Mobile money transfer success celebrated at MMT Africa in Nairobi next week

May 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Safaricom’s CO of the New Products Division Betty Mwangi-Thuo heads up an impressive list of mobile money transfer professionals who will address the annual MMT Africa in Nairobi from 11 May at what is the mobile money transfer industry’s top event on the continent.  

The MMT Africa conference and expo will gather more than 400 top industry experts, including service providers, banks, central banks and technology vendors and share their experiences.

Survey shows regulations a concern
In the run-up to the event, a survey by MMT Africa amongst mobile money transfer professionals on the continent has revealed some interesting trends in the industry.  MMT Africa project director Andrea Monteiro says while mobile money transfer is becoming increasingly important as a revenue generating activity for companies, hick-ups with financial regulators are still a cause for concern.  She continues: ”More than 75% of those polled said mobile money services had become more important for their companies while more than 55% said MMT had become significantly more important as a source of revenue.”

Technology is key
75% of the MMT professionals polled feel that technology plays an important role in the success of a mobile money programme.  “This one will be good news to the vendors”, says Andrea Monteiro, “who now more than ever have the opportunity to influence the technology choices of new mobile money programmes.”

Educating people about the benefits of MMT
MMT Africa’s Andrea Monteiro says the survey also highlights that the lack of education amongst consumers about the use of MMT technology was a still a concern.  Polled on how advanced customer awareness was, more than 30% of those polled said it was very poor, 25% moderate and just over 30% thought it was advanced.  Andrea Monteiro:  “Awareness, use and knowledge of mobile money services - even though Africa is home to some of the world's pioneering mobile money initiatives - is still one of the key challenges in educating people about the benefits of mobile money and encouraging service uptake and usage.  This result highlights the disparity between the different stages of mobile money evolution and awareness throughout Africa.”

Other top industry experts who will address recent market developments at MMT Africa include:
•  Yolande Van Wyk, CEO: Smart Services, First National Bank South Africa
•  Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor, Banking Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria
•  Kioko Musyimi, Director Cash Management for East Africa, Citigroup
•  Hashim Mukudi, MCommerce Head of Department, Zantel Tanzania
•  Snehar Shah, Head of Orange Money, Telkom Kenya
•  Benson Wandario, Head Mobile Money Transfer - Distribution, Essar Telecom Kenya
•  Jacques Voogt, HOD: Financial Services, Vodacom Tanzania

Event dates:  
11-12 May – conference days
10 May – Pre-conference Mobile Money Academy
13 May – Post conference site visit
Location:  Laico Regency Hotel, Loita Street, Uhuru Highway, Nairobi
Event website:  www.mobile-money-transfer.com/africa

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