Airtel Tanzania and Tigo Tanzania have partnered for a cross-network money transfer service that will make it possible for subscribers from both networks to send and receive money between their mobile money wallets.
HumanIPO reported in June three mobile operators in Tanzania – Tigo, Airtel and Zantel – announced they would launch interoperability for mobile money services, with the interoperable services to go live within a month.
The announcement by Airtel and Tigo falls under this agreement, with the service now live between the two operators.
“This partnership with Tigo is a world first service allowing customers to transact directly to their e—wallet or respective recipient’s e—wallet,” Airtel Tanzania managing director Sunil Colaso said.
“With off—net charges removed, it means lower cost and less hassle in withdrawing cash, therefore making the service more relevant to our customers’ needs,” Colaso said.
Airtel said the introduction of the service is intended to improve financial inclusion in the country, with the Bank of Tanzania estimating financial inclusion at 22 per cent for 2013.
HumanIPO reported in May nine telecoms companies with operations across Africa agreed to work together to achieve interoperability in mobile money services across the continent under the Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI) programme, in a bid to accelerate the identifiable benefits of mobile financial inclusion.
