Zain Group, the leading mobile telecoms operator across the Middle East and Africa with operations in 22 countries, has signed a three-year ‘framework’ agreement with DNV (Det Norske Veritas).

This deal will help ensure that Zain’s operations in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa are fully compliant with the rigorous international ISO standards.

“The Zain Group vision is to be a global top 10 mobile telecommunications operator by 2011.  To be a global leader we have to operate to the highest possible international standards and this agreement sets a global benchmark for our core business processes. Our customers will also benefit from high integrity systems and processes where their financial data is secured to the highest international standards,” said Zain’s chief strategy officer Haitham Al Khaled.

Zain assessed six world-leading organisations as candidates for the task of helping ensure that their processes and procedures for the 22 Zain operations in the Middle East and Africa would effectively gain certification across all critical business areas and functions.

There are four certifications that all Zain operators will seek to achieve: ISO 9001 Quality with TL9000 Telecommunications Leadership; ISO 14001 Environmental Management System;  ISO 27001 Information Security Management System; BS 25999 Business Continuity Management.
 
At a signing ceremony held in Kuwait City, representatives from Zain and DNV formalised the framework agreement that will prepare Zain for ISO certification at each operation.

Zain operations in several countries are already ISO certified in a number of areas, but this agreement with DNV provides for a common approach to process and standards assessment, giving high level management visibility across all Zain operations in the Middle East and those Group companies in Africa which currently operate under the Celtel brand. 

New Zain operations such as that in Saudi Arabia which will commence operations this year are already being structured with the certification requirements at the core of the business model and the role of DNV is to ensure compliance with the exacting and stringent requirements of the ISO and Telco Industry recognized standards.

“This is an important agreement for DNV as ICT and Telecom is one of our main focus areas.  DNV will, through this agreement, help Zain demonstrate sustainable performance. We look forward to working with Zain, a dynamic and fast growing organisation, to guarantee quality, success and safety each step of the way,” said DNV  vice-president and Middle East regional manager Torger Baardseth. – TradeArabia News Service