful world’“.
62 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009
LIVING
A Day to Remember The first annual Mandela Day concert honors the man, his mission and his legacy with a star-studded event in New York
n an evening that was much more about paying tribute to encouraged to commit 67 minutes – representing the 67 one of the world’s most beloved leaders than about the years Mandela has spent fighting for human rights – of Imusic, Zain once again proudly sponsored the ‘Mandela their time to make an imprint on their community and Day’ concert. In honor of Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday, make the world a better place. the star-studded extravaganza, held at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on July 18, attracted a global television The New York concert, which raised funds for his charitable audience of over one billion. foundations, was endorsed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and a delegation of UN ambassadors from Mandela Day, held on Mandela’s birthday, is a global call- Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. to-action for people to recognize their individual power to make a difference and help change the world around them “Nelson Mandela is a living embodiment of the highest for the better. Those who wish to take part are values of the United Nations. His commitment to a
64 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Mandela Day, held on the statesman’s birthday, is a global call-to-action for people to recognize their individual power to make a difference and help change the world
democratic, multi-racial South Africa; his steadfast pursuit of Big hitters get involved: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon justice; his willingness to reconcile with those who persecuted him most are just some of the hallmarks of a humbled to align our global ambitions and corporate social remarkable man,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said at responsibility philosophy with his truly noble cause.” the event. “Nelson Mandela has made a lasting imprint on our lives. May we all continue to benefit from his wisdom, As the main sponsor of the event, the Zain logo was his good works and good humor for many years to come.” prominently displayed in the concert hall and seen by hundreds of millions of viewers. Zain presented hundreds of Commenting on yet another groundbreaking event for complimentary concert tickets to Mandela Day volunteers humankind, Zain Group CEO Dr Saad Al Barrak said, “Once from South Africa and New York, as well as to several again, the world has responded to the rallying cry of this great charities in New York. leader, a man who bestrides the African continent with integrity, humility and generosity of spirit. Mr. Mandela is an France’s First Lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, made a rare concert iconic statesman whose sacrifice and leadership has had an appearance, headlining an A-list celebrity cast that came to enormous impact on humanity and we at Zain are proud and support Mandela’s cause. It included Former US President
65 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 France’s First Lady, Carla Bruni- Sarkozy, made a rare concert appearance, headlining an A- list celebrity cast that came to support Mandela’s cause
Bill Clinton, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and actors Forest Whitaker, Morgan Freeman, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon as well as the Italian rock legend Zucchero.
The event brought together the biggest names in music from the US and Africa to perform under the banner of Mandela Day. The African contingent included Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Chris Chameleon, Freshly Ground, Emmanuel Jal, Loyiso, Sipho Mabuse, Vusi Mahlasela, Thandiswa Mazwai, and Susanna Owiyo who opened the concert.
Other international artists included Dave Stewart and friends, Queen Latifah, Josh Groban, TLC, Cyndi Lauper, Jesse McCartney and Grammy Award winners Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Wyclef Jean. All artists shared the stage and performances with the Soweto Gospel Choir.
The concert was the culmination of a week-long series of Helping out for a cause: Zain volunteers raise a cheer in New York City events in New York City in celebration of the first-ever Mandela Day. The activities include a Ralph Applebaum Zain, along with 46664, worked with partner organizations, designed exhibition of Mandela’s life and the work of his other city authorities and community associations and many 46664 ambassadors –named after Mandela’s Robben volunteers across the globe to create a worldwide series of Island prison number – as well as the gala fundraising dinner. Mandela Day events to honor Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy.
66 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Just the ticket Send an SMS to see a live basketball game
he 2008-2009 Zain Basketball Championship season, It is a regional first in sporting circles and takes management kept players on their toes and sports fans cheering. of spectator sports to a different level altogether. TIn fact, so positive was the feedback that Zain Bahrain has just renewed its financial alliance with the Furthermore, Zain is committed to helping the BBA to Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) for the new season, pump new talent and training methods into the local which began on October 16 and will run till May 2010, a game on a nationwide basis. The sponsorship also move that has seen the advent of new technology that will includes title rights to the BBA’s championship league reach out to more fans and make games even more matches and all other games. Zain is also involved in exciting and accessible. encouraging individual players to help raise the bar of sporting excellence in the sport. Bahrain has a huge basketball following for in Bahrain. As part of Zain’s support for the activities of the Basketball The games are part of Zain’s efforts to engage with Association, the company has created an e-ticket service Bahrain’s youth and encourage sports which promote for the games. Simply , basketball fans can now buy tickets health and team-spirit. The company will continue to urge at the click of a mobile phone button. All fans have to do players to push themselves towards even better excellence is send a blank sms to 888 and they get a serial number on in the game and in life. For Zain, a healthy body leads to a their mobile phone via return sms. That’s the ticket! healthy mind and healthy values.
67 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 LIVING A kaleidoscope of sound Gabonese artists use local festival as springboard to wider succcess
Richard Bona from Cameroon soaks up the atmosphere
he 7th annual Gabon Festival, sponsored by Zain Gabon, once again, turned out to be a huge success among lovers of African music. This year the festival The Gabon festival is now in Talso changed its name from the Gabon Hip Hop Festival to its 4th year. The 2009 event simply Gabon Festival in order to recognize the variety of music now included at this annual event. saw 168 artists from 11
This year saw 168 artists from 11 central African countries and Central African countries and beyond. They included the French singer La Fouine and the Moroccan group Fez City Clan, both of whom performed beyond. Its mission is to three concerts for 10,000 enthusiastic fans. promote and take African But it was the presence of world-renowned Cameroonian musical talent to the world artist, Richard Bona that was the high point of the event. His
68 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Duc Z from Cameroon presence marked the first time someone of such stature had performed at the festival. Bona, a bassist with a unique soft style that soothes the soul, cites his musical influences as African beat, groove, funk, jazz, salsa and folklore. His closing performance at the end of the festival was a huge hit with the audience.
