Zain in Africa re-brands to Airtel

[Maxence Melo]

• Bharti Airtel launches new global brand to unify its African operations
• All customers will experience the same familiar brand and enjoy the same quality of service, reliability, innovation and affordability wherever they live, work or travel

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Monday November 22, 2010

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete together Airtel Tanzania Managing Director Sam Elangalloor

Bharti Airtel, one of the world's top five mobile telecommunications providers, today announced that it has re-branded the 15 Zain operations in Africa, including Tanzania, which it acquired in June 2010 to Airtel.

Airtel becomes the master brand for all the Group's 19 operations in Asia and Africa with immediate effect to deliver practical customer benefits through the power of a single global brand. The mobile operator's services and innovative new products will also follow the Airtel brand structure. The ZAP mobile money service is re-branded Airtel Money with immediate effect.

Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) and Joint Managing Director, Bharti Airtel, said: "Airtel brings together all our operations under a single, strong and unique identity. We can deliver more for our customers by operating as a single brand across Africa to fulfill our vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services for all.

"Our customers will experience the same familiar brand and enjoy the same quality of service, reliability, innovation and affordability wherever they live, work or travel. Airtel will also make a positive impact in the communities in which we operate through extending our network to rural areas and through our education initiatives."

According to a Deloitte report commissioned by the mobile communications industry association – the GSMA - only 40 out of every 100 Africans have a mobile phone, and a 10 percent rise in mobile penetration could increase gross domestic product by 1.2 per cent in developing markets.

Demand is growing at an average rate of 25 percent annually, and analysts forecast that sub-Saharan Africa will increase its mobile penetration to 65 percent by 2013 with most of the growth coming from rural areas.

Sam Elangalloor, Airtel Tanzania Managing Director, said: "We're aiming to increase our subscriber base by 150 percent by 2012 to 100 million customers across Africa. That growth will stimulate economies and create thousands of direct jobs, jobs in support industries like retailing and distribution, and connect communities.

"Not only will we have a positive impact on the economic development of Tanzania but we will help the people of Tanzania achieve their goals through mobile communications that are innovative, relevant, available and affordable."

In the past four months Airtel has already made tariff interventions in 11 of its 16 markets in Africa for the benefit of its customers. It has also signed agreements with three world class telecommunications infrastructure suppliers – Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks – to extend its networks to the most remote areas which are at present disconnected from the world.

Cheick Sarr, Marketing Director of Airtel Tanzania, said: "The mobile handset will be the device that bridges the digital divide and change the lives of people across the continent for the better, catalyzing economic growth, connecting people to the world – in some cases for the first time - and giving people everywhere access to education, healthcare and banking services.

"Access to mobile communications will give people the freedom to achieve their goals in life, transforming how people communicate and how communities interact. Delivering on that opportunity through affordable and available mobile communications for everyone is our focus."


Free mobile phone for all
To support the claim of delivering affordable access to mobile communications for everyone, Airtel has announced the launch of a new ultra low cost handset package which effectively provides a mobile phone free of charge to all new subscribers.

The package, launched in conjunction with Nokia, costs just 39,000 Shillings. Included in the deal is a brand new Nokia 1280 mobile phone, a free SIM card and the equivalent value in free airtime and SMS text messages.

Sam Elangalloor, Airtel Tanzania Managing Director, said: "We're driven by the vision of making mobile communications affordable and available for all. Access to mobile communications will give people the freedom to achieve their goals in life, transforming how people communicate and how communities interact.

"Delivering on that opportunity through affordable and available mobile communications for everyone is our focus and this new Airtel package effectively removes the cost of entry for even the poorest people in the most remote areas."

Elangalloor said: "The mobile handset will be the device that bridges the digital divide and change the lives of people across the continent for the better, catalyzing economic growth, connecting people to the world – in some cases for the first time - and giving people everywhere access to education, healthcare and banking services.

"By effectively giving away a band new Nokia mobile phone for free and providing a SIM card plus talk time and SMS credits, now everyone in Tanzania can unleash the opportunities that mobile communications provide. This Airtel package gives them the freedom to achieve their goals in life."

