MTN Rwanda announced phasing out physical airtime

MTN Rwanda

MTN Rwanda has announced that it will phase out the sale and distribution of physical airtime vouchers as of February 15th, 2020. Airtime will only be purchased and loaded through MTN’s digital Electronic Recharge Service (ERS) or MTN Mobile Money (MoMo). This is in their quest to continue to lead the digital agenda for a brighter Rwanda and more importantly contribute to the country’s green growth. Speaking about this decision to go wholly digital, MTN’s Chief Sales and Distribution Officer, Mr Norman Munyampundu said, “MTN Rwanda is set to deliver…

MTN Zambia launches non-expiry data bundles

MTN Rwanda

MTN Zambia has launched a new range of non-expiry mobile data bundles dubbed Freedom bundles. The Freedom bundles are added to existing mobile data bundles to offer customers more choice and to contribute to digital inclusion in Zambia. This introduction, the first of its kind in Zambia, means that MTN Zambia data customers can now load and use mobile data bundles that do not expire before they are exhausted. MTN Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bart Hofker said, “Zambia’s number 1 network has taken the lead in the industry by…

MTN launches ‘world first’ WhatsApp-based Airtime Top-up service

MTN says it will become the first mobile network in the world to let customers buy airtime and data bundles and check their balances directly on Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp. The service, MTN Chat, will help customers manage their accounts “off a secure and convenient platform they already know and love”, said Mapula Bodibe, MTN SA’s consumer business executive. “It’s imperative that companies focus on improving self-service experiences to retain and grow customers and this is an important step for MTN,” Bodibe said. Calling it a world first for the…

Maviance raises 3Million to digitize financial services

Maviance raises 3Million to digitize financial services Maviance, a Cameroon-based company providing digital financial services like agency banking and bulk bill payments, has raised $3 million in equity financing. The investment is solely from MFS Africa, the cross-border fintech company connecting mobile money providers like MTN to banks like Ecobank across over 34 countries in Africa. MFS Africa’s investment gives it an undisclosed minority stake in Maviance. Maviance’s flagship product is Smobilpay, a platform that integrates payment solutions from banks, mobile money operators, and telecom operators. Smobilpay is connected to…

2020 survey lists the most admired African brands

2020 survey lists the most admired African brands

The survey which started 10 years ago, is now seen as the most authoritative survey, analysis, and metric of African brands. It is a consumer-led survey that seeks to establish brand preferences across Africa. The respondents of this survey are 18 years and older, in 27 countries which collectively represent 50% of the continent, covering all economic regions and accounting for an estimated 80% of the population and the GDP of Africa. American sports and fitness giant, Nike takes the top spot for the third year in a row. MTN…

Safaricom to roll out their 5G Network this year

Safaricom

Kenya’s biggest telecom carrier,safaricom as they roll out their 5G network this year. Michael Joseph, Safaricom’s Acting CEO said this this week according to Business Daily. He said this at a time where Huawei has been under criticism by the US authorities over them building 5G networks, citing security concerns. “We will use Huawei in 5G. What will we do in terms of the American statements about not using Huawei? We don’t have that situation in Africa,” Michael Joseph was quoted as saying. Huawei has been battling the United States…

9mobile hosts a Mobile Network Operators workshop

9mobile

9mobile, the leading telecom operator in Nigeria, in association with Google, and Kirusa, a global leader in communication solutions over data networks for consumers and enterprises, recently hosted a workshop in Lagos for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Aggregators, and brands to introduce Rich Communication Services (RCS), and showcase how RCS Business Messaging (RBM) is revolutionizing enterprise communication with their consumers. The workshop was attended by over 50 attendees, including representatives from MTN, Airtel, Glo, GTB, Zenith Bank, Unity Bank, Accion Microfinance, Interswitch, and Infobip, among others. Touted as the next-generation…

Korba launched an all inclusive shortcode

MTN Rwanda

Korba, a leading Ghanaian Fintech brand owned and operated by Halges Financial Technologies Ltd, has launched an all inclusive and innovative shortcode that allows users to transfer funds, pay bills, purchase airtime, data bundles among others. The newly introduced *365# promises to be a game-changer in Ghana’s financial services ecosystem providing users with utmost convenience and security. Speaking at the launch, Nelson Da Seglah, CEO of Halges Financial Technologies said the introduction of the shortcode is in line with the company’s commitment to continuously evolve to serve customers better. He…

Visa acquires stake in Nigeria’s Interswitch

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Nigerian digital payments firm Interswitch confirmed today it has reached unicorn status after Visa acquired a minority equity stake in the firm. Global payments giant Visa will invest $200 million for 20% stake in Interswitch, electronic payments company, UK’s Sky  News reports. The investment places a billion-dollar valuation on 17-year old Interswitch and is a major boon ahead of a proposed initial public offering slated for  the London Stock Exchange next year. “The investment makes Interswitch one of the most valuable African fintech businesses with a valuation of $1 billion,”…

Jumia’s stock has reportedly lost more than half of its value since its NYSE public IPO

Jumia, the ‘African’ ecommerce company that has its corporate headquarters in Dubai and operations in 14 African countries including Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, continues to struggle after an initial good run at the New York Stock Exchange. It’s stock closed at $6.68, an all-time low, on Friday, with the market cap going down to ~$520 million. For the sake of context, the Rocket Internet-founded Jumia had become a unicorn (with a valuation of $1.08 billion) in 2016 (when it was known as Africa Internet Group or AIG) after raising…