Nairobi — Mobile telephone service provider, Safaricom, has launched an Internet and e-mail service for both business and personal use.

The service to be provided in partnership with Internet service provider, Wananchi Online, enables subscribers to send and receive e-mails and browse the Internet using mobile phones or a computer over the Safaricom network.

Mobile phone and computer users with data enabled sim cards and a data cable will be able to access the Internet from any part of the country covered by the Safaricom network.

"With Safaricom On-line people will be able to work from home, in the field, hotels or airport lounges and constantly keep in touch with the office, colleagues and information sources," the Safaricom Chief Executive, Michael Joseph said.

Pre-paid customers will pay Sh10 per minute while post-paid subscribers will pay Sh7 per minute, based on per second billing.

Joseph said Safaricom On-line will allow customers to connect to the Internet through their mobile phones, giving them full access to the web wherever they are.

However not all mobile phone handsets are configured for Internet access. The handsets that are configured for various phones are Nokia 6110/6310/7210/8310/8350 and 8890. Siemens S35/M35 and C35, Motorola C333, T720 and V661, and Ericsson T20s and R380.

Meanwhile, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) yesterday said it is in the process of licensing a second Internet backbone service provider and a second National Telecommunications Operator (SNO) to compete with the Telkom Kenya.

CCK Director-General, Sammy Kirui, affirmed the regulator's commitment to opening up other segments of the industry to competition.

Kirui further disclosed that the third mobile telephone operator (Econet) will roll out in the first quarter of 2004.

Kirui said the commission will continue to open the communications sector to competition in support of government objectives of job creation and economic recovery.