Global telecoms firm VimpelCom, which has operations in Africa, has partnered with popular instant messaging company WhatsApp to deliver communication offers to its customers.

VimpelCom is an integrated telecoms services operator providing voice and data services through traditional and broadband mobile and fixed technologies.

VimpelCom has operations in four African countries such as Algeria, Burundi, Central African Republic and Zimbabwe.

And according to a press statement, VimpelCom customers in Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to be able to enjoy mobile messaging and social offers including full WhatsApp functionalities such as group messaging, sharing pictures, video messages, voice messages, contacts and locations.

The offers have already been launched in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and are planned to be made available in other VimpelCom markets in due course.

The partnership would also provide VimpelCom customers offers within bundled tariff plans, and help drive internet usage and revenues in the markets where the company operates, reads a press statement.

Mikhail Gerchuk, VimpelCom's group chief commercial and strategy officer said, "Our key priority is to deliver the best mobile experience to our customers. Today, many of our customers use internet services such as WhatsApp to communicate and this is a key factor behind our strong growth in mobile data users and revenues. This partnership is a further step by VimpelCom towards delivering to our customers the most popular, relevant and innovative applications in a convenient and cost-effective way."

"Our goal is to allow people to communicate with their friends and loved ones around the globe," said Brian Acton, co-founder of WhatsApp.

"We are delighted to partner with Vimpelcom to provide a great offering to our mutual users. This partnership allows us to tap into VimpelCom's market presence and continue WhatsApp's significant growth as a world leader in mobile messaging, in important markets," he added.

Mobile messaging service, WhatsApp, currently has over 350 million monthly active users across six continents.