RIYADH, (Reuters) – Zain Saudi Arabia, which started operations in late 2008, posted a 291 percent increase in second-quarter losses.

Zain made a net loss of 857 million riyals ($228.5 million) in the three months ending June 30, 2009, compared to 219 million riyals in the same period last year, it said in a statement on the Saudi bourse website.

The telecom firm, a unit of Kuwait’s Zain, blamed higher costs, as well as marketing and advisory expenses.