Throughout the three days of the festival, the audience experienced a kaleidoscope of different sounds, and, in the end, saw Pif Pikini from Chad and 241 from Gabon share the 2009 Gabon prize. The two winners will have the opportunity to tour various Central African Francophone venues, and enjoy an artist-in-residence project in their respective countries. They will also benefit from mentoring of professional artists in the making their own studio
Ring my number: Gabon’s 241
France’s La Fouine gets on down Initial success: KMS from the DRC
69 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 2006 winners Pif Pikini and 241 will have the opportunity to tour various Central African Francophone venues and enjoy an artist-in- residence project in their respective countries. They will also benefit from mentoring of professional artists in the making their own studio albums
Rapping style: Chad’s Pif Pikini
Cool grooves: Equatorial Guinea’s Oubanguien Soul-tastic: Naneth from Gabon albums. In addition to these awards, 241 will take part in the Arts Alive International Festival in Johannesburg, South Lyon’s hip hop festival on April 10, 2010 with further dates Africa in early September. scheduled in Belgium in July. For Jules Taguiawa, the event’s promoter, “The festival is not only In addition to this year’s winners, Zain gave a special a platform for spreading local and regional music, but it’s also an commendation to past Gabonese winners who have been opportunity for artists to export their music beyond their able to reach international audiences with support from the country’s borders. The rewards are very positive at this level.” Gabon Festival. The Gabon festival is now in its 4th year a milestone it has They include the ensemble La Fuente and the solo artist reached with the full support of Zain. According to an Koba, both of whom have since produced studio albums. organizer at the event, Zain is “a partner that understands Meanwhile, local hip-hopper, Franck Baponga, performed at Gabon and supports its goals.”
70 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Your world of fulfillment You can succeed at anything you put your mind to. Zain supplies the tools you need with their innovative products and services. Together, we make a great team!
www.zain.com A wonderful world LIVING To be the top The University of Ibadan in Nigeria emerges victorious in a heated ‘battle of the brains’
We are the champions: (L-R) UI’s Tolulope Oloruntoba, Nnaemeka Nwachukwu, Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, Minister of Olarenwaju Shittu and Olatunji Ayoola Olalere Education, Dr Sam Egwu and Zain Nigeria’s Chairman Deacon Gamaliel Onosode
fter six months of tough competition, Nigeria’s The prizes were handed out at a dynamic presentation University of Ibadan (pictured above), won the 2009 ceremony in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, which was AZain Africa Challenge, the hugely popular TV quiz attended by dignitaries from the government and the show involving 32 universities from eight nations across private sector. The guest of honor was the Nigerian Minister East, West and Central Africa. of Education, the Honorable Dr Sam Egwu. Other VIPs included Senator Joy Emordi, Chairperson, Senate The third season of the Zain Africa Challenge saw Committee on Education, the Honorable Farouk Lawan, competing students from universities in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. It was the first time that UI had won the title in a final watched by tens of millions of viewers across Africa and Zain Africa Challenge beyond. At stake during what has been dubbed “the Battle of the Brains” was not only the prestige of taking the crown, winners, University of but also a share of the more than $1 million in prize money Ibadan, were awarded a and educational grants donated by Zain Africa. $50,000 grant from Zain, The heated final between UI and Kenyatta University was projected from a large format screen. The mental agility while each team member displayed by the UI trio of Nnaemeka Nwachukwu, Olatunji Ayoola Olalere and Tolulope Oloruntoba drew thunderous received $5,000. Through applause and admiration from everyone that was present at this exciting competition, the event. Zain is assisting African For its efforts, UI was awarded a $50,000 grant from Zain, while each team members received $5,000. In second place governments achieve their was Kenya’s Kenyatta University, which won a grant of $35,000, while each team member went home with $3,000. United Nations Millennium All the other schools that participated in the tournament Development Goals received grants ranging from $5,000 to $35,000.
72 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Endorsement: UI’s Olalere with Dr Egwu Honoring the champs: guests at the celebration in Abuja
Chairman, House Committee on Education and the Honorable Dave Salako, Chairman, House Committee on Communications. All the Vice-Chancellors of the universities that participated in the tournament as well as other stakeholders in the education sector were also present.
In his welcome speech, the Chairman of Zain Nigeria, Gamaliel Onosode, OFR, an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, said that the achievements of UI and semi-finalists University of Lagos clearly demonstrated that Nigeria still had a wealth of talent among the best and brightest minds. “I always remain glued to the TV whenever this program is on air,” he said. “I wish to invite other network operators to emulate this laudable initiative.”
Ibrahim Adel, Communications Director for Zain, said that by supporting education, Zain is assisting African governments benefit Nigerians. She stated that rather than sponsoring some achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to meaningless dance or beauty pageant, companies in Nigeria create full and productive employment for all citizens and should emulate Zain by bankrolling educational activities that halving the number of people who suffer from hunger by 2015. will propel Nigerian youth forward. He also said that Zain was partnering with governments to ensure that by 2015, children everywhere in Africa will be able In addition to UI, other Nigerian universities rewarded with to complete their primary schooling, a commitment he said was institutional and students’ grants were Abubakar Tafawa Balewa one of the reasons for the creation of the Zain Africa Challenge. University, the University of Nigeria: Nsukka, the Federal University of Technology: Akure and the University of Lagos. Professor Olufemi Bamiro, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan described the initiative as a unique Corporate The Zain Africa Challenge is a powerful testimony of the Social Responsibility program. “This competition has shown company’s commitment to the advancement of humanity clearly that Africa has the talent to develop Africa,” he through its support for education as well as its social and declared. “Like Zain, we all need to put our hands on deck community initiatives. As a responsible global corporate citizen, and create an enabling environment for the development of Zain has proven yet again that it is not only a our great nation.” telecommunications service provider, but also a dependable ally of the African people. Echoing a similar sentiment, Lawan described the Zain Africa Challenge as a timely CSR intervention. “The first time I For the participants, life will never be the same again, with new watched the program on television I was so excited that I called friends made across the continent. For its part, Zain has created all my children to watch it with me because of its rich a unique platform for building and strengthening regional and educational content,” he said. “Zain should be commended for international alliances through the Zain Africa Challenge. choosing education as one of its CSR platforms.” The next edition of the Zain Africa Challenge is expected to Emordi praised Zain for re-directing the value system in Nigeria begin in late 2009, with thousands of students taking part in by throwing its weight behind a CSR initiative that will truly national qualifying tournaments in participating countries.
73 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 GIVING BACK
Believing in the next generation The Odumase Presbyterian Junior High School in Ghana gets a much needed morale and financial boost
story in Ghana’s leading newspaper, the Daily Graphic, on the disastrous conditions at the Odumase APresbyterian Junior High School prompted Zain in Ghana’s CSR team to take action. The article reported that a roofing sheet flew off the school roof and instantly killed pupil Bernard Narteh during a rainstorm and injured three of his schoolmates. After an investigation into the terrible and life threatening conditions of the students and faculty, the CSR team decided to go a step beyond implementing repairs and build a brand new school.
