Airtel Money launches virtual card

Airtel Africa has partnered with Mastercard to launch the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card, enabling users to make international online transactions.

This partnership means Airtel’s 150 million mobile phone users across 14 African countries will have access to Mastercard’s global merchant network, facilitating safer and more secure international transactions.

Airtel Money CEO Ian Ferrao said the company aims to enhance customer experience through the partnership.

“By adding Mastercard’s secure virtual payment solution to Airtel Money, we are making international payments simpler and more accessible for our customers,” – he explained.

This announcement puts Airtel Money in direct competition with Safaricom’s M-Pesa GlobalPay, which launched its Visa-supported virtual card in 2022.

Airtel virtual card functions

The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is a virtual payment solution that connects directly to Airtel Money wallets.

This card can be used for a variety of payments with global online merchants, including major platforms like Facebook, Netflix, Uber, Amazon, Google, AliExpress and Alibaba.

“Users can also make payments for travel bookings, utilities, subscriptions and purchase goods from international suppliers, all from the convenience of their mobile phones,” the company said.

Through this payment solution, Airtel and Mastercard aim to address the increasing demand for digital payments in Africa and support small businesses engaged in cross-border trade. Moreover, Airtel said the partnership aligns with its mission to enhance financial inclusion by offering efficient payment solutions to mobile money users across the continent.

“Our digital partnerships strategy focuses on enabling the digital transformation of our partners, helping them provide their customers with access to a seamless global payment ecosystem,”

– added Muhammad Nana, senior vice president for digital partnerships at Mastercard Middle East and Africa.

Mastercard’s African partnerships

Mastercard has been partnering with different African telcos and companies to facilitate online transactions. The payments firm expanded its operations in West Africa by opening its first office in Accra, Ghana, in January 2025.

Alongside opening the new office and partnering with Airtel Africa, Mastercard has collaborated with several companies, including Kalabash, KaiOS, Boost, Smile ID, Access Bank and Fidelity Bank.

All these collaborations aim to improve cross-border payment solutions, empower local fintechs and expand access to digital services for underserved communities.

In October 2024, Mastercard and Orange Middle East and Africa announced a strategic partnership to expand access to mobile financial services across sub-Saharan Africa.

In March 2024, MTN Group and Mastercard launched a prepaid virtual bank card for MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) users in 13 African countries, complemented by a physical Mastercard companion card.

This initiative followed Mastercard’s substantial investment of US$200 million into MTN Group’s fintech division in February 2024, consolidating an existing commercial partnership.

In April 2024, Mastercard teamed up with Onafriq, a payments company, to boost digital commerce for consumers and SMEs across Africa.

In September 2024, Mastercard and Amazon Payment Services forged a multi-year agreement to enhance digital payment acceptance for merchants in 40 markets throughout the Middle East and Africa, including Egypt and South Africa.

Source: connectingafrica.com

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Samuel

I am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos.

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Samuel

I am a journalist specializing in gambling in Africa and around the world. I am particularly interested in stories about games and casinos.