Airtel Africa, a telecom and mobile money services company, has partnered the Network International, an enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa, as its payment processor.
Airtel Africa said in a statement signed by Mr Ian Ferrao, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Money, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Ferrao said the collaboration was set to drive Airtel’s continued provision of cutting-edge mobile services across the continent and beyond.
He noted that Airtel Africa would be well equipped to navigate the dynamic landscape of digital finance, drive innovation and deliver unparalleled value to its users and stakeholders with the partnership.
According to him, Network International’s expertise spans across 50 countries including 40 in Africa, serving over 200 financial institutions, and facilitating over 1.6 billion transactions.
“Its in-depth knowledge of the African market makes it an ideal partner for Airtel Africa.
“Network International will roll out its services in key Airtel Africa markets, covering card issuance products and providing technical support.
“This includes a comprehensive range of services such as transaction processing, card hosting and management, online fraud prevention, internal reconciliation,settlement and online access for Airtel users, “Ferrao said.
He explained that the solution would offer Airtel Africa’s users the convenience and ease of accessing a wide range of both conventional mobile services and new digital payment services all through a smooth and elevated customer experience.
“We are thrilled to partner with Network International to enhance our payment processing capabilities.
“This collaboration will enable us to deliver a superior customer experience and drive digital financial inclusion across Africa,” he said.
According to Ferrao, Network International’s proven track record and deep understanding of the African market will allow Airtel to innovate and scale services more effectively.
He added that together, both companies would empower users with seamless and secure payment solutions, fostering economic growth and inclusion in communities.
Dr Reda Helal, the Group Managing Director Processing, Africa and Co-Head Group Processing at Network International, described the partnership as a major milestone.
“Our collaboration with Airtel marks a major milestone for our outsourced payments services in Africa.
“It demonstrates our ability to successfully serve Mobile Network Operators via our fully-fledged processing solutions and our continued dedication and commitment to the African region.
“We are excited to support Airtel’s growth strategy and its business development plans for the entire continent,” Helal said.
