This serves as a validation of Safaricom’s dedication to safeguarding customer data across its GSM and M-PESA services. It confirms that the company adheres to globally accepted regulatory and technical standards in the implementation of privacy management systems.

This milestone complements Safaricom’s existing certifications in Information Security Management Systems (ISO 27001 – ISMS) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS version 4.0)

The assessment conducted by BSI took into account various critical elements related to Safaricom’s operations, including effective system controls for the protection of personal information, implementation of relevant policies including the Data Protection Policy.

Other areas covered included crucial systems such as the Customer Relationship Management, IP Contact Centre, Tibco, Converged Billing System, Voucher Management System, M-PESA G2, M-PESA Statement Portal, M-PESA Super App, MySafaricom App, and the M-PESA business App.

“I would like to applaud the dedicated cross-functional teams whose tireless efforts have made this achievement possible. The attainment of the PIMS certification reaffirms our ongoing commitment to continuously improve our privacy and security measures, ensuring we provide exceptional experiences for our customers while safeguarding their private information,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom in a press statement.

The post Safaricom Awarded ISO 27701 Privacy Certification by British Standards Institute appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Launched on the M-PESA For Business Super App, the partnership marks M-PESA’s drive to expand its suite of services for the 650,000 users registered for its business till number, and over 50 million monthly active users across several African countries. With tappi becoming one of the first mini apps to feature on M-PESA For Business, the startup will deliver a subsidized package equipping M-PESA’s merchants to build their online presence, capture verified reviews, and strengthen engagement with an expanded customer base. 

For KSH1,350 (approximately USD$11), merchants will receive access to a free webpage, 50 SMS/WhatsApp reviews, which will be integrated into the merchant’s websites, as well as 250 Bulk SMS Marketing Credits. As part of the collaboration, M-PESA Ratiba, a new automated solution allowing M-PESA users to automate their online payments, has also been included in the tappi mini app, enabling business owners to seamlessly pay their monthly subscriptions without disruptions. 

Kenfield Griffith, CEO and Co-Founder of tappi said they are proud to partner with one of the most innovative telcos in the market, and firmly believe this will be the first of many steps in their shared mission for MSMEs to not only become active but thriving participants in the digital economy.

Kenfield also noted that the partnership is a significant milestone for tappi and a huge endorsement of the value Safaricom and tappi look to generate for MSMEs across Kenya. “With over 35 million subscribers, M-PESA has long established itself as the engine through which millions of local entrepreneurs handle their transactions, and with many of these businesses constantly looking for new customers, our tools will be a crucial springboard in driving them to achieve this within an online setting,” he elaborated.

Targeted to reach at least 300,000 M-PESA for Business app users, the partnership has officially launched with an initial cohort of over 250 M-PESA For Business app users across the food, fashion, health, and beauty sectors throughout Kenya. tappi’s solutions will build on the M-PESA For Business app’s existing functionalities which include viewing collections, statements, and payments as well as transacting directly from the M-PESA till number. 

Safaricom’s CEO, Peter Ndegwa said, “We are happy to onboard tappi as our first mini-app partner on the M-PESA Business app. This partnership seeks to empower our merchants with affordable and innovative tools and capabilities to grow their businesses.” Adding “We look forward to driving financial inclusion through building the capacities of small and medium-sized businesses, enhancing customer experience thus contributing to the Kenyan economy.”

tappi’s collaboration with Safaricom marks the latest in a series of moves over the last 12 months to capture Africa’s USD$20 billion (approx. KSH2.59 trillion) market to bridge the digital divide for the continent’s MSMEs. In May 2024, the startup signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to drive digital services for 30,000 Kenyan MSMEs. This followed its expansion to Cote d’Ivoire in March 2024 in partnership with MTN, whom tappi has also partnered with across its additional market, Nigeria. 

With a 90% retention rate and a 1.5-month payback period since its inception in 2019, the platform has captured verified reviews on USD$3.4 million (approx. KSH439.8 million) consumer transactions, and engaged with over 180,000 consumers to date, underscoring its commitment to driving digital inclusion and supporting MSMEs across Africa. 

According to USAID (US Agency for International Development), MSMEs generate nearly a third of Kenya’s total GDP. However, despite their significant economic impact, numerous businesses still face significant hurdles in establishing a trusted online presence. This is primarily due to current tools being too complex, the requirements for an international credit card, or the listing of websites in places where trust is difficult to gauge, establishing significant hurdles to access and convert new customers. 

