Cross-network mobile money transfer between Safaricom and Telkom went live in Kenya on Thursday. This came as the country’s main telcos come together to roll out mobile money transfer interoperability that commenced in March this year.
Yesterday, the operators announced that the service will finally go live for Safaricom and Telkom subscribers adding that mobile money ecosystem between Airtel and Telkom will be launched upon completion of necessary processes.
“Effective October 4, M-Pesa and T-Kash customers will now seamlessly send and receive funds directly to and from their mobile wallets,” read a statement from the operators
“Telkom’s inclusion in the interoperability initiative is a significant step towards a more integrated mobile money ecosystem and a boost to financial inclusion agenda in Kenya,” the statement read.
Safaricom and Airtel rolled out the service to their customers after two-month interoperability pilot carried out between the two networks. In a statement sent out to the press, the operators said the launch of mobile money interoperability will allow customers more flexibility and convenience when carrying out their transactions. This means that the funds will move directly from the sender’s wallet to the receiver’s wallet.
Mobile owners wishing to enjoy the benefits of interoperability must, however, be registered by at least one of the mobile money platforms.
This initiative is expected to enhance the customer experience by connecting all the platforms and presenting a seamless experience for customers sending or receiving money from different networks.
