TransferTo and the MTN Group today announced that the implementation of their International Airtime Transfer (IAT) partnership in MTN operating companies is well underway.
The MTN-TransferTo collaboration, announced in July this year, allows MTN customers with access to prepaid services to receive airtime transfers from the vast TransferTo IAT network around the world.
MTN operating companies in Ghana, Uganda and Yemen have completed the full implementation of integrating with TransferTo, further extending TransferTo's existing IAT reach within the MTN Group. The project implementation to bring other MTN operations into the network is ongoing, with more additions expected soon.
The cross-border airtime transfer services are available to all TransferTo sending partners and the general public abroad for the sending of airtime top-up to MTN customers in Ghana, Uganda and Yemen. Mobile customers on partner "sender? networks can simply send airtime to friends and family who subscribe to MTN prepaid services through the convenience of their mobile handset. Those who are not subscribed to TransferTo sender partner mobile operators can still send airtime to contacts on the MTN networks by visiting www.transferto.com, for convenient web-to-mobile transfers. TransferTo also has partners who operate tens of thousands of point of sale locations.
Eric Barbier, CEO and Managing Director of TransferTo, who made the announcement today at the AfricaCom 2011 conference in Cape Town, South Africa, said: "We are pleased to announce that the recent signing of the global group agreement with MTN is showing results in both Africa and the Middle East. With the addition of Ghana, Uganda and Yemen, TransferTo now delivers services to nearly half of the MTN operations, while work continues to add the rest."
MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer, Christian de Faria said the deployment of the TransferTo IAT services in three key MTN markets was an exciting development for the Group. "MTN is continually pursuing value-adding partnerships to give customers a better experience of our brand. We are particularly excited about the relationship with TransferTo because it provides our customers in all our three regions in Africa and the Middle East, with yet another option to stay connected with their loved ones. This partnership will soon be extended to other MTN operations."
Those driving the implementation into the TransferTo network in MTN operating companies had this to say:
Reginald Kafeero, CCO, MTN Uganda: "This is a key milestone that will enable availability of our airtime in thousands of points of sale locations abroad. The convenience of topping up airtime from abroad will go a long way in enhancing communication between people living abroad and their loved ones back home."
Ebenezer Asante, Sales and Distribution Director, MTN Ghana: "We are excited to have been part of efforts aimed at providing flexibility in the top up of airtime. MTN prides itself in continuous innovation and the forging of strategic partnerships aimed at providing convenient solutions."Ayman Masri, CMO, MTN Yemen : "The International Airtime Transfer service will allow the large Yemeni communities living abroad to top up the mobile accounts of their friends and families living in Yemen, which will create an added value for our customers and will result in an expansion of the business beyond the current boundaries. At MTN Yemen, we are excited about the launch of this service with TransferTo, and we look forward for a long-term fruitful relationship."
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: "MTN." As of 30 September 2011, MTN recorded over 158 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.
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