The Zain telecoms group says it will enhance existing mobile money services in some countries where it operates, plus support the rollout of m-commerce in others, following a contract award to mobile money specialist eServGlobal.

Zain, headquartered in Kuwait, has mobile operations in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa. The firm does not give a breakdown as to which countries will receive enhancements or new services, or the timetable involved. It does say, however, that the provision of the “end-to-end mobile money solution” will be gradually deployed across group operations.

The “complete mobile money platform”, notes the operator, will provide services such as electronic top-ups, mobile wallets, mobile banking, online payments, salary disbursements, peer-to-peer money transfer, micro finance, airtime top-up, bill payment and payment at a merchant.

Zain says that in several of its markets over 90 per cent of the population does not have access to banking facilities.

“The positive economic and social impact of financial inclusion for many of our customers where banking services are scarce will be abundant,” said Scott Gegenheimer, Zain’s chief executive.

Domestic mobile-money transfers generate the bulk of eServGlobal’s turnover, but it’s the HomeSend offering – the international version – that generates most investor excitement for the Paris-based firm.

Acting as an international hub, linking different networks around the world, HomeSend has bagged a number of heavyweight mobile operator partners. These include Vodafone and Airtel Africa, while Xpress Money, a global money transfer business, has also joined.