Kenya: Press Releases: Safaricom Launches New Internet Experience

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Nairobi, 24 June 2009 --- Listed telecommunications firm Safaricom has launched Kenya’s first mobile internet portal. Branded www.safaricom.com, this service will enable Safaricom subscribers get fast access to a rich and diverse menu of both local and international content direct from their mobile phones, wherever they are in Kenya. The content that can be accessed through the portal includes news, local TV programmes, music (audio and video), games, comedies and local sports action. Through the portal, which presents a unified and easy way for accessing the internet, Safaricom has also put together popular internet sites and content in one place. These include Facebook, Google Search, E-mail (gmail, yahoo, hotmail etc), English Premier League, directory and stock-trading services, among others. Said Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph: “This new service shows that we are continuously improving the internet experience for our subscribers. Safaricom is the first provider to come up with a well-packaged information, communications and entertainment service for our subscribers. Besides having the fastest speeds of any provider, we now bring you the added advantage of easy access to great internet content, on the go. We have deliberately packaged the internet so that our customers can have easy access to the internet content they desire”. He noted that Safaricom’s nationwide 3G network would give the service the widest national reach, versatility and reliability while its price, which is KES8 per megabyte would make it affordable. Already, some 1.6m Kenyans on the Safaricom network access the internet using their phones, and the number is likely to grow further following the recent removal of 16% value added tax on mobile phone handsets. Safaricom reacted to this budget measure by immediately reducing the retail prices of these devices, including data-enabled ones, sold at its 24 retail centres all over Kenya. To be able to use the service, which is exclusive to Safaricom subscribers, a customer will be required to have an internet-ready phone. They will be able to activate it on their phones by dialing *445# and then pressing the call button. On receiving the settings, they will be required to save these and access the web browser through which they will be able to get into www.safaricom.com . The service can be used for faster e-mailing, downloading, browsing, searching, research and facilitating work involving people in different locations. The launch of the portal, which is supported by a corresponding advertising campaign, presents a major improvement in Safaricom’s data offering. Last week, the firm announced the signing of a deal that gives it the exclusive use of infrastructure builder Jamii Telecomm Limited’s 1,000 kilometre-long fibre optic cable network in Nairobi and Mombasa for the next five years. This not only gives “last mile” connection to Safaricom subscribers, but also makes it a one-stop telecom firm with capacity to efficiently deliver voice, video, data and mobility. Safaricom’s other data credentials include an anchor 20% stake in undersea cable venture TEAMS (The East African Marine Systems) and redundant capacity on its peer Seacom. Last year, it snapped up One Communications, a Wimax operator, giving it greater breadth in the data market. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Show/Hide comment form Name Email Title Comment smaller | bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Add Comment