Zain scoops GTB Innovation Award

One Network was first launched in the East African counties including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, eliminated roaming fees paid by Zain's subscribers each time they travelled to other East African countries from their own, or called away from home. The innovation has since been extended to Zain's 22 other markets in both Africa and the Middle East.

Zain was named winner of the 2008 Global Telecommunication Business Awards under the Wireless and Infrastructure category amidst other respected global telecom firms including, United Kingdom's Vodafone, Orange, and India's Reliance. The GTB Awards is an innovation of Global Telecoms magazine and were first presented last year.

The winners are selected by the judging panel, representing the most innovative projects in the industry worldwide in four key categories: Fixed Infrastructure and Operations, Wireless Infrastructure and Operations, Business Fixed and Mobile Service Innovations and Consumer Fixed and Mobile Service Innovations.

Speaking at the awards ceremony in London on 9 September 2008, Alan Burkitt-Gray the GTB magazine editor congratulated the winners and said, "The industry is seeing a wave of innovation which is making a huge difference to the companies working in the industry and to all of us in business and as consumers. They are making such a difference to the world. We want to celebrate what they are doing."

Nominations for the awards came from readers of Global Telecoms Business magazine, which is published for senior executives in the industry worldwide. "These awards are for the most innovative projects," Burkitt-Gray added.

Acknowledging the award, Zain's chief executive officer, Dr Saad Al Barrak said: “This award is testament to the considerable investment and commitment to a project that connects customers across the many countries in which Zain operates,” according to a statement from Zain Uganda on 12 September 2008.