Nairobi — Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has installed the first public wireless communications hub, known as a 'hotspot'.

It will allow travellers wireless internet access at designated areas within the airport.

The airport becomes the first in East Africa to have the wireless link that allows travellers to use personal laptop computers or other hand-held cordless devices to communicate through the internet.

Kenya becomes the second country in Africa after South Africa to have hotspots at their international airports.

A hotspot is a wireless base station that allows internet connections at broadband speeds.

In a function held at the airport yesterday, Kenya Airports Authority managing director George Muhoho said it was the first step in making the country's airports safe.

The hotspot was commissioned by Ericonet, a wireless internet service provider company.

Dutch company, PicoPoint, which is based in Amsterdam, will supply Ericonet with a centrally managed back-office and roaming solution providing essential authorisation, authentication, accounting, billing and settlement services that will enable Ericonet to offer carrier-grade wi-fi network at the Kenyan airports.