Airtel Mobile Commerce BV, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa PLC and Mastercard have launched the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card to expand access to digital payments across Africa.
The disclosure was made in a statement on Thursday to The PUNCH, where the company said the virtual payment solution was introduced in partnership with Mastercard to enable Airtel Money customers to make secure international transactions across global online platforms.
According to the statement, the solution will also facilitate payments for travel bookings, utilities, and subscriptions, supporting cross-border trade for small businesses.
Airtel said customers can activate the virtual card, load funds from their Airtel Money wallets, and start making payments without the need for additional documentation or registration.
The company said the partnership aligns with its goal of enhancing financial inclusion by offering seamless and secure payment solutions to mobile money users across its 14 African markets.
The CEO of Airtel Money, Ian Ferrao, commented, “At Airtel, we are continuously innovating to enhance the customer experience. By adding Mastercard’s secure virtual payment solution to Airtel Money, we are making international payments simpler and more accessible for our customers. This collaboration allows us to offer a global e-commerce experience.”
Mastercard’s global network and expertise in payment solutions will play a critical role in supporting financial inclusion efforts in Africa.
The initiative aligns with Mastercard’s commitment to bring one billion people, 50 million small businesses, and 25 million women entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025.
Senior Vice President for Digital Partnerships at Mastercard Middle East and Africa, Muhammad Nana, stated, “Our digital partnerships strategy focuses on enabling the digital transformation of our partners, helping them provide their customers with access to a seamless global payment ecosystem.
“With over 150 million Airtel Africa consumers now connected to the global digital economy, we are helping more consumers access the benefits of e-commerce.”
The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card connects directly to customers’ mobile money wallets, allowing them to pay for goods and services on global platforms such as Amazon, Uber, Netflix, Facebook, AliExpress, and Alibaba, among others.
