Connecting Africa is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

FinTech

Shell Partnership Bankrolls Orange Money Across Africa

Article Image
Orange has announced the expansion of Orange Money across Africa in partnership with Vivo Energy, a Shell subsidiary, further diversifying its brand proposition.

The partnership means Orange Money customers will be given the opportunity to use the service as payment at any Shell garage. As it stands today, the collaborative agreement between Orange and the Shell subsidiary is live in Mali, Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar, but plans are underway to begin the rollout in an additional six countries where both companies overlap and where Orange Money is available. Those countries include Botswana, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mauritius, Senegal and Tunisia.

According to Orange (NYSE: FTE), the agreement between Vivo Energy and the France-based operator came into being due to a mutual desire from each party to expand the customer experience beyond conventional services, a sentiment echoed by Orange's VP of mobile financial services, Thierry Millet.

"Orange Money has evolved well beyond money transfer to cover from now on all the essential transactions that our customers perform every day," he said. "It has become a decisive financial inclusion tool on the continent. Together, with Vivo Energy, through this multi-country partnership, we significantly increase the number of merchants that accept mobile money transactions. This is a real gain of proximity for our shared customers that can pay in a fast and secure way, and cash in and cash out from any Vivo Energy outlet."

The trend of mobile operators partnering with players from alternative industries continues to grow, and illustrates ongoing diversification of operator strategies. It is becoming increasingly important for operators to reach their customers in new and inventive ways, and Orange is undeniably at the forefront of such innovation in Africa. Its mobile money service is one thing, but it is also in the process of rolling out early stage offerings for pre-pay solar energy services -- which has the potential to bring millions of Africans online if done properly.

— Tim Skinner, Editor, Connecting Africa

Innovation hub

Story

Hot startup of the month: Nigeria's Tech Herfrica

Connecting Africa's hot startup is Nigeria's Tech Herfrica, a social impact organization that focuses on the digital and financial inclusion of women and girls in rural areas of Nigeria.

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

More videos

Partner perspectives

All Partner Perspectives

Sponsored video

More videos

Industry announcements

More Industry announcements

Upcoming events

Africa Tech Festival 2024
November 11-14, 2024
Cape Town, South Africa
More Upcoming events

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

More Africa Tech perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: January 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in January 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included a $200 million fintech deal between MTN and Mastercard as well as 5G network trials by Telecom Egypt – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up


Sign Up
Tag id test-002