Through its powerful end-to-end digital commerce stack, tappi addresses these challenges by facilitating a seamless online business profile creation process through an intuitive chat experience. Leveraging payments, messaging, and AI, the platform is quickly establishing itself as the SEO backbone to boost revenue for MSMEs across Africa, helping businesses gain visibility, consolidate payments with verified reviews to build online trust, and pay for online Ads with mobile airtime. 

The post tappi and Safaricom’s M-PESA Partner to Drive Digital Innovation for Kenyan MSMEs appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

“The company’s commercial services would have never been possible without the support and collaboration of the government institutions in the country,” Safaricom Ethiopia CEO Wim Vanhelleputte told ENA.

The company has reached almost half of the Ethiopian population with its 4G mobile internet services in about two years after launching commercial operations in October 2022 with about 1,000 telecom towers which has tripled. “That means we are providing 4G mobile internet data services to almost 50 percent of the Ethiopian population,” said Wim.

“Out of the 3,000 towers, we have built 60 percent completely ourselves; and we have some passive infrastructure sharing agreement with Ethio Telecom for about 40 percent of our towers,” said Wim. “When we do infrastructure sharing, we still put our telecom equipment, but we are using towers from Ethio’s site with a sharing agreement.”

In terms of customers, Safaricom Ethiopia has reached almost 5 million active customers, as confirmed by Wim. “We are very hopeful that within less than a year, we will grow from 5 million to more than 10 million in the next 12 months. We’re in a very aggressive growth phase which is quite exciting,” he said.

Wim has also reaffirmed Safaricom’s commitment to contribute to digital Ethiopia. The company’s focus on digital innovation is evident in the launch of M-PESA to contribute to Ethiopia’s transition to a cashless society.

See also: Digital Ethiopia: Temesgen Tiruneh urges private sector leadership in national transformation

“One of the reasons we want to invest in Ethiopia is to contribute to the government agenda of digital Ethiopia,” he said. “The company will significantly contribute to transforming Ethiopia to a digital cashless society.”

While acknowledging challenges in accessing certain payment services, Wim expressed optimism about future expansion into areas like fuel and tax payments. “We are hopeful that we will be able, together with all the other commercial banks and digital payment platforms, to offer our payment services to a wide range of payment or payment solutions.”

ENA reports that Safaricom Ethiopia has further pledged to invest in expanding its network coverage to reach 80-90 percent of the population and introduce new digital solutions.

The company is also set to launch bank saving and lending products through M-PESA, Wim revealed.

See also: GSMA re-certifies Safaricom’s M-PESA

The post Safaricom Ethiopia’s 4G Network Covers Nearly Half of Ethiopia in Just Two Years appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Commenting on the re-certification, Safaricom CEO, Mr. Peter Ndegwa said, “This certification is evidence that we have taken a step further to ensure that customers’ funds are in safe hands, that their rights are being observed through our business practices, and that a high level of customer service can be expected.”

He adds “Certification is a sign that our business practices are among the best in the industry, that we are providing a secure, transparent, and reliable mobile money service. We are a trustworthy and responsible mobile financial service provider and an attractive candidate for collaboration with innovators and the business community.”

M-PESA was one of the pioneering mobile money operators to receive this accreditation in 2018 and has consistently maintained its certification. The mobile phone-based money transfer service continues to play a crucial role in developing Kenya’s financial sector and has gained popularity globally in the past decade. There are 31.5 million active M-PESA users, processing over KES40.2 trillion in transactions annually (as of the end of March 2024).

With over 690 million registered accounts globally, mobile money services are significantly contributing to financial inclusion and improving lives worldwide.

See also: Safaricom hits 1,000+ 5G sites, expands coverage across all Kenyan counties

The post GSMA Re-certifies’ Safaricom’s M-PESA appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The Spark Accelerator program will run for three-month and it will provide training, mentorship, funding, and go-to-market support to spark the growth and scale of ventures that come into the accelerator and set them up for long-term success.

“The Spark Accelerator program aligns with our ambition to be a purpose-led technology company. With the accelerator, we are offering more than just capital injection which is what we did previously with Spark Fund. We have restructured the program to address the challenges that hinder early startups from growing to scale,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, of Safaricom.

This will benefit fintech and content startups in the initial phase. It will take an ecosystem-based approach to identify and accelerate the startups by leveraging a team of experts who understand market dynamics, and emerging tech and who are keen to enable continuous innovation.