The Airtel Nokia value package is available at all Airtel shops, dealers and Nokia shops.


Innovation driving change

Providing relevant, innovative solutions that make people's lives easier and increase opportunities for social and economic development is another of Airtel's core principles. The Airtel One Network, the world's first borderless mobile network, has been recognized globally as the leading example of network innovation by mobile industry organizations and former European Commissioner Vivienne Redding.

Available across 26 countries in Africa and the Middle East, Airtel One Network gives all post paid and prepaid customers the opportunity to move freely across geographic borders without roaming call surcharges and without having to pay for incoming calls.

Customers also receive the same services that they enjoy in their home country such as voicemail and customer service in their local languages, and airtime credit transfer for prepaid customers. The Airtel One Network service is automatically activated upon crossing the geographic border into any of the Airtel One Network countries, with no prior registration required or sign-up fee charged.

"In a region that is historically dependant on freedom of movement across borders, this service fits the needs of our customers perfectly, breaking down barriers and making life better for business, families and individuals from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans," said Manoj Kohli.


The new logo
The new Airtel brand is much more than just a change of name. The brand comes with a promise to meet the emerging needs of customers with innovative, affordable and relevant solutions to empower consumers, giving them the freedom to do what they choose and provide them with the tools to meet life's daily challenges.

The red primary colour of the logo reflects the warmth and vibrancy of the African continent. It is the colour of life and of the African sun at dusk. These qualities are reflected in Airtel's brand personality of being brave and bold, giving and empathetic.

The new identity and core values were developed in partnership with a consortium of companies from WPP, the world's largest marketing services group. The Brand Union developed the identity; Millward Brown undertook consumer research and insight; Ogilvy developed the 360 degree campaign; and Hill & Knowlton directed communications.

Brand architect Andre Beyers, Airtel Group's Chief Marketing Officer, said: "Airtel is a well established brand across Asia and recognized by more than 190 million customers. The new brand identity – adopted across our 16 African operations – will become instantly recognizable by our customers across the continent. We aspire to be the most loved brand in Africa within the next four years."

Airtel is launching a number of world leading product innovations over the coming months that focus on delivering relevant information for customers that enhance their quality of life and provide tools that will help them overcome their daily challenges.

Airtel has also extended its sponsorship of the MTV African Music Awards – the MAMAs – Africa's premier music event and it is offering a number of exclusive products, including ringtones, wallpapers and highlights for the MAMAs , through its mobile portal, Airtel Live.

 

[Lucchese DeCavalcante]

Habri njema kwa sie tulioko Zain Mkuu

 

[Ilumine]

Telecommunications company Zain Kenya on Monday underwent its fourth re-branding, becoming Bharti Airtel.
The re-branding is expected to complete the takeover of Zain's Africa operations by Indian telecoms giant Bharti Airtel and comes after the Indian company acquired Zain's Africa assets at a cost over 850 billion shillings.
The company which initially begun operations in Kenya as Kencell in mid 2000 has re-branded four times in 10 years.
The Kencell brand operated for four years and in 2004 the company changed names and became Celtel. The Celtel brand did not last for long, however, and in 2008 it became Zain Kenya in an exercise that costed approximately 3.2 billion shillings.
And today two years down the line Zain is changing to Bharti Airtel after the company injected 12 billion shillings into the re-branding and expansion exercises.
Bharti Airtel acquired Zain's operations in 15 countries in Africa at a cost of 856 billion shillings. The transaction makes Bharti Telecom one of the five largest mobile operators in the world.
Perhaps the bigger question remains whether the re-branding and frequent name changes affects the uptake of the company's services in Kenya. Safaricom currently controls the largest subscriber base of 12 million while Zain Kenya controls two million subscribers only.
Whether Bharti Airtell is capable of succeeding where its predecessors failed and increase its share in the market and give Safaricom the competition it needs remains to be seen.
Bundled Package
And hot on the heels of the continental re-branding of all Zain Africa operations the company says Kenyans are now set to experience the freedom of joining a mobile phone network as Airtel Kenya has unveiled a virtually free handset and airtime bundled sales offer.
Airtel Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza said for just Ksh 1850, Airtel Kenya customers can now purchase the bundled package comprising of a brand new Nokia 1280 Handset and, an Airtel SIM card and talk time.
The offer, Meza said, is geared at connecting unconnected Kenyans and will also allow the new Airtel subscribers to enjoy an equivalent amount in free talk time over the first 12 month period once they load any amount of Airtel credit to the SIM card.
"We're driven by the vision of making mobile communications affordable and available for all. Access to mobile communications will give people the freedom to achieve their goals in life, transforming how people communicate and how communities interact," said Meza.
"Delivering on that opportunity through affordable and available mobile communications for everyone is our focus and this new Airtel package effectively removes the cost of entry for even the poorest people in the most remote areas," he added.
Nokia, East and Southern Africa General Manager Mr Kenneth Oyolla, said: "The mobile handset is the device truly able to bridge the digital divide and impact the lives of people across the continent for the better, catalyzing economic growth and social development. It connects people to the world - in some cases for the first time - and gives people everywhere access to education, healthcare and banking services."
"By effectively giving away a brand new Nokia mobile phone for free and providing a SIM card plus talk time and SMS credits, now everyone in Kenya can unleash the opportunities that mobile communications provide. This Airtel package gives them the freedom to achieve their goals in life and Nokia is very excited to be part of this great programme."
Airtel has African operations in: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.


