Developing Telecoms | Mobile Money Transfers to M-PESA Subscribers in Kenya Now Available from 45 Countries & Territories

23 May 2012

Development Agenda

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Mobile Money Transfers to M-PESA Subscribers in Kenya Now Available from 45 Countries & Territories

Monday, 04 April 2011 10:00 | James Barton

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Consumers can now send money directly to the mobile “wallets” of Safaricom M-PESA subscribers in Kenya from 45 countries and territories. The expansion of the service to more than 80,000 locations worldwide follows the successful debut of the offering from Western Union Agent locations as well as the company’s website.

The service is based on Western Union’s worldwide network and global “hub” for processing cross-border remittances. It also builds on the success of M-PESA, a domestic mobile money transfer service in Kenya offered by Safaricom that has attracted more than 13.5 million customers since its launch in 2007.

“We are pleased to extend our service with Safaricom, and we look forward to adding additional functionality for M-PESA users in the near future,” said David Yates, Executive Vice President and President, Business Development and Innovation, Western Union.

The service will allow people to visit one of more than 80,000 Western Union Agent locations in 45 countries and territories across the globe, including the U.S., Canada, Italy and the U.K., and send funds directly to the mobile “wallets” of M-PESA’s 13.5 million subscribers. Funds are delivered generally in minutes.

The service will likely be welcomed by thousands of Kenyans working abroad. According to the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenyans living outside their home country sent US$642 million home in 2010 – up from the US$609 million sent home in 2009.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said, “Our customers are very proud of the revolutionary M-PESA service, and this partnership sees us pushing new boundaries to continue to keep Kenya at the forefront of the mobile world. Through this partnership, our customers and their friends and families will benefit from affordable, faster and more convenient international remittances, and the money is available to use straightaway for any M-PESA transaction, or can be withdrawn as cash at any of our 24,000 Safaricom agents.”

In addition to the Kenyan service, Western Union offers the Mobile Money Transfer Service in the Philippines with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom and in Malaysia with Maxis.

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