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July 20 2004

Kenyan GSM Cellular service firm Safaricom says it is to add another 125 base stations in Nairobi to bulwark its network. The firm reported another 200 units are to be added in the rest of the country.

It intends to employ some Sh8 billion in capital expenditure in the year. The firm is targeting a massive 2.5 million subscribers by early next year.

Chief executive Michael Joseph said the Safaricom which reported a profit of over Sh5 billion recently was clawing back all the profits into the network. Safaricom already has 1.7 million customers putting it well ahead of competitor KenCell.

The new funds will go into network upgrading and new services.

He spoke as Safaricom launched a high-speed data transmitting technology in the Kenyan market.

The firm said the new technology which allows customers to access data through mobile phones and computers would be extended to roaming services in two months.

The internet protocol data transmission is done through the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). It allows users to access e-mail and internet services while in the field.

It has a speed of 53.4 kilo bytes per second.

Kenya joins South Africa and Egypt in adopting the technology.Dubbed Safaricom Mobile Office, it will initially to be available to postpaid clients.

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Besides the outstanding GPRS charges, new customers will pay Sh1,000 for connection while it is free for existing customers. There will be a monthly access fee of Sh500 and it is to cost 40 cents per kilobyte to download or upload.

"With the capacity to provide higher speed internet access, GPRS provides a solution to the problem of a lack of internet access," said Mr Joseph.