Celtel Zambia has introduced for first time mobile internet access facility to the Zambian market to provide clients with quick access through their mobile phone handsets or laptops, Times of Zambia reported on Friday.

The mobile internet access product is part of its 110 million U. S. dollars investment program for 2006, according to the newspaper.

A limited number of selected corporate clients will familiarize themselves with the product for the next six weeks before it is made available to everyone else.

Celtel managing director David Venn said here on Wednesday that during the six weeks, the selected clients will enjoy free, fast and reliable mobile internet access. By having a data hooked to laptops or handsets, they will be able to read e-mail at the speed of up to 175 kilobytes per second.

He said Celtel mobile internet access allows users to download voice, pictures, video and audio files faster than ever and gives subscribers the convenience to remain connected to the offices through a laptop anywhere they can find the Celtel signal in Zambia.

Celtel data mobile project manager Claudio Goffi said the user will need a data card for a laptop and connect the handsets to the laptop, while the other option will be to surf from the computer.

The service will have international data roaming function in various countries throughout Africa and Europe.

Goffi said the service will have unlimited usage but that the cost tag will be announced later once the service is available to all subscribers.

Source: Xinhua