Mobile phone subscribers in Liberia were on Wednesday night introduced to access to wireless internet and news services via their phones, making Liberia the third African country after South Africa and Tanzania where the technology is being applied.

Launching the third-generation of mobile phone network service, Azzam Sbaity, chief executive officer of LiberCell, a GSM provider, said "we will keep Liberia at the fore-front of modern technology and make communication easier and much faster to serve every sector of the country."

Describing the technology as a "state-of-the-art," Sbaity outlined the scope of the service to include an advanced General Packet Radio Signal (GPRS), which would provide subscribers to full access to wireless internet via their phones and computer at any time and anywhere.

He also said the enhanced data rates for GSM Evolution being provided would enable subscribers to connect three times faster to the internet.

Sbaity disclosed that the technology was set up at his company by the Chinese company Huawai, one of China's leading telecom firms.

Although it is not known what the service would cost subscribers, commercial cafes have been major sources of internet access, costing customers around 1.75 U.S. dollars per hour.

Liberia's Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh said the government was grateful to the Chinese company and was committed to improving the lives of its citizens through technology.

"Our aim is to connect all of the country and we will work with business partners to achieve this," Bropleh said, adding that the initiative was a "good example of international partnership with Liberia and a contribution and commitment to the Liberian economy. "

Source: Xinhua