Earlier this year, a senior management team from Zain – including Chris Gabriel (CEO, Zain Africa), Steve Torode (CEO, Central Africa) and Philip Sowah, Country Manager for Zain Ghana – paid a visit to the school to determine how Zain As it was: Odumase Presbyterian Junior High School before renovation
74 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Getting started: restoration is underway could help. The initial plan was to refurbish part of the school block and make it immediately safer for the children. The CSR team decided to However, once the management team saw the state of the building, there was only one decision: to demolish the six take action at the Odumase classroom block and reconstruct a new school, complete Presbyterian Junior High with facilities the children did not have before, including a fully stocked library and computer lab to help them reach School in Ghana after reading their full potential. A three-month timeline was set for the project with the aim of rebuilding the school in time for the an article that reported a new school year. roofing sheet flew off the A cross functional team was established, consisting of school roof during a rainstorm representatives from network operations, sales, marketing, HR. The team was headed by the corporate communications and instantly killed one pupil department, which oversaw the project and established a network and brand presence in the Odumase area. The and injured three others demolition and rebuilding of the school created employment for the community, including the parents of Bernard Narteh, who came to help when they heard of the reconstruction • New washrooms project. Mr. Narteh, a carpenter by trade helped with the • Staff common room with a computer that has internet construction of the desks and tables, and Mrs. Narteh cooked access, a printer and a fridge food and sold it to the workers. • Head teacher’s office with a computer and internet access and a fridge Three months later, the hard work of the team was evident • Classrooms with a blackboard and a white board in the ultra-modern, six classroom block, which stood proud • Water and electricity in the community. The educational facility consisted of the following amenities: The new building is one of very few government primary • Access ramps for people with disabilities schools with computers and internet access, serving as a • Newly built desks and chairs center of excellence in Odumase Krobo. • New library stocked with books donated as part of the ‘Build our Nation’ initiative A week before the handing over of the school, a Zain day • Computer lab with 30 computers that have internet was organized, which saw hundreds of ‘Zainiacs’ volunteer access – all donated by Zain to clean up the school as well as prepare the library and the
75 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 circumstances, we wanted to give something back. In The initial plan was to refurbish handing over the school we will not only be handing over a re-constructed six classroom block to the Ministry of part of the school block and Education, but to the parents, we will also be giving back the lives of their children, for the students we will be make it immediately safer for handing them a better future, to the teachers we will be handing them job satisfaction and the chance to do their the children. However, once job properly and to the community we are handing them the management team saw hope that a cry for help can be heard.” the state of the building, He added: “Zain believes that education is very important in today’s society and these children deserve the same there was only one decision: chance as any other child in this country. They deserve to remember their school days with joy and not relief that they to demolish the six escaped with their lives.” classroom block and During the tour of the new facilities Gabriel unveiled a reconstruct a new school plaque in the presence of the parents of Bernard Narteh dedicating the library to their late son. Zain has also donated a sales kiosk to Mr. and Mrs. Narteh to give them computer room for the ceremony. Staff members also went employment and a sustainable source of revenue. into the town to familiarize the residents with the new Zain network in Odumase. The benefits of the new building and facilities are immeasurable. For children who have only known the Chris Gabriel, together with Steve Torode and Philip Sowah, previous crumbling structure with no water or electricity, Zain Ghana Country Manager, inaugurated the school and no books and have only heard of computers, their first officially handed it over to the Regional Minister, area chiefs, day of school will be surreal. Classrooms are now light representatives from the Ministry of Education and the local and ventilated, and students will have access not only to government as well as the students and faculty. books, but also to the world thanks to the world wide web. They will start learning about computers and the In his address, Gabriel remarked: “Zain is proud to be internet, putting them on the same platform as their involved and associated with Odumase. After the tragedy of counterparts in cities and even in some private schools. losing such a young community member in preventable The new environment is more conducive to learning and
76 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Several schools want to use the library and computer lab for their students and Zain will work with the school to develop a business model to generate revenue to pay for the internet airtime Our future: students in the school’s new computer lab teachers, who were threatening to leave the school at one Zain will also assess the computer literacy level of the point, now know that their efforts will not be hindered by teachers and use internal trainers and leverage on dangerous surroundings. Parents will have peace of mind partnerships to develop a learning package tailored to their in knowing that their children are in a school that is needs. The teachers will then be expected to pass on these structurally sound and safe. computer skills to the children.
Although the maintenance of the school will be the Several schools have expressed an interest in using the library responsibility of the school officials and local government, and computer lab for their students. Zain will work with officials Zain has taken necessary measures to provide assistance for from Odumase Presbyterian Junior High School to develop a the upkeep of additional facilities, particularly the computer business model that will generate revenue for the school to pay lab. Zain has in fact committed to providing total IT support for the internet airtime. This additional revenue can also be used to the school and will give them airtime for internet access. to pay for the newly installed electricity and water facilities. The company will also recommend a computer science graduate trained with Zain to provide first line support to It is hoped that the attention drawn to the state of the school the school. The student will be stationed in Odumase and and the regeneration project undertaken by Zain will should any problem arise beyond his/her training, the case encourage Odumase Presbyterian Junior High School alumni will be referred to Zain to resolve. to contribute to the maintenance of the school.
As it is: The school just after renovation
77 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 GIVING BACK Life savers A joint venture with GSM Association and Ericsson extends coverage on Lake Victoria and helps save lives
n an initiative coordinated by the GSM Association, Zain and Ericsson continued in their joint effort to save lives Iand bring development across the Lake Victoria region by extending the mobile network coverage of the three East African States to promote safety and security. The coverage allows for communication and SMS exchange to and from phones. This enhancement will fuel economic and social development of the lakeside communities, where 80% of fishing activity takes place, and potentially reduce the number of fishing-related deaths each year.
“The initiative will greatly benefit the communities around Lake Victoria and will substantially improve both the social and economic development in the region. It will also offer a foundation for sustainable development in the surrounding communities,” said Chris Gabriel, CEO Zain Africa.
Thanks to the project, the Lake Victoria region now has an additional 21 energy-efficient sites, with three of them solar powered, and a Rescue Coordination Center has also been established. Local stakeholders supporting the project include the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) and its local representative, the National Lake Rescue Institute (NLRI).
