Airtel Repositions its Mobile Money for International Transfer

Airtel mobile money is being repositioned and will soon be able to facilitate international money transfer in countries where Airtel has a presence, senior company officials have said.

Airtel Zambia managing director Peter Correia said in the capital Lusaka yesterday that the "company will soon start international money transfers that will spread across the company's operations".

The Indian headquartered company has operations in more than 17 African countries including Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia.

The company said Airtel money has grown by approximately 300% between 2014 and 2015, adding that corporate clients are now using the platform to pay employee salaries.

Airtel money country director Brenda Thole said the company will also introduce debit cards and also facilitate internet payments within the next six months.

"Airtel money product will help facilitate trade in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) regions," Thole said.

The company has also launched the shuwa-shuwa campaign, a service-level guarantee to Airtel money customers. The campaign assures customers that Airtel money will always be available and money can be transferred at any time.

Airtel is currently competing for customers with MTN and other mobile money transfer services including Zoona.

Airtel Zambia claims it has over 4 million mobile money subscribers while Zambia's largest mobile phone operator MTN has just above 3 million mobile money customers.