Warid Telecom, Pakistan's leading telecommunications company partners with TransferTo, a global mobile airtime network, to implement an innovative international mobile reload service.
Pakistanis overseas can now send the balance to Warid prepaid users back home.
TransferTo service enables customers to send small amounts of value to their home country. The sender simply needs to enter the amount and destination number and send it via SMS. The transaction is processed in real-time through TransferTo secure platform; both sender and receiver are immediately notified by SMS.
Warid Telecom has around 18 million subscribers mostly on prepaid connection plans. This segment is branded and marketed as Zem Prepaid. Almost 4 million Pakistanis live abroad, remitting more than $6.5 billion in 2008. Over 60% of the total overseas Pakistanis are located in the Middle-East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman), as well as in the USA and the UK. So far they didn't have a convenient way of sending small amounts of credit for special occasions. TransferTo comes as the perfect solution for giving out mobile prepaid credits as a gift for birthdays, festivals, celebrations and so on.
"This groundbreaking facility enables, in particular, the Pakistani Diaspora to reload zem numbers of friends and relatives at home in Pakistan," said Waqas Nasir, Product Manager, Products and Services, Warid Telecom. "Warid International TopUp service has a significantly far-reaching presence providing a very relevant service to our subscribers."
With TransferTo complete end-to-end solution, the international top-up solution to Warid prepaid numbers is possible through different channels. The solution is distributed by mobile operators and also directly to customers via retail shops, convenience shops, money transfer operators and call shops.
"Our partnership with Warid Telecom is a valuable addition to our global network of mobile operators," said Eric Barbier, Managing Director, TransferTo. "Our business model is proven beneficial to both developed and emerging countries as we keep extending our coverage."
1.Source: World Bank - Migration and Remittances Pakistan - 2007
About Warid Telecom (Pvt.) Ltd
Warid Telecom (Pvt.) Ltd is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Group & SingTel Group. Abu Dhabi Group entered into a strategic alliance with Singapore Telecom. Subsequent to this transaction in July 2007, telecom giant SingTel acquired 30% percent equity stake in Warid Telecom, Pakistan, for US$758 million. This partnership is part of a strategy to support Warid Telecom's continued growth and to enhance its market position.
Abu Dhabi Group, one of the largest business groups in the Middle East and the single largest foreign investor in Pakistan. It has diversified business interests, offering strong financial resources and extensive management expertise that result in commercial success for several institutions.
For further information on Warid Telecom, visit http://www.waridtel.com