“Mobile communication plays an important role in helping communities to develop sustainably,” said Lars Lindén, President Ericsson for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Building out the mobile networks in this region is a key business interest for Ericsson, but it will also play a vital role in delivering Thumbs up: Children can live around the lake in greater safety
increased safety and security, as well as improved economic viability and livelihood. Working in partnership with Zain has Thanks to the project, the enabled us to achieve what not one of us could have done Lake Victoria region now has alone, and if we can reduce, by even one, the more than 5,000 deaths each year, it will be worth the investment.” an additional 21 energy- Lake Victoria is the second largest lake in the world with efficient sites, with three of nearly 200,000 fishermen, 35 million people living along its shores and a fishing fleet of more than 70,000 boats. This them solar powered, and a armada of boats, powered by paddling or small engines, is Rescue Coordination Center operated with poor safety and security due mainly to a lack of available communication systems. Weather conditions has also been established can change suddenly and strong winds can occur without much warning; boats are often overloaded, and most of the
78 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Protecting livelihoods: Fishermen can now rely on greater GSM voice (including SMS) and data coverage on Lake Victoria people can’t swim. Furthermore, buoyancy, or life saving equipment, is not easily available. As a result, many lives are lost due to drowning in the lake (estimated 5,000 deaths per year). It is expected that this intervention will go a long way towards improving conditions and reducing fatalities.
The initial phase of the Lake Victoria Project entailed a feasibility study looking at how the rescue initiative would be undertaken in terms of commercial sustainability. Phase II targets the implementation of an operational search and rescue facility with a framework to provide the necessary tools for valuable services. The GSM network enables voice and data communication on and around Lake Victoria. Zain has developed value added services that will enable fishermen on the lake to find critical information through SMS and voice calls, such as fish and commodity prices as well as weather Touching lives: mobile phones have changed the way Africans live and safety alerts. The expanded network will also make it possible to collect daily data from the more than 1,400 Beach Gabriel Solomon, Senior Vice President GSM Association Management Units in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. reiterated the importance of the initiative to the Lake Victoria region. “As the East African community gets Most importantly, the new network will provide crucial connected to undersea cables for the first time, the information to facilitate search and rescues, fleet communities of Lake Victoria will access a mobile safety movement and tracking. Ericsson’s Mobile Position net,” he said. “It is now incumbent upon the governments System will enable emergency authorities to locate the of East Africa to leverage this network by partnering mobile signal of those in distress and send the details to with the private sector and delivering a rainbow of the Rescue Coordination Center. new services.”
79 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 GIVING BACK
Flying on eco-wings Environmentally friendly scratch cards help promote conservation efforts in Jordan
s part of its drive to go green, Zain in Jordan recently launched new scratch cards with a design in line with Aits eco-friendly objectives. The change has been made to all the company’s charging cards for prepaid customers and is only one step in Zain’s overall plan to support and protect the environment, which the company considers a national duty for all.
Zain Jordan’s environmental initiative also represents the company’s values and strategy, which includes a commitment to the environment, especially after it became one of the major challenges faced by Jordan and the world. The new charging cards are available at all Zain points of sale around the Kingdom.
Further highlighting the company’s conservation efforts is Zain’s ISO 14000 certificate, one of the most important international certificates in environmental systems management. The company has established a system for environmental management that encompasses a number of policies and procedures. Awareness campaigns were also conducted to educate all Zain employees on the importance of eco-friendly measures and how to protect the environment.
Showing its commitment to Jordan, Zain signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment to monitor and control the quality of water from a distance using GRPS. The system includes thirteen field stations found in Jordan’s main water sources. In addition, Zain also adopted an 80,000 square meter forest located in Jarash to support a national campaign for gardening launched by the association for tree protection. The new scratch cards are part of an environmental initiative that represents the company’s values and strategy
80 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Embrace the most wonderful of months. GIVING BACK In the line of duty Closed User Group emphasizes a commitment to peace and security in Nigeria
ain in Nigeria along with POLCOM, the Police The service was made possible thanks to the collaborative Communication Network, and AdonaiNet, a service effort by Zain Nigeria, the police communication team set Zprovider specializing in interactive messaging up by the then Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, and solutions, recently introduced a unique value added AdonaiNet. Under the terms of the deal, 100,000 staff of the telecom service specially designed to enable men and Nigeria police will have the opportunity to join the CUG women of the Nigeria police force to communicate with and enjoy low tariffs. each other across the country. The service, known as the Zain Closed User Group (CUG) is a cutting-edge wireless The Chief Commercial Officer of Zain Nigeria, Shamel communications solution that will be available to police Hanafi, said the mobile operator’s willingness to partner officers as well as members of their families. with the Nigeria police is born out of a commitment to boost the organization and empower it to fight crime.
According to Hanafi, the CUG service will go a long way in helping the police improve on its ability to communicate and monitor unlawful activity and criminal minded individuals. As a result, the initiative will create noticeable improvements in the peace and security of the country.
The CUG is a supplementary service offered by network operators, which allows the creation of logical groups of users within an operator’s network. It enables users to form secure groups with restricted access to those outside the group. A specific user may be a member of one or more closed user groups. Members of a specific CUG can communicate among themselves and with users outside the group.
Every staff of the Nigeria police force within Zain CUG will have the opportunity to make free calls to others within the community, send free SMS messages among users and browse at a competitive rate. They can also make and receive calls outside the user group. Each police station will also be entitled to four lines. Additional benefits offered by Zain include free connection, zero charge for calls to members within the Zain police community and free SMS service within the community.
Speaking at the commissioning of the service in Abuja, Okiro said the service is part of the Police’s Virtual Private Network project, POLCOM, adding that the CUG will boost the performance of the organization in its crime prevention and control job. Zain Nigeria also plans to extend the program to over 350,000 officers within the next 12 months with the collaboration with the new Inspector General, Ogbonnaya Onovo.
82 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Unfailing support Kuwait’s Patients Helping Fund receives a generous donation to help cancer patients
or the third year in a row, Zain in Kuwait continued in its efforts to support the Patients Helping Fund For two years Breast Care FSociety (PHFS) by donating KD 50,000 ($173,000). The contribution will be used to provide medical Kuwait has been sponsored treatment to non-Kuwaiti cancer patients and help the PHFS to maintain its ability to provide assistance to those by Zain. It offers free testing in need of cancer treatments. and encourages awareness “We are delighted to once again make this contribution. This donation will directly benefit non-Kuwaiti cancer patients, whom we consider an integral part of our society Al Hajeri went on to say that Zain Kuwait was the first as well as our customer base. The funds will be used by private sector company in Kuwait to cooperate with the Kuwait’s Patients Helping Fund Society to assist cancer Ministry of Health and establish a much-needed Ear, Nose patients during their different stages of treatment,” said and Throat (ENT) hospital. Moreover, Zain has extended its Zain Kuwait CEO Mr Khaled Al Hajeri. support to several organizations fighting diseases and promoting awareness across the region, including the Al Hajeri praised Zain’s successful experience with Kuwait’s Breast Cancer Campaign, the Kuwait Association for the PHFS and lauded what he described as a positively active Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) , the Children’s role played by the organization in providing help to Kuwaiti Cancer Hospital in Lebanon and the King Hussein Institute and non-Kuwaiti patients alike. “Zain allocates a in Jordan. considerable part of its Corporate Social Responsibility budget to support Kuwait’s health sector. This donation This is the second year running that Breast Care Kuwait has reflects our company’s commitment to supporting local been supported by Zain. It offers free mammograms, charitable organizations that are actively involved in encourages cancer awareness and a support group led by providing health care,” he added. medical professionals from Kings College London.
