African telecommunications giant MTN, and world leading e-payment service provider Visa, have come into partnership to offer customers a mobile payment solution which allows MTN Mobile Money customers to make online transactions wherever Visa is accepted.

According to an official statement, MTN Mobile Money users will be able to make online payments at all Visa merchants and withdraw money from their mobile money account at any Visa ATM.

“Visa recognises that mobile technology is the single most significant driver of financial inclusion, so improving access to financial services is a critical building block to help more people improve their lives,” said Visa Head of Global Mobile Network Operator Partnerships, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Group, Vish Sowani.

“We look forward to building on this broad based partnership with MTN to bring further innovative payment related products to their customers in the future,” added Sowani.

Also commenting on the venture, MTN Group COO, Pieter Verkades said; “The partnership will provide MTN Mobile Money customers with access to the entire Visa network, which includes merchants, online vendors and ATMs, to enable a mobile payment experience.”

Mobile Money for MTN which enables users to do national and international money transfers, offers utility and other service payments options including airtime purchase, financial products and retail payments.

The statement said customers in Ghana will be the first to experience the payment solution which will be launched before the end of the year.

The service will then progressively be rolled out across the MTN footprint.