It's one thing paying 4k+ by M-Pesa and another paying 20-100 using M-Pesa.

[quote=murchr]The pioneer of a mobile-banking revolution in sub-Saharan Africa is in talks with financial-services providers about expanding its offerings over the next five years, as it seeks to emulate the success of Ant Group’s Alipay.

Safaricom, which has announced plans to bid for one of two Ethiopian telecommunication licenses that are up for grabs, is reviewing tender documents that the neighboring state sent out to interested companies last week, Ndegwa said. Ethiopia’s government has refused to allow the immediate introduction of M-Pesa or similar platforms by the companies that bag the coveted permits.

“There are things we want to get right,” he said. “One is the mobile-money license. At the moment it is not clear at what point it will be opened up, although the government has said within three years.”

While Ndegwa doesn’t expect the company will make “a lot of money” during the first five years of its Ethiopian investment, the Horn of Africa market, which has Africa’s second-biggest population, would be a “significant growth driver” should Safaricom win a license, he said.

https://www.bloomberg.co...d-into-money-management[/quote]

Apart of the mobile money license they should also be allowed to lay their own fiber optic cable and put up towers

You have CBK enforced waivers to thank for that. Before Covid, every single one of those micro businesses insisted I send them "pesa za kutoa", if i wanted to pay by M-pesa. From Jan2021, they'll revert back. Effectively, only the middle class, (about 30% of the population?) pays M-pesa fees. I would like to see the low income guys buy goods from you via "Pay Bill" with a fee, when they have the option to pay by cash.

David Bowie was so right!

US vs China trade disputes spillover!!!