NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Mobile Money Finally Comes to Ethiopia

Ethio Telecom, the – for now – monopoly telecommunications provider in Ethiopia, has announced the roll-out of a mobile money service.

Source

Developing Telecoms (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

emerging markets, mobile money, mobile technology, technology, telecommunications

Boosting Financial Inclusion With Airtel Mobile Money

The recent investment of $200 million in Airtel Africa’s mobile money business by The Rise Fund will further enhance financial inclusion in Nigeria, since the country is one of the 14 African countries, where Airtel Africa currently operates, writes Emma Okonji.

Source

THISDAY LIVE (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

financial inclusion, funding, impact investing, mobile money, telecommunications

Rise Fund to Invest $200 Million in Airtel Africa Mobile Money Business

The Transaction is the latest step in the Group's pursuit of strategic asset monetization and investment opportunities, and it is the aim of Airtel Africa to explore the potential listing of the mobile money business within four years.

Source

IIFL Securities (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

cash transfers, financial inclusion, financial services, mobile money, telecommunications

Somalia Issues First License to Mobile Money Service

Somali officials on Saturday issued the country's first license to a mobile money service, bringing regulation to the widely used digital payment process for the first time.

Source

Voice of America (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

digital wallets, emerging markets, financial services, mobile money, technology, telecommunications

MTN Teams up With Mastercard on Mobile Wallets in Africa

Africa’s leading mobile operator MTN has partnered with payment platform Mastercard to add online payment functions to its mobile wallet for user across its fintech footprint.

Source

Telecoms.com (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

accelerators, digital payments, fintech, mobile money, mobile wallets, technology, telecommunications

World Bank Calls for Unbiased Infrastructure Policy in Ethiopia

“To benefit fully from competition does not mean offering preferential treatment to Ethio Telecom but rather creating a level playing field on which it can compete fairly with its new rivals,” argued Dione.

Source

Developing Telecoms (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

digital inclusion, financial inclusion, impact investing, social impact, technology, telecommunications

Miga Issues $26 Million in Guarantees to Escotel Mauritius’ Solar Investment

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has issued guarantees of up to $25.6 million to Escotel Mauritius covering its investments in solar power generation in Liberia and Sierra Leone for a period of up to ten years.

Source

ESI Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

electricity, energy, impact investing, solar power, telecommunications

Press Release: DFC Approves Over $2.1 Billion in New Investments for Global Development

Projects aim to bolster energy security in Eastern Europe, trusted telecommunications networks in Africa, and the global response to COVID-19

Source

U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Coronavirus, Investing

Tags

coronavirus, energy access, gender equality, global development, impact investing, LMICs, telecommunications