Vodafone strikes Middle East partnership with Zain

Vodafone has struck a partnership with Middle Eastern operator Zain.

Under the deal announced today, Vodafone and Zain's operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq will be able to offer their customers access to each other's networks and products.

Managed services customers of Vodafone's will be able to extend their contracts to the countries in which Zain operates, and vice versa. Vodafone is also planning to debut new mobile price plans for its multinational customers that cover both Zain's and its own footprint.

The pair are also planning to "harmonise roaming rates in multiple countries" in future, but new packages or rate cuts have yet to be announced. "Customers will be informed of new offers and services as they become available," a Vodafone spokesperson said.

In addition, Zain will gain the right to use Vodafone's brand, and be able to white label or resell its services.

The agreement will allow Vodafone, which has its own businesses in Qatar and Egypt, to expand in the Middle East without the need for acquisitions in the region, and brings the number of such deals Vodafone has signed around the world to 50.

Zain's operations in Lebanon and Sudan are not covered by the arrangement.