83 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 GIVING BACK Charity begins with a home The Jordanian Al Fiqh family gets a new house after being homeless for two years
orty-eight year old Jamal Bashir Al Fiqh and his family have been homeless for two years, living in Fcemeteries and public parks for shelter. His wife and two-year old daughter, Arwa, both have various illnesses, their suffering made all the worse without proper shelter to protect them from the oppressive summer heat and harsh winters of Zarqa in Jordan. When Zain Jordan caught wind of their story, they immediately worked to get the Al Fiqhs a home, finally ending their hard times.
The Al Fiqh family’s troubles began when Jamal’s health started to deteriorate and business became slow in 2007. Unable to continue his work as a peddler, Jamal began to Arwa (with Zain Levant CEO Dr Abdel Malek Al Jaber) now has a brighter future face difficulties in providing the basic needs for his family. Things went from bad to worse for Jamal when he was “Helping this family comes with the arrival of the Holy evicted from his home because he was unable to pay rent. Month of Ramadan so they can enjoy the Holy Month in With little money and nowhere to turn, he and his entire their new home,” Jaber said during the ceremony. He family resorted to living on the streets of Zarqa. added that the company will continue its commitment to social development, particularly when it comes to The down-on-his-luck peddler went from street corner to supporting national efforts in reducing the suffering of street corner, desperately searching for a secure shelter for his those in need, stressing that corporate social responsibility family to survive another day. He thought his troubles came to encompasses some of the key values of Ramadan. an end when they were offered a room on the rooftop of a building. However, after a week, Jamal and his family were Zain’s top executives and employees decided to do their asked to leave and they were back on the streets. part and contribute to make an unforgettable Ramadan for Jamal, his wife and young daughter. Zain purchased a home “No one would rent me a house. People would ask for a for the family in the urban development area in Zarqa and whole year of rent in advance while I could hardly afford supplied it with furniture, various appliances, electronic feeding my family. I had no choice but to sleep in devices, curtains, blankets and all other household needs in graveyards and public parks as no-one offered me a helping addition to foodstuffs. hand,” Jamal said. Aware of two-year old Arwa’s declining health, the company Reading of Jamal’s plight in the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said it will shoulder the cost of all medical treatment not Zain Jordan’s CEO, Dr Abdel Malek Al Jaber made sure that covered by public health insurance. In Jordan, all children this Ramadan would not pass without the family finally living below the age of six years old are fully covered with health under a roof of their own. Zain donated the funds to buy a insurance by the government. house for the family, securing Jamal a new lease on life. Al Jaber presented the keys to the new house in the presence Al Jaber, who underscored Zain’s commitment to helping of the Ministry of Social Development Secretary General the needy, said: “The company is keen on supporting poor and Director of Housing and Urban Development. families and individuals as well as low-income citizens to
84 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 A grateful Al Fiq family show their appreciation to Dr Al Jaber help them secure their basic needs and enjoy the most basic human rights.” An annual winter campaign
Jamal said opening the door to his very own house was a was also launched to provide dream come true after suffering countless hardships. “It was such an embarrassing and miserable situation sleeping in basic winter needs – cemeteries with my wife and child. It was a nightmare,” including blankets, nutritional Jamal said. “But I feel so comfortable now. I do not have to worry anymore that my wife and daughter will be sleeping supplies and heaters – to in the streets. We have a house and that is the most important thing.” hundreds of families in need
Now that he is living in his very own home, Jamal said his across the Kingdom life has been transformed thanks to the generosity of Zain Group. “Zain provided me with all the furniture and with To maintain its community work and help families in need, food and said they will help with the treatment of my child. I like the Al Fiqhs, Zain, in cooperation with the Ministry of am so thankful to Zain,” said Jamal, who receives a monthly Social Development, established the Zain Relief Fund in income of JD130 from the National Aid Fund. 2005. The fund aims to enhance the situation of citizens by providing monetary assistance to poor individuals and At Zain’s annual iftar, Dr. Saad Al Barrak, Zain Group CEO, families who do not qualify for the national aid fund. To this who heard of Arwa’s story, made a donation to help the day, thousands of families benefited from the fund. Zain family cover medical costs and offered other assistance. also launched an annual winter campaign to provide basic Overwhelmed by the spirit of the season, employees at the winter needs – including blankets, nutritional supplies iftar followed suit and each chipped in to give the Al Fiqh and heaters – to hundreds of families in need across family a better life. the Kingdom.
