Econet to launch with latest products

Econet Wireless Kenya has made good on its promise to challenge Safaricom's market dominance with the launch of voice, data and money transfer services.

The mobile service provider is set to rollout later this year with an advanced network providing value-added services such as money transfer, mobile banking and roaming, all of which have proved popular with public and private sector players.

The company has signed a partnership with Obopay, a mobile payment service provider based in the U.S., to allow subscribers to transfer money across the network, said Michael Forey, Econet Wireless Kenya managing director. To establish a roaming network, Econet has partnered with Belgacom of Belgium.

With both Safaricom and Zain committing capital to network expansion and the launch of value-added services, Econet has also pledged to invest 35 billion Kenyan shillings (US$496 million) in the next two years.

"Econet Wireless is sparing no effort or resource to ensure the rollout of one of the most technically advanced GSM mobile networks in Kenya," Forey said.

The money transfer aims to compete with Safaricom's M-PESA and Zain's Sokotele. To beat its rivals, Econet hopes to establish an open system that will make it possible for anyone with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card to send and receive money regardless of the network. Safaricom and Zain currently restrict the service to transfers within their networks.

Econet Wireless Kenya is a subsidiary of Econet Wireless International, and the majority shareholder is listed as Essar of India. Ericsson was awarded the contract to build the network infrastructure.

"Ericsson has been working around the clock to ensure the delivery and installation of a functional network," said Thomas Sonesson, Ericsson managing director.