Operators in Tanzania are expanding the usage portfolio of their mobile money platforms, thanks to growing take-up and regulatory green-lights from authorities who have okayed inter-operability.

Last year the GSMA said that mobile money accounts in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda now surpass the number of bank accounts.

Experts say mobile money platforms are rapidly expanding beyond airtime top-ups and money transfers.

In Tanzania, fuel payments are now possible through mobile money, an African ICT industry expert told ITWeb Africa via email this week.

He said other newer usage platforms that are fast rising in Tanzania's mobile money industry include utility payments and salary payments.

"Increasing their (mobile money operators) partnership pool will be critical to expanding the application of the solution and boosting its uptake.

"Mobile money in Tanzania is regulated under structures that differ to traditional financial services providers, but the central Bank of Tanzania (BOT) has been tremendously supportive of mobile money and has engaged extensively with the operators in order to assist in its application," said Lehlohonolo Mokenela, ICT industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan, a research and advisory company.

The country's three operators, Airtel, Tigo and Zantel, have already struck the first inter-operability agreement on mobile money in Africa.