Airtel Mobile Commerce BV, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa PLC, has officially announced the launch of the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card, an innovative payment solution designed to connect Airtel Money users across Africa to global online marketplaces. This groundbreaking initiative is made possible through a collaboration with Mastercard, bringing a safer and more secure international transactions to Airtel’s 150 million mobile phone users across 14 African countries.
The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is a virtual payment solution (non-plastic) linked directly to users ‘Airtel Money wallets. It enables seamless payments across a variety of global online platforms, including major platforms such as Facebook, Netflix, Uber, Amazon, Google, AliExpress, and Alibaba.
The card’s versatility also extends to payments for travel bookings, utilities, subscriptions, and purchases from international suppliers—all from the convenience of a mobile phone.
Activating the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is remarkably straightforward:
With this payment solution, Airtel and Mastercard aim to meet the growing demand for digital payments in Africa and support small businesses in cross-border trade. The partnership aligns with Airtel Africa’s goal of enhancing financial inclusion by providing efficient and seamless payment solutions to mobile money users across the continent.
Driving financial inclusion through partnership Ian Ferrao CEO of Airtel Money, shared his vison: “At Airtel, we are continuously innovating to enhance the customer experience. By adding Mastercard’s secure virtual payment solution to Airtel Money, we are making international payments simpler and more accessible for our customers. This collaboration allows us to offer a global e-commerce experience.”
Mastercard’s global network and expertise in payment solutions will play a critical role in supporting financial inclusion efforts in Africa. The initiative aligns with Mastercard’s commitment to bring one billion people, 50 million small businesses, and 25 million women entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025.
Senior Vice President for Digital Partnerships at Mastercard Middle East and Africa, Muhammad Nana, stated: “Our digital partnerships strategy focuses on enabling the digital transformation of our partners, helping them provide their customers with access to a seamless global payment ecosystem. With over 150 million Airtel Africa consumers now connected to the global digital economy, we are helping more consumers access the benefits of e-commerce.”
With increasing mobile internet access and the growth of affordable smartphones, African consumers are poised to take full advantage of this new solution. The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card empowers users—both banked and unbanked—to shop globally, connecting them to digital products and services right from their mobile phones.
How to Link Airtel Money GlobalPay Card:
- Download the My Airtel App from Play store or App Store
- Select Airtel Money and enter your PIN
- opt in for the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card powered by Mastercard and accept the terms and conditions
- Top-up your card from your Airtel Money wallet and start shopping
