The MMU, an extremely rich source of information, today posted an article about the relationship between banks and mobile network operators in establishing Mobile Money initiatives for the Unbanked.

As detailed in this article each party brings its own specific strengths and motivations to the partnership, and neither can succeed in the ‘Mobile Money for the Unbanked’ landscape on their own. Generally speaking, this kind of initiative offers banks access to a much wider portion of the population, particularly in remote areas, where people do not have access to financial services but do access a mobile phone. For the MNO, the attraction is not so much in expanding their already well established subscriber base, but in offering a new service to their users.

Each party brings their own knowledge and advantages to the table, and, as outlined in the article, negotiating where the responsibilities lie can be a source of debate. One area that was briefly touched on was the role of the Technology Provider. In this area, I feel I can add some further insight. The Technology Provider is in a unique position to offer, not just the hardware or software required to bring the idea to fruition, but also the knowledge that comes from first hand experience of working closely with MNOs and banks in previous installations.

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