© 2010 Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.


MY TAKE: Au hapa ndio kanachezwa kale kamchezo ka kukwepa kulipa kodi?
Nionavyo mimi, "Msitu mpya, lakini Nyani ni wale wale".

 

[Nucho jr.]

Telecommunications company Zain Kenya on Monday underwent its fourth re-branding, becoming Bharti Airtel.
The re-branding is expected to complete the takeover of Zain's Africa operations by Indian telecoms giant Bharti Airtel and comes after the Indian company acquired Zain's Africa assets at a cost over 850 billion shillings.
The company which initially begun operations in Kenya as Kencell in mid 2000 has re-branded four times in 10 years.
The Kencell brand operated for four years and in 2004 the company changed names and became Celtel. The Celtel brand did not last for long, however, and in 2008 it became Zain Kenya in an exercise that costed approximately 3.2 billion shillings.
And today two years down the line Zain is changing to Bharti Airtel after the company injected 12 billion shillings into the re-branding and expansion exercises.
Bharti Airtel acquired Zain's operations in 15 countries in Africa at a cost of 856 billion shillings. The transaction makes Bharti Telecom one of the five largest mobile operators in the world.
Perhaps the bigger question remains whether the re-branding and frequent name changes affects the uptake of the company's services in Kenya. Safaricom currently controls the largest subscriber base of 12 million while Zain Kenya controls two million subscribers only.
Whether Bharti Airtell is capable of succeeding where its predecessors failed and increase its share in the market and give Safaricom the competition it needs remains to be seen.
Bundled Package
And hot on the heels of the continental re-branding of all Zain Africa operations the company says Kenyans are now set to experience the freedom of joining a mobile phone network as Airtel Kenya has unveiled a virtually free handset and airtime bundled sales offer.
Airtel Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza said for just Ksh 1850, Airtel Kenya customers can now purchase the bundled package comprising of a brand new Nokia 1280 Handset and, an Airtel SIM card and talk time.
The offer, Meza said, is geared at connecting unconnected Kenyans and will also allow the new Airtel subscribers to enjoy an equivalent amount in free talk time over the first 12 month period once they load any amount of Airtel credit to the SIM card.
"We're driven by the vision of making mobile communications affordable and available for all. Access to mobile communications will give people the freedom to achieve their goals in life, transforming how people communicate and how communities interact," said Meza.
"Delivering on that opportunity through affordable and available mobile communications for everyone is our focus and this new Airtel package effectively removes the cost of entry for even the poorest people in the most remote areas," he added.
Nokia, East and Southern Africa General Manager Mr Kenneth Oyolla, said: "The mobile handset is the device truly able to bridge the digital divide and impact the lives of people across the continent for the better, catalyzing economic growth and social development. It connects people to the world - in some cases for the first time - and gives people everywhere access to education, healthcare and banking services."
"By effectively giving away a brand new Nokia mobile phone for free and providing a SIM card plus talk time and SMS credits, now everyone in Kenya can unleash the opportunities that mobile communications provide. This Airtel package gives them the freedom to achieve their goals in life and Nokia is very excited to be part of this great programme."
Airtel has African operations in: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.


