Airtel partners Western Union on mobile remittance services
Airtel Africa Plc (www.airtel.com), a leading provider of telecommunication and mobile money services has signed a strategic partnership with Western Union, a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payment.
Airtel which operates in 14 countries across Africa says that the partnership gives its customers convenience of directly receiving and sending remittances from their Airtel mobile money wallets.
According to statement submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (www.nse.com.ng) on Wednesday, Airtel stated that through this partnership, Airtel money customers will be able to reliably send and receive international money transfer directly from their phones, using Airtel Africa money mobile wallet.
According to the management, this paves the way for Airtel Africa to further cater for the needs of the local and global community members to move money and enable international cross-border payments.
“This partnership helps Airtel to take an active part in the international money transfer business that happens to and fro its operating countries”, the telecommunication firm noted.
Commenting on the partnership, Raghunath Mandava, the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa said: “We are very excited to partner with Western Union to enable Airtel money customers to access a world leading money transfer organisations.
“International remittances to Africa is a lifeline to some of our customers. This partnership gives our customers convenience of directly receiving and sending remittances from their Airtel mobile money wallets”.
Mandava said: “Airtel customers will now be automatically credited and debited via their Airtel mobile money wallets on their phones.
“Also, they can immediately access the funds to pay bill or merchants and transfer funds to family and friends or convert to cash from widespread Airtel money agents, kiosks and branches”.
By Ogochi Ndubuisi
