WorldRemit, the UK firm which enables remittances to be sent and received via mobile devices, has signed a global partnership with operator MTN.

The deal sets up the possibility that WorldRemit users will be able to send payments to any of MTN’s 22 million mobile money subscribers in 16 countries across Africa.

The service will kick off by enabling WorldRemit users to send cash to MTN mobile money users in Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia, with additional countries following soon after.

For those receiving money, WorldRemit offers a range of options that include bank deposit, cash collection, as well as transferring funds into mobile money accounts (as with MTN) or in the form of mobile airtime top-up.

In Africa, the firm says more than 50 per cent of its transfers are received in mobile money accounts or as airtime top-ups.

The firm’s service is available in 50 countries and sends to more than 110 receive countries.