CC image coutersy of rogiro on Flickr
Kenyan mobile operator Safaricom has opened up its M-Pesa mobile money agents network to rival operators, allowing integration between various mobile money platforms, according to a report.
Business Daily reports the move now allows investors to run M-Pesa services alongside rival mobile money platforms provided by Airtel and Orange.
Last month Safaricom was braced for a ruling by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), which aimed to decide whether the company would have to open up the M-Pesa platform to rivals.
The move will help to foster competition in the mobile money market in the country.
“We made a strategic decision in February 2014 to remove all exclusivity provisions in our M-Pesa agent contracts,” Safaricom corporate affairs director Nzioka Waita is quoted as saying.
“All our 85,000 M-Pesa agents are, therefore, free to engage with whomever they please (this will include other mobile money service providers).”
The company said it would retain its current commission structure, adding lowering fees may result in the closer of some outlets.
Airtel and Safaricom were involved in a regulatory battle recently whereby Airtel accused the number one telecom of charging unregistered users double that of registered users to make use of the service.
