Vodafone to partner with Lebara Mobile

Vodafone is tipped to be the new operator partner for Lebara Mobile, which is launching a pay-as-you-go Sim card service in the UK.

The deal will allow Lebara Mobile to uses Vodafone’s network for the service, which targets the UK’s growing immigrant population.

Lebara Mobile Sim cards, top-ups and a range of handsets will be available online and through national and independent retailers.

The company aims to attract customers away from calling card services, onto its prepay Sim card service. They will be able to either keep their current phones and numbers, or choose from Lebara Mobile’s range of handsets.

The pre-pay only service will offer cheap international calls, with customer support in several languages.

Lebara Mobile already has an MVNO partnership with Vodafone in Spain. In the UK, calls will be passed to the Lebara Mobile international switched network and routed to their destination.

The deal is inline with Vodafone’s strategy to increase the revenues it makes from wholesale deals allowing other companies to run services on its network.