Airtel Money has launched the Airtel Money Mastercard virtual payment solution in Zambia that allows all Airtel Money customers to make global e-commerce payments.

Airtel Africa and Mastercard already have an established partnership targeting a potential 100+million Airtel Africa mobile money users across 14 African countries leveraging the Mastercard global network.

Airtel Zambia says the virtual payment solution will provide local customers with access to a global online marketplace.

It added that demand for this access has increased, fuelled by faster, more prevalent mobile internet connection as a result of cheaper smartphones and the rollout of high-speed GSM networks by mobile phone operators.

The payment solution will enable small businesses to procure goods and services from local suppliers and those abroad that accept Mastercard for payments.

Airtel Money director James Chona said, “Mastercard is a leading technology company in the global payment industry and with the Mastercard virtual payment solution added to Airtel money wallets, customers will find making digital payments easier.”

Ngozi Megwa, senior vice president for Digital Partnership, Mastercard Middle East and Africa said, “Our digital partnership strategy remains focused on enabling the digital transformation of our partners so that their customers can enjoy seamless access to a global payment ecosystem with a superior user experience. Mastercard is uniquely positioned as a single technology provider to enable a digital transformation of our partners like Airtel while connecting over 3.5 million Airtel Zambia customers as reported in June 2021 to the global digital economy.”