“Sumitomo Corporation’s wide range of business experience will contribute to creating innovative businesses and support the expansion of the startup ecosystem. Through this program, we will contribute to developing the African economy, human resource development, and realizing a more prosperous life for the people,” said Katsuya Kashiki, General Manager, of the Smart Communications Platform Business Division.

Participating startups are set to benefit from access to technical support to develop mini-apps embedded into Safaricom’s M-PESA Super App, empowering them to reach more than 4 million customers who use the app.

Managing Director, of M-PESA Africa Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, said “M-PESA connects more than 60 million customers and 5 million businesses across eight countries, providing a unique opportunity for startups in Africa looking to grow and scale rapidly. We have therefore partnered with Safaricom and Sumitomo to launch the Spark Accelerator to provide funding, technical expertise, resources, and mentorship to the next generation of the continent’s leading tech startups. In turn, the startups will create innovations that connect customers and businesses on M-PESA to more opportunities while providing them with even more value”.

In addition, M-PESA Africa will offer expertise, market research and insights, and other capacity support for startups looking to expand their reach to other countries. The support will continue beyond the three-month program enabling startups in the program to tap into more than 60 million customers and 5 million businesses across M-PESA’s eight markets.

The accelerator program will culminate in an investor demo day for the startups to pitch for investment from Safaricom and partner venture capital firms.

iHUB, a pioneering force within Kenya’s startup ecosystem and a subsidiary of Africa’s leading innovation hub, Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), will be the implementing partner of the Spark Accelerator.

Managing Director, CcHUB Ojoma Ochai said “We are thrilled to spearhead this groundbreaking collaboration with Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, and Sumitomo Corporation.  The Spark Accelerator serves as a launchpad for forward-thinking founders to shape and scale their enterprises. We encourage startups with dynamic and impactful solutions to join us on this exciting journey, where together with our esteemed partners, we are excited to catalyze innovation empowering digital ecosystems”.

Other supporting partners for the program include Vodacom and AWS.

The call for applications will run until February 16, 2024, If interested, you can apply HERE.

The post Safaricom, M-PESA Africa, Sumitomo Call for Applications for the Spark Accelerator Program appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

He joins Safaricom Ethiopia from MTN Group, where he was the Operating Executive for West and Central Africa (WECA) Markets of Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo-Brazzaville since August 2022 and he was responsible for the performance and governance.

Wim brings to Safaricom Ethiopia his extensive leadership experience and deep industry knowledge, having worked in the telecommunications industry across multiple markets in sub-Saharan Africa for over 25 years.

Safaricom PLC in a statement said, “As Wim joins us, we have planned for a seamless transition to ensure that we maintain our momentum so far in delivering our vision to transform lives through a digital future for all Ethiopians.”

Wim’s appointment comes a week after Safaricom Ethiopia expressed its appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for its continuous support in undertaking telecom and financial services in the country.

“The first message we continue to give to the outside investment is the support that we are receiving from the government, first for the launch of the telecommunication services, and now for this investment in the area of financial services,” Safaricom Ethiopia Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Chris Lazarus told the Ethiopia News Agency at the time.

Kenya’s Safaricom PLC launched its mobile network in Ethiopia in October 2022, becoming the first private operator in one of Africa’s largest telecoms markets. It is reported that the network was supposed to launch in April 2022 but was delayed because of Covid-19 and logistical challenges. At the time of the launch, Safaricom Ethiopia switched on its network and services in the capital Addis Ababa following network pilots in 10 cities.

Prior state-owned Ethio Telecom had been operating as a sole telecommunication services operator in Ethiopia since 1894 until the government allowed Safaricom to start telecom operations in the country.

Safaricom Ethiopia is building a wholly-owned mobile network and also has infrastructure sharing and interconnection agreements in place with Ethio Telecom. The telco’s vision is to transform lives through a digital future for all Ethiopians — and it believes Wim Vanhelleputte in this.

The engagement of Safaricom Ethiopia in addition to Ethio Telecom and another “expected” third telecom operator is going to stir further competition and benefit their customers from affordable and meaningful connectivity which also aligns with the United Nations ITU target.

According to the Ethiopia News Agency, Ethiopia is already experiencing the benefits of competition, with many changes taking place in the country.

Safaricom Ethiopia Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Chris Lazarus noted before that their partner, the incumbent Ethio Telecom, is not seen as a competitor but rather an ally.

Anwar Soussa will depart ways with the telco effective July 31st, 2023 as confirmed by Safaricom PLC Kenya’s CEO Peter Ndegwa.

