Mobile Telecommunications Co. (ZAIN.KW), or Zain Group has announced it is in advanced talks with Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) regarding a strategic partnership, a tie-up that could lower roaming fees for customers of the UK-based telecoms giant in the Middle East. “Vodafone has more than 40 partnerships of this nature worldwide, whereby customers benefit from their global scale and the in-country operator’s local expertise,” Zain said in a statement carried by Kuwait KUNA news agency. “This is a non-equity deal,” it added. Zain said it will provide more details on its planned Vodafone tie-up in early autumn.