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Mobile money company Airtel Money has launched a virtual payment solution called Airtel Money Mastercard in Zambia.
The solution enables its customers and even those without bank accounts to make global e-commerce payments securely as demand for digital payment accelerates.
According to a statement, the launch forms part of Airtel Africa’s strategic partnership with Mastercard to give over 100 million Airtel Africa mobile phone users across 14 African countries access to Mastercard’s global network.
“At Airtel, we are continually looking at new ways to add value and create an enhanced customer experience for our customers using our products and services, said James Chona, Airtel Money Director in Zambia.
The virtual (non-plastic, non-physical) payment solution is linked to Airtel Money wallets and can be used to make a wide range of payments to online merchants that accept Mastercard including Netflix, Uber, Amazon, Google, Aliexpress and Alibaba.
Mastercard says, users in Zambia can shop at well-known global e-commerce brands, book and pay for travel, or pay for online services such as utility bills or subscriptions through Mastercard on Airtel Money wallets.
The payment solution will also enable small businesses to procure goods and services from suppliers, either in Zambia or from abroad that accept Mastercard for payments.
With its easy-to-use function, customers need to add items to their online shopping cart and complete the required card payment details on the merchant’s website to complete their payment transaction.
The Mastercard payment offering supports Airtel Money’s strategy that focuses on offering customers across the continent a range of products and services to enable more efficient and seamless payments online, boosting financial inclusion.
Ngozi Megwa, Senior Vice President for Digital Partnerships, Mastercard Middle East and Africa, said, “Mastercard is uniquely positioned as a single technology provider to enable the digital transformation of our partners like Airtel, while connecting over 3.5 million Airtel Zambia consumers, as reported in June 2021, to the global digital economy.”
The initiative with Airtel Money customers plays a key role in advancing Mastercard’s worldwide commitment to financial inclusion and Mastercard’s pledge to bring a total of 1 billion people, 50 million micro and small businesses, and 25 million women entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025.
The solution will meet the demand for Zambian consumers who want greater access to e-commerce, as mobile internet connections accelerate due to the low cost of smartphones and high-speed GSM networks being rolled out by Mobile Network Operators like Airtel.
Leveraging Mastercard’s global network, consumers – even those who are unbanked – can now access a world of digital products from the device in their pockets – their mobile phones.
For details on how to link to the Airtel Money wallet or to sign up for a Mastercard virtual card, customers will need to follow these steps:
- Dial *778#
- Select “My Account/PIN”
- Select “Airtel Money Mastercard”
- Select “Create Airtel Money Mastercard”
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