“Anwar Soussa, Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC, will be leaving the business effective 31st July 2023 once his secondment comes to an end,” Ndegwa said in a statement — adding that “As the first CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia, Anwar has overseen the attainment of significant milestones in a highly dynamic environment, including onboarding the team and successfully launching commercial operations of the second telecommunications operator in Ethiopia.”

In his tenure, Safaricom Ethiopia has now boosted over 4 million customers with more than 25 percent network coverage of the population spread across 50 cities and towns. Under his leadership, Safaricom Ethiopia also secured a mobile financial services license, paving the way for the launch of M-PESA services.

Ndegwa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Anwar for his leadership and contributions to Safaricom Ethiopia. Remarking that “Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated unwavering passion and commitment, which have played a crucial role in our achievements thus far.”

The post Wim Vanhelleputte Appointed as the New CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

The M-PESA license will open the country to the world’s largest mobile payment system and Africa’s largest Fintech, and the world’s first mobile money transfer system. The service will start rolling out over the next few months.

Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom PLC CEO in a press statement said, “We are excited that this is a great milestone following our entry into Ethiopia. This positions us to provide essential financial services to the Ethiopian population.”

Ndegwa further said, “Since the commercial launch in October, the brand is visible, deeply rooted in Ethiopia, and quickly becoming in every sense fabric of the society. The potential for Ethiopia is immense and we look forward to the future with optimism and excitement.”

In the period under review, Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia added close to 3 million customers and built a distributor network of over 114 outlets, delivered an award-winning premium quality network in 22 cities and regions; with close to 1,300 network sites, and over 900 staff, 81% of whom are Ethiopians.

M-PESA empowers over 30 million customers to transact, save or borrow money through their mobile phones. M-PESA catalyzed financial inclusion in Kenya to 84% from a low of 26.7% in 2006 according to the 2021 FinAccess Survey and generated over KES 117.2 billion in revenue in FY23.

Ndegwa spoke during the announcement of the Full Year 2022/2023 results, which saw net income increase by 3.0% to KES 74.5 billion for Safaricom Kenya.

Safaricom increased its Group Service Revenue by 5.2% to KES 295.7 billion while the Group net income excluding minority interest declined by 10.6% attributable to expected start-up costs and investment in rolling out operations in Ethiopia within the year.

Voice service revenue declined by 2.6% to KES 81.1 billion; mobile data revenue grew by 11.4% to KES 54.0 billion, while M-PESA revenue grew by 8.8% to KES 117.2 billion.

“We have delivered a solid set of results despite the tough operating environment occasioned by a slowdown in business activity in an election year in Kenya, tough macro environment as well as change in mobile termination rates which impacted our voice revenues significantly,” said Ndegwa.

He continues, “The business is stable and regained a strong positive momentum in the second half of the year. Looking into the future, we passionately believe that our business is well-positioned to support our customers and provide technology solutions as we transition into a purpose-led technology organization in line with our 5 YR strategy.”

The post Safaricom Granted License to Operate M-PESA in Ethiopia appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Fuliza ya Biashara will apply when making transactions from a Lipa Na M-PESA Business Till to other Till Numbers and PayBill Numbers, when sending money to an individual, and when withdrawing to the nominated number or at an agent. The service will advance an overdraft of up to KSH400,000 depending on the business’ limit.

“We launched Lipa Na M-PESA as a way for businesses to conveniently receive cashless payments through their mobile phones, whenever they are. With more than 538,000 businesses accepting payments through the service, our strategy is to now go beyond collecting payments by providing business owners with tools to manage and grow their businesses,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom. “Fuliza ya Biashara caters especially to small businesses by providing them with instant, affordable credit of up to KSH00,000, empowering them to rapidly respond to their business needs.”

Fuliza ya Biashara is available through the M-PESA Business App and on the Lipa Na M-PESA Transacting Till on *234#. Business owners can access a minimum overdraft of KSH1,000 and can draw multiple overdrafts of up to KSH400,000 based on their assigned limit.

“This proposition once again signifies the immense opportunities available within the digital ecosystem managed by KCB and Safaricom,” said Mrs. Annastacia Kimtai, KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director. Adding that “We believe that the roll-out of this exciting feature will give Kenyan entrepreneurs the headroom to scale up their business operations without getting into the danger of not servicing some of their critical needs like payments to suppliers.”

Kimtai further remarked that “As a partner, KCB will conveniently provide the much-needed support to guarantee scalability and access across its various customer delivery touchpoints.”

