Nairobi — Listed telephony firm Safaricom has launched Kenya's first mobile internet portal. Www.safaricom.com will allow the firm's subscribers to access both local and international content direct from their mobile phones.

"Safaricom is the first provider to come up with a well-packaged information, communications and entertainment service for our subscribers," said chief executive officer Michael Joseph on Wednesday.

Accessible content includes news, local TV programmes, music (audio and video), games, comedies and local sports action.

Already, some 1.6 million Kenyans on Safaricom net access the internet using their phones, and the number is likely to grow further following the recent removal of 16 per cent Value Added Tax on mobile phone handsets.