© 2010 Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.


MY TAKE: Au hapa ndio kanachezwa kale kamchezo ka kukwepa kulipa kodi?
Nionavyo mimi, "Msitu mpya, lakini Nyani ni wale wale".

ndo ivyo

 

[Hofstede]

Habri njema kwa sie tulioko Zain Mkuu

Habari njema kwa nyie ila kwa nchi si habari njema kabisa. Unajua nimeangalia yaani viongozi wanaalikwa na kukenua meno kuwa Zain inaondoka sasa. Unajua consequences zake ni kwamba hawa Airtel watapata Tax holiday for next five years then wataondoka na kujibrand kwa jina jipya.

Hawa wahindi wanaitafuna sana nchi, yaani kampuni imefikia milking stage then inajiunda upya kama new investors ambao wanakuwa na opportunity ya kupata tax holiday. Mnakumbuka mchezo wa Sheraton ilivyokuwa inajibadilibadili, basi ndiyo huu sasa. Tanzania sijui lini tutakuwa na akili.

 

[Uwezo Tunao]

From TTCL of Tanzanians at Kijitonyama to (2) Celtel, then (3) Zain and now a (4) AirTel as we do not know their next name; what is it that local owners of this company hidding under foreign corporate names trying to HIDE from Tanzanians who are STILL OWED many explanation on how our rightful assets have since kept changing hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ngoja ...

 

[Uwezo Tunao]

Je, ni kitu gani ambacho WAMILIKI wa kampuni hii ya simu wanataka kutuambia sisi wananchi kwa kubadilishwa jina kila kukicha???

Kampuni hii ya simu (1) AirTel, kambla ya hapo ilikua ni mali ya Wa-Tanzania pale Kijitonyama ikiitwa (2) TTCL. Tukaingizwa kwenye MKATABA ambao wengi bado tunapenda kujua maendeleo yake hadi leo hii mara likageuka kuwa (3) Celtel, na huku tukiendelea kutafakari mara kampuni likaitwa (4) ZAIN Ulimwengu Maridhawa.

Sasa, umaridhawa wa ulimwengu wenyewe haujazaa hata matunda tena tunasikia sasa kampuni inaitwa (5) AirTel. Hivi hawa wawekezaji MAFISADI ambao wanamiliki mikampuni kibao nchini zilizobinafsishwa kwa bei chee, huku wakijificha nyuma ya majina ya makampuni ya nje, wanahangaika kutuficha nini?????

 

[firstcollina]

Habari njema kwa nyie ila kwa nchi si habari njema kabisa. Unajua nimeangalia yaani viongozi wanaalikwa na kukenua meno kuwa Zain inaondoka sasa. Unajua consequences zake ni kwamba hawa Airtel watapata Tax holiday for next five years then wataondoka na kujibrand kwa jina jipya.

Hawa wahindi wanaitafuna sana nchi, yaani kampuni imefikia milking stage then inajiunda upya kama new investors ambao wanakuwa na opportunity ya kupata tax holiday. Mnakumbuka mchezo wa Sheraton ilivyokuwa inajibadilibadili, basi ndiyo huu sasa. Tanzania sijui lini tutakuwa na akili.

Mkuu, kupata tax exclussion for five years siyo kitu cha lazima na wala siyo kusema ni kitu cha kikatiba.... Huo ni upuuzi wa viongozi wetu wanaohusika. Inawezekana kabisa kusema badilisheni jina na kila kitu lakini TAX is inevitable.

