Mobile operator Turkcell has further expanded the addressable market for its NFC-based mobile wallet service by joining forces with Akbank, a leading Turkish bank. Those Turkcell subscribers with the bank’s Axess credit card will be able to make transactions in Turkey and abroad via the operator’s Cep-T Cüzdan mobile wallet. The operator first launched its wallet several months ago in 2011. Turkcell already has several alliances with banks in the mobile money market. Among its partners are local financial institutions Garanti Bank and Yapi Kredi Bank. But the relationship with Akbank goes back further to NFC trials in 2009.

Turkcell has shown itself eager to push ahead with NFC services on a number of fronts. In addition to the banking alliances, it has also launched its own-branded NFC-based Android smartphone with handset vendor Huawei.  It also worked closely with MasterCard and its PayPass contactless technology in developing the handset.