The overdraft is offered a 2% one-off fee and a tiered daily access fee after the 24-hour free period. The Fuliza ya Biashara limit is reset every time a repayment is made, enabling business owners to immediately access new overdrafts including the amount they just repaid.

Safaricom and KCB say that the launch of Fuliza ya Biashara seeks to meet a gap in access to affordable credit especially among small and micro businesses that have been previously locked out due to their size and perceived risk. The solution provides each business with a tailored overdraft limit based on the transaction history on Lipa Na M-PESA and the repayment history of previous overdrafts.

Fuliza ya Biashara is M-PESA’s first credit solution dedicated to businesses and the latest in a string of innovations targeting business owners on the platform. In 2020, Safaricom introduced the Lipa Na M-PESA Business Till and M-PESA Business App, enabling businesses to make payments from Tills and providing simplified cash flow management through the app.

More than 390,000 businesses have downloaded the M-PESA Business App with over 50% of business transactions on M-PESA being made through the app.

ALSO READ: AIRTEL UGANDA, KCB ROLLOUT MOBILE LOAN PRODUCTS

The post Safaricom and KCB Launch Fuliza ya Biashara Overdraft appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

This is part of a Safaricom-led technology initiative to enable all 47counties to digitize their services and operations through a single, citizen access channel. The platform will ease public access to county services such as payment of parking, and single business permits, among others.

“We are proud to be among the first counties to sign up to this platform that will increase our visibility to revenue collection and performance while enabling every resident of Elgeyo Marakwet to access county services from anywhere in the world,” Wisley Rotich, Governor Elgeyo Marakwet County, said in a press statement.

Last week, Safaricom in partnership with the County Government of Makueni launched the myCounty App in Makueni. In March, the telco signed an MoU with the County Government of Nairobi to develop and support the “My Nairobi App” as part of the “My Nairobi” hub that will provide digital services and citizen engagement.

“We have witnessed the convenience which digital services have brought to the people. With the world being a global village, it is important that governments adapt and evolve in the way they operate and offer services. myCounty App will not only ease access to county services but also boost revenue collection,” said Cynthia Karuri-Kropac, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Safaricom. Adding “We are hoping that we can soon have the myCounty app integrated into all the 47 counties.”

Besides county services, myCounty App will also provide a feature that will empower residents to engage their governor or report issues. It will further provide key County and emergency services including requests for fire, ambulance, police, and more at the tap of a button.

In addition, counties will also benefit from additional capabilities including revenue management, cash and bank reconciliation, credit control and debt management, and business intelligence systems.

Safaricom will also host the service as part of the Safaricom Cloud, provide Big Data and Analytics Solutions, and for app users, digital receipts, and electronic notifications.

The post Safaricom, Elgeyo Marakwet County Sign Deal to Digitize County Services appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.

Mulinge joins MTN Uganda from Safaricom Plc where she served as the Chief Consumer Business Officer (CBO).

Mulinge was warmly welcomed by the MTN staff at MTN Uganda headquarters showcasing the diverse Ugandan cultures. MTN CFO Andrew Bugembe together with the General Manager of Human Resources, Michael Sekadde gave Mulinge a guided tour of the MTN Uganda headquarters where she had the opportunity to interact with her staff.

“It is a great pleasure to be at MTN Uganda. Thanks to MTN Staff for showcasing the beautiful pieces of Ugandan culture this morning. I am looking forward to being in Uganda. Asante Sana,” Mulinge said.

The telco complimented her as a seasoned executive, bringing with her a passion for transforming customers’ lives using technology. The telco further said Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge joins the company to support the accelerated execution of their Ambition 2025 strategy.

During her appointment, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, MTN Uganda, Mr. Charles Mbire said, “The Board is confident that Mulinge will continue the work of growing the company as a leading provider of telecommunications and digital solutions.”

“I believe that her experience will be beneficial to MTN, particularly given her alignment with our strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress,” Mbire said.

Mulinge will on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 officially assume office as the new MTN Uganda CEO. She becomes the first-ever female CEO of MTN Uganda.

Sylvia Mulinge holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Since joining Safaricom PLC in 2006 Mulinge served in various roles including Prepay Product Manager, Head of retail, Head of Safaricom Business – Sales, General Manager, Enterprise Business, and Director, Consumer Business.

The post Ex Safaricom CBO, Sylvia Mulinge Arrives in Uganda to Take Office as MTN New CEO appeared first on PC Tech Magazine.