Low-cost airline Mango on Tuesday announced the launch of its Internet offering G-Connect.

The service, in partnership with Internet Service Provider WirelessG, provides online Internet communication at prepaid data rates through 3G, Wi-Fi and ADSL.

The venture is Mango's first in ancillary revenue-generation outside the traditional aviation environment. Transactions are available through the group's website.

Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout said that the launch of G-Connect through Mango was the first of several additional ancillary revenue-generation products the airline was investigating. "In line with our mandate to deliver sustainably affordable air travel to South Africans, the ancillary products offered will reprise this philosophy. With the increasing importance of access to the Internet, the availability of affordable data rates is paramount."

"The Mango G-Connect partnership makes especial sense in relation to both industries since both companies pride themselves on their endeavours to be affordable, offer value for money and maintain excellent customer service," sid Carel van der Merwe, WirelessG CEO.

G-Connect provides 3G, Wi-Fi and ADSL access from a single online account. Data is available on a prepaid basis in increments of R50, R75, R150 and R200. No contracts are needed and users receive immediate access to the Internet.

Bandwidth purchased carries over 12 months from the last date of sign-in and the service offers 24/7 support, the group said.

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