“Etisalat Afghanistan”, the arm of “Etisalat UAE” and the fastest growing cellular operator in Afghanistan has launched the first of its kind contactless mobile financial service (mHawala) in Afghanistan.
mHawala is an innovative mobile financial services solution that will enable “Etisalat Afghanistan’s” customers to purchase airtime directly from their handsets, send money from their mobile phones to family and friends, pay their bills via their mobile phones, purchase goods and services from shops and or retail outlets and deposit or withdraw cash from Etisalat authorised mHawala distributors or Etisalat partner banks.
mHawala Mobile Accounts can be obtained at any Etisalat store or authorised Etisalat mHawala Distributor. The service is available to all existing and new ‘Etisalat Afghanistan” customers.
Mr. Ahmad Alhosani “Etisalat Afghanistan” CEO, said “Etisalat Afghanistan” is proud to be a leader in empowering the Afghan people by giving them access to financial products via their mobile phones. The launch of mHawala will offer customers fast, convenient, safe and affordable access to financial services. The service aims to save time, and is both simple to use and always available – anywhere, anytime. Our ultimate goal is to allow all Afghans access to basic and advanced services by leveraging on “Etisalat Afghanistan’s” world class national infrastructure.”
To provide this service “Etisalat Afghanistan” has partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Through this partnership, USAID will support bill payment solutions to “Etisalat Afghanistan’s” customers using the mHawala service.
Etisalat’s mobile financial services enable consumers to conduct financial transactions electronically using a mobile phone. ‘Mobile Money’ is now poised to become powerful and active tools of economic growth within countries. This effort by “Etisalat Afghanistan” is a major leap to bring about financial inclusion for Afghans and the stimulation of economic growth in Afghanistan.