By Alfred Zacharia
Tanzanian consumers will now be able to make payments on global platforms using their mobile phones after Airtel Money Tanzania unveiled its rebranded virtual card, Airtel Money Global Pay, in partnership with Mastercard and Network International.
The service, available exclusively via the MyAirtel App, allows users to make international payments for shopping, education, travel, entertainment and other purposes, even without a traditional bank account.
The move is part of Airtel’s broader strategy to boost financial inclusion and simplify cross-border transactions in Tanzania.
Airtel Money Board Chairman Adolf Kasegenya said the launch supports Tanzania’s national efforts to modernize its payment systems, reduce dependence on cash and integrate with the global digital economy.
“The integration of Mastercard’s global payment network within the Airtel Money ecosystem represents a significant step forward in enhancing Tanzania’s digital financial infrastructure,” Kasegenya said at the launch event in Dar es Salaam, adding that “This innovation aligns with the Bank of Tanzania’s priorities on payment system modernization, financial inclusion, and cross-border interoperability.”
Airtel Money Director Andrew Rugamba added that the service provides customers with instant access to global transactions directly from their mobile devices.
“We have made it easier than ever for our customers to access international payments from Tanzania with no bank account needed,” Rugamba said.
Customers, according to him, can simply download the MyAirtel App, activate Global Pay, top up, and start shopping, streaming, or subscribing globally.
Many Tanzanians have traditionally faced challenges when attempting to make international payments, including limited access to internationally accepted cards, high transaction fees, currency conversion uncertainties, and concerns over security and fraud.
The new Airtel Money Global Pay virtual card addresses these issues by offering instant issuance, in-app top-ups in Tanzanian shillings, live foreign exchange rates, real-time spending controls, and global acceptance wherever Mastercard is supported.
The rebranding from Airtel Mastercard to Airtel Money Global Pay includes several new features aimed at improving the user experience and enhancing security. Users can now personalize their virtual cards, view live exchange rates, monitor spending, and manage transactions in real time directly from their mobile phones.
Kirsten Wortmann, Vice President for Telco at Mastercard EEMEA, said the partnership reflects a strategic effort to expand secure digital payments in emerging markets.
“Our partnership with Airtel Money ensures that Tanzanians, both banked and unbanked, enjoy safe, globally accepted payment tools using Airtel Money Global Pay,” Wortmann said.
The launch empowers Tanzanian students, online workers, travelers, and shoppers to participate confidently in the global digital economy.
To activate Global Pay, users must download the MyAirtel App, select Airtel Money, opt in for the Global Pay Card powered by Mastercard, accept the terms, top up their cards, and start making payments on international platforms.
Airtel Africa, the parent company of Airtel Money Tanzania, operates in 14 countries across East, Central, and West Africa, offering telecommunications and mobile money services to millions of customers.