85 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 GIVING BACK The gift of communication Millennium Village Project in Ghana receive much needed cutting edge telecom services to improve their standard of living
ain Ghana and Ericsson have donated two toll free rural villages out of the poverty trap that afflicts more than a numbers, 73 SIM cards and ten fixed wireless terminals billion people worldwide. The community-driven initiative Zto the health centers and emergency services in the currently operates in 11 sub-Saharan African countries, Millennium Village Project (MVP) clusters. The numbers and where it tackles challenges related to health, education, SIM cards provided by Zain will help community members nutrition, livelihoods, gender equality and other vital issues. connect with on duty health and emergency services and In Ghana, the aim is to provide cutting edge mobile enable healthcare colleagues to communicate with each other technology and other services to eventually eradicate free of charge. The fixed wireless terminals supplied by poverty by 2015 by giving approximately 30,000 residents in Ericsson will be used by the health and learning centers in the rural areas a higher standard of living. MVP clusters and its school, which is involved in the one laptop per child scheme. By facilitating communication between the healthcare workers and the emergency services, the quality of healthcare The MVP, based at The Earth Institute at Columbia delivered to the residents of the villages will improve. The University, is a science-based bottom-up approach to lifting benefits of the Ericsson donated fixed wireless terminals are also numerous: first, it will allow for the connectivity of the MVP residents and second, it will aid the educational, The MVP clusters have business and social development of the villages. The received two toll free telecommunications supplier has already donated 47 Sony numbers, 73 SIM cards and ten fixed wireless terminals for its health centers and emergency services
86 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Teaming up: Zain and Ericsson executives with MVP staff
Ericsson handsets to the health centers and there are plans to donate a further 22 in the near future. The community-driven “Communication is essential in every aspect of our lives, be initiative operates in 11 sub- it education, healthcare, economics or socially,” said Philip Sowah, Country Manager of Zain Ghana. “As Corporate Saharan African countries, citizens, it is our aim to create “A wonderful world” in Ghana by developing rural communities and giving them tackling challenges related the same opportunities as their counterparts in the cities. This donation is only the beginning of our commitment to to health, education, the Millennium Villages Project.” nutrition, livelihoods and Jonathan Khan, the Ericsson Key Account Manager for Zain, gender equality also remarked: “Ericsson recognizes that technology can be an effective transformational tool for the development of Africa; we will continue to work closely with Zain and the Millennium debilitating condition that hampers the development of a Villages Project to provide communications technologies to nation. The telecommunications solutions that we are help take the fight against poverty a step further.” providing for this millennium village will empower the residents of Bonsaaso to climb out of poverty. It also gives The two companies have also built 2G and 3G mobile masts us the opportunity to demonstrate how telecommunications in the clusters and the launch of a superior mobile network can be used to further the social and economic in the MVP will follow. Furthermore, Ericsson and Zain have development of the country.” also constructed 2G and 3.5G mobile masts in the millennium village of Bonsaaso in the Amansie-West District The philanthropic work of Zain and Ericsson will not stop in of the Ashanti region of Ghana. Bonsaaso is a cluster of six Ghana, however; work has already begun to donate similar Millennium Villages with approximately 30,000 residents. services to Dertu in Kenya, Ruhiira in Uganda, Mbola in Tanzania and Pampaida in Nigeria. Together, the two “We are excited to partner with Ericsson in this companies strive to make the world a better place one area groundbreaking project,” said Sowah. “Poverty is a at a time.
87 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 GIVING BACK
Money well spent: Akon hands over the donation to the Starehe Boys Centre. The money will be used to refurbish pianos Duty calls Ahead of the MAMAs, Akon does his bit for tomorrow’s musicians
efore taking to the stage at the MAMAs in Nairobi, Senegalese-American R&B superstar, Akon, presented Ba cheque from Zain for $1,300 (KES 100,000) to the Starehe Boys Centre. The money will be used to rehabilitate pianos for the students’ music studies.
The school was founded 50 years ago by 1959 by Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin, a Kenyan civil servant and Geoffrey Gatama Geturo and Joseph Kamiru Gikubu two former freedom fighters. Akon was joined at the presentation by Joseph Gikubu, the sole surviving founder.
Starehe was initially created for the education of A hero’s welcome: Akon mingles with delighted students at the Starehe Boys Centre underprivileged children and today it educates at least 70% of its students free, and the rest at a reduced rate. School fees are Olympic gold Medalist, Dr Amrose Misore, Senior Deputy paid on a means-tested basis, with substantial subsidies paid Director of Medical Services and Prof George Magoha, by the school, so that students from all walks of life are able to Medical Surgeon and Urologist who is the current have a comprehensive, high-quality, public school education competitively appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of that would otherwise be beyond their means. Nairobi are just a few of the Old Stareheans)*.
The Starehe Boys Centre is today one of Kenya’s top schools in “When we say that Zain creates “A wonderful world”, we terms of academic performance and is frequently in the top want people to believe that it is more than a slogan,” said five primary and secondary schools for exam results. Zain Africa CEO, Chris Gabriel. “Today, this gesture shows that we are touching the reality.” Many old boys are now prominent people in Kenya and the world. (Raphael Tuju, retired Cabinet Minister, Paul Ereng, *Source: Wikipedia
88 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Your world of accomplishment You can do anything you want. The world is yours. With the innovative products and services, plus the competitive tariffs from Zain, there is nothing stopping you. Be all you can be.
www.zain.com A wonderful world MOBILE LIFE
ou won’t find an iPhone in the hands of the world’s most Ypowerful man. That’s because US President Barack Obama is devoted to his BlackBerry, the wildly successful device that has come to define much of working life in America and beyond.
Indeed, the president’s attachment to his BlackBerry became a story in its own right in the aftermath of the 2008 election. No Commander-in-Chief before Obama had even used email while in the Oval Office (Clinton had served during the internet’s embryonic days while George W. Bush had given up his AOL account upon entering office). But Obama is of a different generation than his two most recent predecessors, one for whom the internet isn’t so much a tool as a way of life. During the 2008 campaign, if Obama wasn’t giving a speech or conversing with voters, chances are he was checking his BlackBerry, which he was known to do hundreds of times a day. However, upon his election, the media began to speculate about how the new president would handle not having his favorite gadget, as it was expected he would have to surrender it for security reasons.
As it turned out, the prospect of being BlackBerry-less did not sit well with the 44th president. “I’m still clinging to my BlackBerry,” he said on the business channel CNBC last year, days Global communicator: US President Obama with his holstered BlackBerry The BlackBerry Revolution Not even the president of the United States can live without one
90 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 before moving into the Whitehouse. his BlackBerry. “I mean, I can get when you enter into a room, ways of “They’re going to have to pry it out of somebody to print out clips for me, staying grounded.” my hands.” and I can read newspapers. What it has to do with is having mechanisms The device allows for an abbreviated Even so, in the same interview Obama where you are interacting with people and impersonal mode of conceded that his struggle to retain his who are outside of the White House in communication (the truncated emails beloved BlackBerry might prove futile. a meaningful way. And I’ve got to look sent via BlackBerry often include about “I don’t know that I’ll win, but I’m still… for every opportunity to do that in as much information as your average fighting it,” Obama said regarding ways that aren’t scripted, ways that text message) that constitutes a vital being advised to give up his phone. aren’t controlled, ways where, you outlet for meaningful “interaction,” to know, people aren’t just which the president himself has For Obama, the need for his complimenting you or standing up become accustomed. Such reliance is BlackBerry was about the nature of his presidency. Having the device would provide a way to escape the proverbial bubble that envelops presidents when With over 30 million customers and over they enter the Whitehouse, Obama argued, and would allow him to better 50 million units sold, BlackBerry has serve the American people “because turned Research in Motion, the barely I’m going to be hearing their voices.” decade-old Canadian business that “It’s not just the flow of information,” he said in justifying his desire to keep manufactures the devices, into the fastest growing company in the world
91 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 a testament to just how utterly So what’s the big deal with could easily lead to enormous service ubiquitous BlackBerries have become BlackBerry? charges and quickly overwhelm the and how central a place they occupy in limited hard drive space available on a American society. At core, the appeal of BlackBerry is handheld device. BlackBerry came up about email. While the device comes with a solution to this problem by With over 30 million customers and with all the features you’d expect in a rerouting all user emails through a over 50 million units sold to date, cell phone and personal organizer – special in-house server. BlackBerry has turned Research in calendar, camera, to do list, address Motion, the barely decade-old book – it is the ability to easily send The first BlackBerries hit the market a Canadian business that manufactures and receive email over wireless decade ago, but early models looked the devices, into the fastest growing networks that has given the company like clunky pagers. And while they company in the world. According to its current hegemony. While other scarcely resembled the sleek, feature- Fortune Magazine, even in the midst companies have offered similar laden devices that made the brand of a global financial crisis, RIM has capacities, they have struggled to famous, early BlackBerries did contain seen an 84% growth in profits over the grapple with the large volume of email a couple of key innovations that would last three years. most internet users receive, which factor into the brand’s later success: a thumb keyboard that made typing messages easier than on a track pad, and a unique wireless network over which messages were sent.
