MTN deploys Ericsson Converged Wallet for mobile money in Swaziland

Ericsson today announced that MTN Swaziland has deployed Ericsson Converged Wallet, enabling the operator to quickly introduce relevant, new and differentiated mobile financial services. The rollout impacts more than 275,000 existing MTN Swaziland mobile wallet users and 3,000 agents. The new platform serves as a mobile money hub solution, connecting MTN’s operations in several countries, enabling the fast launch of new services and providing cross-promotion capabilities for improved adoption. As a hub solution, the reusability of products and services across regions improves time-to-market and operational efficiencies.

Ambrose Dlamini, CEO, MTN Swaziland, says: “Through our work with Ericsson, MTN Swaziland offers MTN Mobile Money to bridge the gap between the region’s banked and unbanked populations, providing wide and crucial access to financial services. With our rollout of Ericsson Converged Wallet, we have enhanced the stability and security of our mobile financial services offering, while gaining the ability to deliver better mobile financial services offers and bundles as part of our pre-paid services.”

MTN Swaziland is part of MTN Group, a multinational telecommunications group, connecting 219 million people in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The latest rollout is part of Ericsson and MTN’s partnership to launch mobile wallet services across the operator’s footprint. It also fulfills mobile financial services regulatory requirements enacted by Bank of Swaziland. By making financial transactions, subscribers are now able to accumulate loyalty points toward MTN services, initiate loan requests and receive money from a range of access channels.

Ericsson replaces MTN Swaziland’s existing mobile wallet platform, integrates the new solution into the operator’s charging system, and is also being deployed as a hub solution that connects to operations across country borders. Ericsson provides a prime integrator engagement model that encompasses hardware, software, systems integration and migration services that are supported by a managed operations model. This migration was supported by dedicated m-commerce delivery teams at Ericsson’s Global Competence Hub, an organization that unites Ericsson experts around the globe.

Peter Heuman, VP, Head of M-Commerce, Ericsson says: “MTN Group’s deployment of Ericsson Converged Wallet in Swaziland follows a long history of our close collaboration in related areas. We are proud of the important work we are doing together with MTN across the region to bring mobile financial services to millions of people.”

Part of the Ericsson M-Commerce portfolio, Ericsson Converged Wallet is an integrated mobile wallet solution that combines the company’s wallet and charging platforms. It allows operators to reuse existing assets and bundle telecom offerings with financial services to create a complete end user solution for m-commerce needs. Ericsson’s m-commerce solutions help operators succeed in the mobile payments market by accelerating the interconnection between the m-commerce ecosystem and the financial world.