STC, a leading telecommunications provider in the region, has joined with Egypt Air to launch its international roaming system on board flights enabling passengers to use their mobile phones during air travel.

STC said the inflight roaming service will be available for its Aljawal customers on board the Egyptian flagship carrier after take-off and until landing as part of its endeavor to provide convenience and continuous connectivity to its passengers.

With this service, travelers can enjoy all the advantages of the service including incoming and outgoing phone calls, SMS’s, and emails, and internet browsing directly through their mobile phones onboard, the company said in a statement.

STC had launched in-flight roaming facility in 2007 for the first time globally with Saudi Arabian Airlines Airbus A330 and the new Airbus fleet of Emirates.

The company said it later tied up with other carriers including Qatar Airways, Egypt Air, Royal Jordanian, Wataniya Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Malaysian Airlines, Qantas, and British Airways for the roaming service.

In another innovative offer, STC has offered a first of its kind offer in the region which enables 100 randomly drawn customers to get their roaming invoice fully paid for July and August in appreciation of the continued support and usage of the roaming services, the statement said.

In June the company had announced the first summer surprise for this year by offering a free-of-charge call receiving service during roaming to all postpaid customers in more than 90 countries around the world and across all operating networks in these countries without exception.

The telecom giant has signed more than 1200 agreements with international companies for services ranging from postpaid roaming services and SAWA prepaid roaming services to 3G roaming, video call roaming, JawalNet roaming services and MMS service.-TradeArabia News Service