Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security, Supa Mandiwanzira has issued a final ultimatum to mobile network operators to integrate their systems and allow mobile money users to inter-connect.
Zimbabwe is celebrating seven years since the inception of mobile money platforms but users cannot make transfers across networks. This has been one of the greatest drawbacks for the telecommunications industry to reach maximum inter-operability which could ease business operations and promote the growth of e-commerce in Zimbabwe.
Mandiwanzira has been calling MNOs to reach a convergence point where they can share infrastructure and reduce the costs of building networks.
Inter-operability has also been lacking in Zimbabwe’s financial technology industry where the leading mobile money service, Ecocash is yet to integrate with NetOne’s OneMoney or Telecel’s Telecash.
Mandiwanzira has had a long fight in trying to push telecom operators to share infrastructure, a move which is now yielding results after various players are starting to come on board.
Infrastructure sharing is an alternative which lowers the deployment of telecommunication networks. This model eliminates duplication of network infrastructure like having three base stations on the same place or have two or more fiber optic cables from different service providers spanning the same routes.
Interoperability amongst Mobile Money Service Providers will promote competition, a boost in e-commerce activities and ensure total convenience for the consumer
In a press release, ICT ministry said they are encouraging MNOs who offer digital financial services to consider making their services completely inter-operable.
“We have noted with concern that whilst it is possible to send money to an unregistered customer on another network, the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) platforms for operators are not yet fully integrated hence wallet funds transfer have not yet been integrated,” read the official statement from the Ministry of ICT.
“The lack of inter-inter-operability of mobile the mobile money platforms of the networks is a major barrier to effective competition and stalls further progress in the development of mobile money services. Inter-operability also brings convenience to consumers and the ease of doing business” – continued the statement”.
“In the event that there is no inter-operability across all networks by the set date of 1 April 2018, the government will take the appropriate measures to enhance compliance,” added Mandiwanzira.
The above move by the government to enforce inter-operability of mobile money platforms is a welcome move which is expected to boost e-commerce activities across the country.
One of the major advantage to be realized will be a recognizable reduction of tariffs by mobile money service providers as a result of competition.
