WhatsApp is extremely popular in messaging app used in Africa and it is not surprise that we shall see several 3rd party services crop out around it. MTN has launched a WhatsApp channel to let its customers buy airtime and data bundles through the messaging app which becomes a world first for the telco industry .
The largest mobile operator in Africa has begun the service in its home country, South Africa, using the Facebook-owned app.
Gareth Murphy, MTN South Africa’s online channel GM, says it wants its services to be more convenient by providing a better customer experience. “It’s no secret that the telecommunications sector, around the world, has not excelled at this and we want to change that at MTN,” Murphy told me. “Simple solutions that are easy to use, and which fit neatly into our customer’s lives, will help be a great differentiator for us.”
Customers can also check their balances and store their credit or debit cards in the app for future purchases. The service is provided by another South African company that has a global reach, Clickatell, which is a WhatsApp Business Solution provider.
Just under half (49%) of South Africa’s 38 million mobile subscribers use it (out of a population of 58 million), according to the Digital in 2018 in Southern Africa report by Hootsuite and We Are Social, which compiles statistics from various sources.
