Airtel Africa, a telecom and mobile money services company, has partnered with Network International, a facilitator of digital commerce in the Middle East and Africa, to serve as its payment processor.
This announcement was made in a statement by Mr. Ian Ferrao, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Money, on Tuesday in Lagos.
Ferrao highlighted that this collaboration aims to enhance Airtel’s ability to deliver advanced mobile services across the continent and beyond. He emphasized that with this partnership, Airtel Africa will be better positioned to navigate the evolving digital finance landscape, foster innovation, and provide exceptional value to its users and stakeholders.
He also noted that Network International’s expertise covers 50 countries, including 40 in Africa, and serves over 200 financial institutions, facilitating more than 1.6 billion transactions annually.
“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 this solution would provide Airtel Africa’s users with the convenience of accessing a wide range of both traditional mobile services and new digital payment options, all through a seamless and enhanced 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.
Ferrao added that Network International’s proven track record and deep understanding of the African market would allow Airtel to innovate and scale its services more effectively.
He emphasized 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 for Processing in Africa and Co-Head of Group Processing at Network International described the partnership as a significant achievement.
“Our collaboration with Airtel marks a major milestone for our outsourced payment services in Africa. It demonstrates our ability to successfully serve Mobile Network Operators through our comprehensive processing solutions and highlights our continued dedication and commitment to the African region. We are excited to support Airtel’s growth strategy and business development plans for the entire continent,” Helal said.
