On The Web

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Deals

MTN targets valuation of at least $5bn for mobile money arm

April 12 2021

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“South Africa’s MTN, the continent’s biggest mobile phone company by subscribers, is looking to value its mobile money arm at more than $5bn as it prepares to sell or list a minority stake to draw global investors enticed by fast-growing fintech assets. Chief executive Ralph Mupita told the Financial Times that the unit, which added […]

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Global

Kenya Becomes the Second African Country to Launch 5G

April 5 2021

• in
• Kenya
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“Mobile network operator Safaricom has launched a 5G network in Kenya. This makes it the second country in Africa to roll out the technology to customers, according to GSMA, an organization representing mobile network operators worldwide. The company is trialling the technology in four towns, and expects to expand it to nine over the next […]

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Deals

Mastercard to Invest $100 Million in Airtel Africa’s Mobile Money Unit

April 1 2021

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“Mastercard Inc will invest $100 million in Airtel Africa’s mobile money operations valuing the business at $2.65 billion, the London-listed company said on Thursday. Mastercard will hold a minority stake in Airtel Mobile Commerce, in line with Airtel Africa’s plan to monetise the mobile money business by selling up to a 25% stake in the […]

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Deals

Airtel Africa Sells $200M Mobile Money Business Stake to TPG’s Rise Fund

March 18 2021

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“In February, London-listed telecom, Airtel Africa , said it was looking to sell a minority stake in its mobile money business in a bid to raise cash and sell off some assets. The firm seems to have found an investor as it announced that The Rise Fund , the global impact investing platform of investment […]

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Providers

M-Pesa Revenue Dip In Kenya Is Beyond Mobile Money Fee Waivers

November 20 2020

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“Earlier this year in March, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) imposed a fee waiver on transfers for transactions of no more than KES 1 K (USD 9.15 at current rates). This was part of efforts aimed at containing the spread of the virus as banknotes were identified as a risk factor for the contagion. […]

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Global

Pandemic Spurs Africa’s Mobile Telcos to Ramp Up Banking Bid

September 29 2020

• in
• Africa
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“When COVID-19 hit Ivory Coast, Bonaventure Kra, who works at an import-export business, began to worry. Handling hard cash all day was a risk. Queuing in crowded bank branches exposed him to infection. Then, in the midst of the pandemic, French telecommunications giant Orange ORAN.PA launched an entirely digital bank – its first full banking […]

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Providers

M-Pesa Users to View Recipient’s Name Before Sending Cash

September 11 2020

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“Customers sending money using M-Pesa platform will now be able to see the name of the targeted recipient before completing the transaction in Safaricom’s  latest bid to minimise chances of erroneous transfers. The new feature is an improvement from the current one where customers have to complete the transaction first before being given the option of […]

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Providers

Airtel Africa, Standard Chartered partner to expand financial inclusion

August 14 2020

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“Standard Chartered Bank and Airtel Africa have partnered to enhance financial inclusion across key markets in Africa by providing services such as online deposits, international money transfers etc. “ Airtel Money ’s customers will be able to make real-time online deposits and withdrawals from Standard Chartered bank accounts, receive international money transfers directly to their […]

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Providers

Kenya’s M-Pesa sees consumer, business services opportunities in COVID-19

August 10 2020

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“M-Pesa is planning a consumer “lifestyle” offering as it seeks to deepen clients’ use of its mobile-money application, Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, interim CEO of M-Pesa Africa, tells The Africa Report. Consumer choices of goods and services will be embedded into the M-Pesa app in the new product, Lopokoiyit says. The offer, planned within the next 12 […]

On The Wires

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Global

Airtel Africa partners with Mukuru to facilitate cross-border money transfers within Africa

July 31 2020

• in
• Mobile Networks (MNO)

“Airtel Africa plc [Airtel Africa], a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Mukuru, one of Africa’s largest remittance organisations, announced a partnership which will enable Mukuru customers to instantly send cross-border transfers directly to Airtel Money customer wallets in 12 African countries.”