Kwangu mimi viongozi wa nchi hii wamekuwa si wazalendo hata kidogo, maana maslai ya nchi kwao yamekuwa ni optinal case wakati kwa wenzetu ni Core. Wamekuwa hawana uchungu kabisa na nchi wala rasilimaliza nchi. We should change immediately otherwise I predict people will Strick to fight for their Rights

 

[Mkubwa Dawa]

Viongozi wetu inabidi waamke kuondoa hili suala la kutolipa kodi kwa miaka mitano huo ni muda mrefu sana kwa nchi kama yetu. Serikali inapoteza mabilioni ya shilingi kwa sheria hii. Hivi kama ni kweli wabunge hawalioni hili...kweli Wadanganyika Mungu tuokoe yarabi.

 

[Ndallo]

Jamani kulikoni tena kwenye mtandao wa ZAIN? Nimeshangaa nampigia jamaa yangu kwenye mtandao wa ZAIN na hata mimi niko ZAIN lakini nimeshangaa najibiwa na Costomer Care eti Number ya AIRTEL UNAYOPIGA HAIPATIKANI! Je ni kua huu mtandao umeshabadilika? kwakua mwanz Go walikua wanajulikana kama CELTEL! Halafu ZAIN! Greaty Thinkers kuna mwenye habari hizi?:thinking:

 

[Ilumine]

Wanachakachua kodi, tunazidi kuwa masikini kwa mikataba hii feki na ya kifisadi. mwe!

 

[birungi]

Wizi mtupu

 

[Discoverer]

Habari njema kwa nyie ila kwa nchi si habari njema kabisa. Unajua nimeangalia yaani viongozi wanaalikwa na kukenua meno kuwa Zain inaondoka sasa. Unajua consequences zake ni kwamba hawa Airtel watapata Tax holiday for next five years then wataondoka na kujibrand kwa jina jipya.

Hawa wahindi wanaitafuna sana nchi, yaani kampuni imefikia milking stage then inajiunda upya kama new investors ambao wanakuwa na opportunity ya kupata tax holiday. Mnakumbuka mchezo wa Sheraton ilivyokuwa inajibadilibadili, basi ndiyo huu sasa. Tanzania sijui lini tutakuwa na akili.

Kampuni bado ni Celtel, ndiyo iliyokuwa registered na mikataba yote inafanywa kwa jina hilo wala sio Zain au Airtel. Hizi ni brand tu!!!
Ni kweli imeuzwa ingawa sio TZ tu, ni kwa nchi zote 14 za Afrika na sio kama hata hizo nchi zina sheria za grace period ya miaka mitano kama sisi.

 

[Keynes]

hivi ndugu zangu hii nchi inaelekea wapi?
tunaomba kujua wenye taarifa kuhusu hii kampuni je serikali ina hisa kiasi gani ndani mpaka viongozi wa juu wote wahudhurie kwenye uzinduzi wake?
Je uuzaji wa hizi kampuni za simu kila mwaka una maadhara gani kwa uchumi wa nchi yetu?
Ni ukwepaji wa kodi kiasi gani umefanyika hapo?
Maana mi ninachokiona hapa ni biashara ya tax holidays kama ile ya sheratoni mpaka sasa!!!!

 

[Gurta]

"Airtel is here to operate and serve the masses. And there is no tax relief (due to acquisition rather), we have taken Zain's legal obligation, including assets and liabilities," Mr Elangalloor said.

He added the four months that has taken to rebrand the company is the shortest period, given the fact that there were a number of issues to settle, including regulatory and legal ones.
http://dailynews.co.tz/business/?n=14763&cat=business

 

[BabaDesi]

Kampuni bado ni Celtel, ndiyo iliyokuwa registered na mikataba yote inafanywa kwa jina hilo wala sio Zain au Airtel. Hizi ni brand tu!!!
Ni kweli imeuzwa ingawa sio TZ tu, ni kwa nchi zote 14 za Afrika na sio kama hata hizo nchi zina sheria za grace period ya miaka mitano kama sisi.

...Kweli. Ma-Foolish ndio waliwawo....!

 

[drphone]

kweli tz akuna wawekezaji ni wezi watupu tu