Celtel launches mobile net service in Africa

In the wake of Celtel International’s launch of its mobile Internet service, African leaders say that the region is starting to embrace the Web as a business tool.

Celtel’s mobile Internet service, based on GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), lets users roam throughout its coverage region, from country to country, without paying extra charges. Celtel has a presence in 15 African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi.

Africans are now moving beyond using mobile phones for basic communication, Zambia’s commerce and trade minister, Kenneth Konga, said last week.

“Africa is passing through a challenging economic period which needed the involvement of the private sector,” Konga said. “Telecommunication innovations will eventually lead to the development of economies because such innovations contribute to government revenue.”

Konga said Africa would be more competitive in the global economy if e-commerce were enhanced.

“Subscribers can surf the Internet and read e-mails at the speed of up to 175 kilobytes per second from their laptops and data-enabled mobile phones wherever there is Celtel network,” Celtel managing director David Venn said, of Cetlel’s roaming Internet service.