(2 April 2010 4:25 pm)

MUMBAI: BBC World Service has joined hands with African mobile network operator Zain to provide access to BBC content via mobile internet.

As per the deal, Zain has added BBC World Service banners to nine of its mobile portals across the African continent.

Thus, users in Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Chad, Congo, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Uganda will be able to consume BBC World Service news and sports coverage via their mobile handsets, direct from the Zain portal homepage.

Founded in Kuwait, Zain has a commercial presence in 23 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The mobile network claims over 70 million active customers.

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

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