Three years after it was first released, BlackBerry started to come in to its own, with its 5000 series. These models combined the capabilities of their pager predecessors with a mobile cell phone. But the most important part was its ability to send and receive email, which RIM wisely began focusing promotion of the devices around.
A number of mobile devices on the market at the time included features
While the iPhone has tried, in recent years, to challenge RIM’s dominance, BlackBerry has yet to show any signs of losing steam. BlackBerries have already spread well beyond North America, and with Zain, have landed in the Middle East and Africa
92 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 ZAIN AND BLACKBERRY Zain launched its first BlackBerry service in Jordan in February, 2007. This was quickly followed by Kuwait in May, 2009 and KSA in September 2009. Today, all Zain operators offer BlackBerry (although in Sudan customers can only use BlackBerry via roaming). As of the end of September, 2009, Zain boasted over 62,000 active monthly customers, nearly half of whom are corporates. Elsewhere, the youth segment, which enjoys such social networking sites as Facebook, had picked-up quickly over the past six months. Zain is also rolling out prepaid BlackBerry services across its markets over the coming months. Finally, Zain will be introducing a special portal for Blackberry users, allowing them to download business and consumer applications. that allowed users some access to the internet, but what distinguished BlackBerry was its speedy emails. Once a BlackBerry and an email account were synched, emails became instant – that is, they arrived to your BlackBerry at the same time they got to your computer. This capacity gave the device enormous appeal to Corporate America. By the turn of the millennium, emails were already well on their way to becoming the primary mode of communication at American companies. BlackBerry offered the potential of dramatically boosting productivity, as work was no longer limited to the office; with a BlackBerry, one can email every waking moment.
Although BlackBerry rose to prominence through its corporate clients, in recent years the brand has aimed for recreational users as well. Models now come with a slew of (doing quite well for itself in the Given that the phones are increasingly features and offer a seemingly infinite process), BlackBerry has yet to show coming to symbolize the new age of number of applications that can be any signs of losing steam. Many smart digital communication, America’s most downloaded online. Besides email, you phone devotees, especially heavy famous communicator was fortunate to can surf the internet, edit a document, users, find BlackBerry’s keyboard, for have won his battle to keep his take a picture, exchange instant example, more durable and easier to BlackBerry. A “compromise” was messages with friends, listen to your type on than iPhone’s touch screen. eventually reached, said White House favorite songs or get your GPS position With such ease of use, BlackBerries Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and just about anywhere in the world. have already spread well beyond President Obama was given a special North America, and with Zain, the security-enhanced version of the device. While the iPhone has tried, in recent devices have landed in the Middle What Obama’s BlackBerry address would years, to challenge RIM’s dominance East and Africa. be, however, Gibbs refused to answer.
93 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 MOBILE LIFE Cheap mobile phones? I’ll have 300 million, please The rapid spread of Ultra Low Cost Handsets is having a beneficial economic impact in developing countries
espite the global financial crisis, There has been a surge in the sale of Ultra Low Cost Handsets (ULCH) ULCH across the developing world, Dare one of the fastest growing with India and China driving demand. sectors in the global The ULCH share of global handset telecommunications industry – as are sales is expected to triple between their high-end ‘smart phone’ 2007 and 2013, according to research counterparts, which come with internet undertaken by Strategy Analytics. The access as a standard feature. While their research body predicts some 300 humbler equivalents certainly lack a million units will be sold in 2013 wireless option, their comparative alone. An even more optimistic simplicity is what makes them attractive prediction for the future of low cost to millions of people in the developing handsets has been offered by Jupiter world who, until recently, had been Research, who anticipate priced out of the mobile phone market. approximately 700 million devices will be sold in 2014 alone. Although the exact definition of an “ultra” low cost handset varies slightly, While China and India offer large a broad definition is something that markets for the low-cost phones, they will set you back a little under $35. are also increasingly popular in Sub- Some carriers in Bangladesh, Pakistan Saharan Africa. A Jupiter report and India have even brought the total entitled ‘Low Cost Handsets: Markets, cost of phone ownership for devices Opportunities & Forecasts 2009-2014’ and services to below $5. details that in 2008, the Indian subcontinent region accounted for How do they do it so cheaply? 23%, or a majority, of low cost handset Developments in chipset technology sales. The same report predicts that mean that cheaper versions are fitted the Middle East and Africa will into ULCHs. The amount of memory overtake the subcontinent as the and the use of black and white, rather largest collective purchaser of low cost than colored screens, are the other mobile phones by 2014, with 166 main components that differ between million devices expected to be sold in ULCHs and standard devices. the region in that year.
