Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC) has revamped and launched its mobile money service, SMEGA. SMEGA has been revamped to work on Comviva’s mobiquity Money platform. The mobiquity Money platform is regarded as one of the world’s largest white-labelled mobile money platform. It allows users to carry out financial transactions such as purchasing airtime and data, paying the water bill, buying pre-paid electricity, paying salaries and so much more from anywhere.
Customers will be able to use SMEGA to send money to other SMEGA users, as well as non-registered consumers who will receive a passcode that can be used to withdraw money at any BTC outlet. The platform is also designed for businesses, as they can utilise SMEGA’s bulk payment feature to pay allowances and salaries to their employees. This will reduce the cost and paperwork that comes standard with cheque and cash payments.
SMEGA has a unique feature called Motshelo Club which is inspired by the group savings culture in Botswana. Motshelo Club allows a group of people to contribute to a group savings wallet and use the money on a rotational system, depending on whatever situation a member of the group may be in. BTC is the first mobile operator in Botswana to offer a digital service like Motshelo Club.
“We are delighted to offer SMEGA which is delivered through the Comviva mobile money platform. SMEGA is focused on enabling access to financial services to improve people’s lives and positively contribute towards the economy by accelerating financial inclusion and economic development. We also trust that our customers across the country will find it easy, fast and a more convenient means of transferring money, making payments and doing other financial transactions,” said Edward Wicks, Chief Commercial Officer at BTC.
“Mobile phones today are not just communication devices; they have become a holistic channel for [the] digital lifestyle. Comviva is making this reality through its mobiquity Money platform that enables service providers to provide digital financial services to consumers through mobile phones. In Botswana, we are carrying forward this revolution with BTC, through their SMEGA services, that delivers a seamless and secure financial service on mobile to financially underserved consumers,” added Anil Krishnan, Head of Africa Region at Comviva.