It’s peak time at Aggrey Nyirongo’s refreshment stall in central Lusaka. Ideally placed between two colleges, he chats with a gentle smile on his face as he hands out wads of change to the long queue of customers buying airtime, snacks and drinks.
In the past, business might have been bumpy for Aggrey and his wife Mirriam, who runs their second shop at a busy bus terminal ten minutes away. But experience has paid off and the customers keep coming back.
Entrepreneurs, the couple set up their shops four years ago with a loan – which has now been paid back. Aggrey proudly takes three framed licenses wrapped carefully in plastic bags from underneath his counter and presents them. He is a fully paid up tax payer with a certificate of corporation and trading licence.
Electronic transfers
Always looking for a good deal, he has been impressed with a surprisingly little know about phenomenon – electronic airtime top-up transfers.
Customers hand over K5,000, the vendor taps in the customer’s number, a password and the value of the stock to be transferred, and the customer receives the credit instantly. No scratch cards.
The benefits are obvious – the electronic transfer saves time and money, not to mention paper, so it is more environmentally friendly as well. It is attractive to customers because it is fast and efficient, and mobile network companies benefit because the method eliminates scratch-card printing.
Nyirongo already sells e-top ups for competing mobile networks, and confirms that demand for the e-charge top-up outstrips demand for scratch cards. So competition may spell bad news for mobile service providers, but it’s a bonus for him. “This will mean boosted sales, customers and profits,” he said.
MTN and Connect Africa – an exciting partnership
Connect Africa is currently working with MTN to link such entrepreneurs to the network – and spread it.
By working with mobile airtime vendors and entrepreneurs nationally, the aim is to get everyone connected to a mobile phone, while reducing the time this takes, and eliminating the restraints involved – running out of scratch card stock for example.
Watch this space.