AccessKenya has invested US$3.5 million to build a WiMax network targeting Kenyan homes with an initial deployment of 35 base stations in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Access@Home is a broadband service offering guaranteed broadband speeds, reliability and high levels of customer service, said Nancy Imunde, AccessKenya's corporate communications manager.

During the recent announcement of half-year results, AccessKenya managing director Jonathan Somen said the company expected the new product to capture the residential market and solidify AccessKenya's position as a major player in Kenya's telecommunication sector.

AccessKenya has a contract with Alvarion to supply the WiMax equipment. Alvarion has a strong track record in Africa, having worked with Telecom Namibia, Telkom SA and MTN Uganda.

In a market dominated by hype about broadband speeds, AccessKenya is hoping to redefine broadband by ensuring speed and the elimination of shared and erratic service, Imunde said.

AccessKenya has sought to fill a gap in the market felt by many Kenyans, who are forced to pay for Internet according to megabytes downloaded and pay extra if a limit is exceeded, Imunde said. Access@Home offers unlimited downloads for a flat monthly fee, giving clients unlimited use of the Internet, she added.

"AK buys over 300M bytes of international capacity, which is highly utilized by day. It is far less used at night, and this excess night capacity will form the backbone of high speeds for our home broadband customers," Imunde said.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.