Tigo Tanzania handed over $2.1 million to users of its mobile wallet in the past quarter, the seventh time its unusual profit share scheme paid out to the operator’s customer base.

Cumulatively, Tigo has handed over a total of $16.5 million in three-monthly contributions since September 2014, the date of the first payout.

The operator currently has 4.6 million users of Tigo Pesa, its mobile wallet.

The payment is generated from profit accrued in the Tigo Pesa Trust accounts held with major commercial banks in the country. The scheme is a world first for a mobile money service, the operator claimed.

The profit share is in line with regulations laid out by Tanzania’s central bank which allows operators to grow e-money deposits and encourage mobile money transactions through new types of loyalty schemes.

The profit share applies to individual customers, the operator’s retail agents and other business partners. The size of payment is dependent on the value stored in their Tigo Pesa wallets.

“The payment underlines Tigo Tanzania’s commitment to provide financial access to our customers and to promote financial inclusion in the country through our Tigo Pesa services,” said Tigo Tanzania Head of Finance and Risk for Mobile Financial Services, Obedi Laiser.