94 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 Despite the global financial crisis, Ultra Manufacturers of low cost handsets include household names, such as Low Cost Handsets (ULCH) are one of Nokia and Motorola, while Chinese firms ZTE and Huawei are increasingly the fastest growing sectors in the global responsible for global production. As telecommunications industry Chinese and Indian firms have become major players in the ULCH industry, those countries have benefited more most significant factor preventing emerging economies. While Cramer from the technology than their African them from purchasing a handset. For emphasizes that it is extremely difficult counterparts, according to Professor these reasons, only 8% of Sub Saharan to measure their economic impact, he Marcus Marktanner at the American households owned mobile phones, believes they have helped improve University of Beirut’s Institute of according to a 2006 MTN survey. This efficiency by connecting market Financial Economics. figure is in stark comparison to the participants and making it easier for 98% of Western European households individuals to gain access to important “China and India not only use it, they that own a mobile phone. pricing information. produce it,” said Marktanner, adding that the two countries have gained ULCHs are designed specifically to Marktanner agreed that the ownership over the communication reduce this entry barrier – and the proliferation of mobile phones in technology in a way that African rapid proliferation throughout developing economies has facilitated countries have not yet replicated. developing countries has had a greater access to market information – marked economic and social impact. importantly, with regard to regional For low income earners in developing Professor Christopher Cramer, a price variations. He believes this “will economies, who naturally have very professor of the political economy of allow economic actors to produce limited spending power, the cost of a development at the London School of goods that are in greater demand and handset is a crucial consideration when Oriental and African Studies, says that distribute them more efficiently.” buying a mobile phone. In a Zain while the handsets are far from a survey, 68% of respondents cited the “magic” solution, they have clearly “Standard economic theory suggests upfront cost of a phone handset as the had a significant, if uneven, impact on that communication opportunities
95 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 bring markets closer together and help phones to other advancements in Like these inventions, mobile phones economic growth,” Marktanner said. communication technology, such as too began as the sole providence of He likened the economic advantages the invention of the telegraph and enterprising businessmen in wealthy of today’s proliferation of mobile spread of transistor radios. Western countries. Cheaper mobile phones are now going some way to evening the playing field – or “flattening” the earth as New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman would say.
Payphones and the arrival of shared internet services are also helping to connect developing countries to the wired world. Yet they are often not an option in many communities because of a lack of steady power supply, or uneven service coverage and installation. Indeed, to combat the problems raised by a lack of electricity, ZTE launched the first low cost solar-powered mobile phone in 2009.
ULCHs are also having a significant social impact, said Cramer, as they allow people to more easily keep in touch with family members who migrated for work, alert people to humanitarian deliveries and aid the transfer of remittances. Cramer also highlighted their role in facilitating the organization of social movements after they were used during a Mozambican boycott of South African goods and services temporarily and partially during an episode of South African ‘xenophobic violence’.
The convenience and pride that comes with owning a mobile phone are also tangible, if personal, drivers toward the increased use of affordable mobile phones. Even at the comparatively cheap price of $35, the ULCH will not solve the plethora of problems facing developing countries. With more than 1.8 billion people, or nearly quarter of the population of developing countries, living in extreme poverty – surviving on under $1.25 a day according to the World Bank – even the cheapest mobile phones are likely to remain unaffordable for many people in the foreseeable future.
96 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 ZAIN AND THE LOW COST HANDSET
Zain has sold over 6.4 million manage their bank accounts, pay bills, ensuring Zain has a market share in units since the inception of the and send and receive remittances from the operations where it competes. ULCH project in December 2007. their mobile phones. ULCHs retail at under $20 and The main objectives of the ULCH $30 across its African markets. The low cost of the handsets is project is to empower more important for potential customers, Africans, by offering affordable Zain offers ULCHs made by Nokia, given 68% of respondents in a Zain phones that can improve their Motorola, ZTE, and Huawei through survey cited the upfront cost of a livelihoods and their nation’s its African network of suppliers. It is phone handset as the principle economic growth. in Zambia, Niger, Nigeria, Malawi barrier preventing them from and Madagascar, however, that the purchasing a mobile phone. In fact, according to the World program has been most successful – Bank, an extra ten phones per with seven out of ten mobile users in The current mobile penetration in hundred people in a developing Zambia talking and texting on the most of the countries in which Zain country boosts GDP growth by 0.8 Zain network. Africa operates is below 30%, percentage points, by meaning that there is huge potential compensating for inadequate Zain also offers access to the free for commercial growth. Consequently, infrastructure, such as bad roads, Zap service through low cost the initiative to increase the numbers slow postal services and poor or handsets. This allows customers to of ULCHs is very important in non-existent land line connections.
97 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009 FROM THE ARCHIVES Getting there first A new series charting the landmarks in mobile phone history
The race was on. In the US, AT&T and probably one of the more dangerous Motorola were vying to create the first things I have ever done in my life.” handheld, cellular telephone. Joel Engel was head of research at Bell Laboratories Cooper was likely very easy to spot – then part of AT&T, and on April 3, 1973, that day. He was carrying an enormous the phone in his office rang. hunk of plastic, weighing one kilogram. The road from Cooper’s first Engel answered. It was his main rival, calls to widespread use of mobile Martin Cooper from Motorola. “[I] told phones was quite long, however. It him, ‘Joel, I’m calling you from a real took ten years from the first call for cellular telephone. A portable mobile phones to really hit the market. handheld telephone,” Cooper recalled In that time, the device shrunk in 2003 interview with the BBC. considerably, even if it was still huge Cooper was standing on a street by today’s standards. corner in New York City and made the call right before entering a press “Between 1973, when we conference to announce Motorola demonstrated that phone, and 1983, reached the finish line in the race to when the first commercial service invent the first mobile phone. started, we actually built five models,” Cooper told the BBC in 2003. “Each Many New Yorkers that day were one was successively smaller, and by amazed to see a man walking down 1983 we were down from one kilogram When they first hit the market, mobile the sidewalk and even crossing the to 16 ounces. The one I carry with me phones were also enormously expensive. streets while talking on the phone. “In today weighs 3 ounces.” In the US, Motorola’s first cost $3,500. In a time when there were no cordless or the UK, when mobiles arrived in 1985, cellular phones, normally blasé New The initial idea behind the mobile they were £2,000 and the batteries only Yorkers gaped at the sight of me phone was providing flexible lasted for a matter of hours. making a phone call while strolling communication. “Given a choice, down Lexington Avenue,” Cooper said people will demand the freedom to “Despite that, they were hugely popular in a 2008 press release. “I made communicate wherever they are, in the mid-80s,” Mike Caudwell, a numerous calls, including one during unfettered by the infamous copper spokesman for the UK’s first mobile which I crossed the street while talking wire. It is that freedom we sought to network operator Vodafone, told the BBC to a New York radio reporter - vividly demonstrate in 1973.” in 2005. “They became a yuppy must- have and a status symbol among young wealthy business folk.” “In a time when there were no cordless Today, mobile phones are popular with or cellular phones, normally blasé New almost everyone. The United Nations estimates 4.1 billion people – more than Yorkers gaped at the sight of me making half of the world’s population and the number must be rising every day – pay to a phone call while strolling down use them. In some countries mobile phone Lexington Avenue,” said Martin Cooper, penetration exceeds 100%, with many people owning more than one phone. who made the first mobile phone call In CBD #9: The birth of the SMS
98 CHAOS OCTOBER 2009
One Network Four diverse features
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