As part of Zain Sierra Leone's expansion strategy, the company's network has moved from its previous 076 code to 078, director of sales and customer care Keith Tukei revealed Thursday.

Rival GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) operator Africell moved to a new code last month, claiming it had exhausted the former code's available numbers.

Tukei made the announcement at an event entitled "Presentation to Zain Babies," recognizing those born on August 1, the day of Zain's rebranding from Celtel.

The presentation fulfilled the company's promise to support all babies that were born on the day of rebranding, said brand and communication manager Ann Marie Ansumana in her welcome address to guests.

Plans to recognize babies from Bo, Kenema and Makeni, Sierra Leone, as Zain ambassadors include gifts of phones to the infants' mothers for an early start on the path to communication, said managing director Ted Sauti Phiri.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.