AIRTEL AFRICA COLLABORATES WITH MASTERCARD TO TRANSFORM DIGITAL PAYMENTS FOR TANZANIAN CONSUMERS

Airtel Tanzania Director of Airtel Money Services, Isaack Nchuda (center) speaks to reporters in Dar es Salaam recently while announcing a partnership between Airtel and Mastercard to launch a virtual card that will enable Airtel Money customers to pay for services, goods, apps, hotel or travel and digital content at any time of the day, through any online merchants globally that accept payments from Mastercard. He is flanked by Adam Jones, Vice President and Area Business Head, East Africa, Mastercard (left) and Selcom Executive Director, Sameer Hirji (right).

Vice President and Area Business Head, East Africa, Mastercard (left) speaks to reporters in Dar es Salaam recently, while announcing a partnership between Airtel and Mastercard to launch a virtual card that will enable Airtel Money customers to pay for services, goods, apps, hotel or travel and digital content at any time of the day, through any online merchants globally that accept payments from Mastercard. He is flanked by Airtel Tanzania Director of Airtel Money Services, Isaack Nchuda (center) and Selcom Executive Director, Sameer Hirji (right).

Airtel Tanzania Director of Communications, Beatrice Singano stresses a point during the event, where Airtel has partnered with Mastercard to launch a virtual card that will enable Airtel Money customers to pay for services, goods, apps, hotel or travel and digital content at any time of the day, through any online merchants globally that accept payments from Mastercard. 

Airtel Tanzania Director of Communications, Beatrice Singano stresses a point during the event, where Airtel has partnered with Mastercard to launch a virtual card that will enable Airtel Money customers to pay for services, goods, apps, hotel or travel and digital content at any time of the day, through any online merchants globally that accept payments from Mastercard.

Airtel Money customers, even those without a bank account, can now make online payments globally with their virtual Airtel Money Mastercard

Airtel Tanzania, the smartphone network, recently announced a partnership with Mastercard, launching a virtual card that will enable Airtel Money customers to pay for services, goods, apps, hotel or travel, and digital content (such as Netflix) at any time of the day, through any online merchants globally that accept payments from Mastercard. Powered by Mastercard’s global-best technology, Airtel Tanzania customers will be able to enjoy private, secure and seamless digital payments through this partnership.

In addition, Airtel Money customers will also be able to make in-person payments at outlets via Quick Response (QR) codes (whereby payments are made from an Airtel Money wallet by scanning the QR code displayed at checkout or by entering a merchant short code, at any location that Mastercard QR is accepted).

The launch is aimed at further promoting and deepening financial inclusion among Tanzanians. As per the latest statistics from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Tanzania has more than 22.9 million mobile money subscriptions with total mobile money transactions value pegged at more than TZS 8 trillion by June 2019. In recent years, mobile money has evolved from traditional payments such as domestic remittances and airtime top-ups, to more complex financial products.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam recently, during the launch of the Airtel Money Mastercard Virtual card, Airtel Tanzania Director of Airtel Money Services, Isaack Nchuda said, “We are currently living in a world where payments are processed every second and mobile money transactions are also on the increase. Our partnership with Mastercard will help us accomplish our vision of providing unique and affordable services and products which fit in to the daily lives of customers. The launch of this Airtel Money Mastercard Virtual card shows our commitment to support the Government’s ongoing financial inclusion initiatives.”

The virtual card allows for Airtel consumers to easily make payments at any online purchase point where Mastercard is accepted without the need for a bank account or credit card. Customers can request the virtual card from the Airtel Money USSD menu by dialling *150*60# select 6 Financial services, then 1 and follow the instructions. Once the card is created, the virtual card is ready for use for online payments.

Speaking at the same event, Adam Jones, Vice President and Area Business Head, East Africa, Mastercard said, “The partnership with Airtel will enable financial inclusion and access for millions of consumers in the country. Through our digital partnerships strategy, our aim is to continue offering easy, convenient and secure payment solutions that accelerate Tanzania’s digital transformation. In an evolving ecosystem, Mastercard is well positioned as a one-stop payments technology provider to lead the transition to digital for our partners across the Middle East and Africa, so that their consumers can enjoy a superior and world-class payments experience.”

“Mobile money has already helped reduce transaction costs, improve safety for individuals and businesses, and enhance the efficiency of the economy by reducing the need for users to travel long distances to bank branches to make transactions in person. The Airtel Money Mastercard Virtual card will extend the usage of the Airtel Money wallets to global online payments” Jones added.

Airtel Money Tanzania is currently connected to over 1,000 billers including utility service providers and is also integrated with over 40 financial institutions which allow customers to make withdrawals and savings. In addition, Airtel Tanzania is rapidly expanding across the country with more than 800 Airtel Money branches providing all Airtel services and products.

In his remarks, Selcom Executive Director, Sameer Hirji affirmed the company’s commitment to continuously future-proofing and enhancing its infrastructure and market positioning to be able to support and offer increasingly sophisticated and relevant payment instruments to partners such as Airtel and Mastercard to realize their grander objectives in the payments space. “Selcom has been one of the few constants in the payments space over the past decade, and a pivotal force in the digitization of payments in Tanzania, and as we grow stronger we leverage on partnerships like this to deliver the financial inclusion promise to every Tanzanian. What we have achieved here today is momentous, we have made the world a lot smaller for Airtel Money customers.”