MASCOM/VISA Launch (21 April 2004)

The Governor of the Bank of Botswana will officially launch a world first Direct Mobile Top-Up service in Gaborone – Botswana on Wednesday, 21 April 2004.

The hi-tech filled launch will take place at the Gabarone International Conference Centre, Grand Palm Hotel at 1900.

The Governor of the Bank of Botswana, Mrs. Linah Mohohlo will officiate at the launch in the presence of three Cabinet Ministers – Mr. Jacob Nkate – Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Baledzi Gaolathe – Minister of Finance and Development Planning and Mr. Boyce Sebetela – Minister of Communications, Science, and Technology. Senior delegates from Visa International, Barclays Bank, First National Bank and Standard Chartered Bank will jointly support the event.

An innovative and exclusive mobile commerce solution named “PayM8” is intended to afford Mascom pre-paid subscribers the ability to purchase airtime directly from their Mobile Handsets and is set to revolutionalise virtual recharge concepts the world over. “This is just the beginning for Mascom and it’s Botswana Banking partners whom will make Mobile Commerce a reality in Botswana” says Mr Andrew Springate, CEO of JHI Commerce, the developers of the technology.

The national launch event culminates years of effort in developing a technology that is Certified by Visa and supported by all the Visa card issuing banks in Botswana. “It is truly amazing what can be achieved when organisations as powerful as Mascom, Visa Inetrnational, First National Bank, Barclays and Standard Chartered cooperate on a project such as this” says Mr. Jose Antonia Ferreira, CEO of Mascom.

Mrs. Maureen Williams, Visa International Botswana Country manager explains; “Visa is pleased to be supporting it’s member banks in Botswana in delivering new value added services to it’s card-holders, and leading the African Renaissance through the use of new technologies such as Mobile phones”.

Mascom proudly serves 70% of the Mobile market in Botswana where currently 90% of the top-up is provisioned through pre-printed ‘scratch-cards’ and paid for in cash. The Mascom Direct Top-up service that uses “Verified by Visa” technology will allow Visa card-holders to purchase Airtime using their Botswana issued Visa card as the means of payment. In the near future card-holders will be able to request the available balance on their Visa card, send money to other Visa card holders and even pay their bills directly from their Mascom phone.

JHI Commerce with their technology partners Radiospoor South Africa and Cardinal Commerce USA have developed the Visa certified solution under the guidance of Visa International and named the solution “PayM8”. The solution is intended to bridge the gap between non-Internet based Mobile phones and the Internet. “The Mobile phone is the PC of Africa. PayM8 brings the power of the Internet to everyone that owns a Mobile phone” says the Chief Technical Office of JHI Commerce.

The “PayM8” solution is simple and most importantly safe to use, as the card-holders transaction details are safely transported and secured in a Visa certified environment.

“A technical test pilot phase has been running for two months with First National Bank customers with amazing success. Already more than Pula 100,000 worth or airtime has been sold directly to card-holders” says Denis Ivins of First National Bank of Botswana.

To enrol for the Mascom Direct 109, Visa endorsed Direct Top-up service, a customer needs to have a VISA Credit or VISA Electron card from any of the participating banks in Botswana (First National Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays Bank).

Customer dial free, “109” from their Mascom phone to register on-line and provide the following information:

• 16 Digit VISA Credit or Visa Electron Number

• Visa Card Expiry date

• National ID Number

• Select another new Passcode/PIN for the service.

Once the information has been verified, a customer can start buying airtime to the value of their choice.

The launch of the Mascom Direct Top-up service will offer Mascom customers more convenience and lower its distribution costs of Airtime, and increase data security. Customers will have convenience, utility and security. This service saves time, is simple to use and is always available.

Mascom as the first cellular operator in Botswana, is the torchbearer in harnessing the cellular technology in line with the national vision - A Long Term Vision for Botswana – Vision 2016. The organisation is truly living to its mission statement that reads: “To serve Africa by pioneering, developing and sustaining reliable and efficient high quality telecommunications of uncompromising world class standards and ethics” says Mr. Jose Antonia Ferreira, CEO of Mascom.


For more information, contact:

Mascom Corporate Information: Joao Perreira, Marketing Director of Mascom on +267 390 3396

Technical Information: Kerry Stephenson on +27 11 847 6100

Visa International: Maureen Williams or Zubier Shah on +27 11 483 4300

Or Barclays, First National or Standard Chartered Bank of Botswana.