GSM Asia Pacific

Presentation by Thivanka Rangala

eZPay is what we use to convert your mobile to a payment device. We started off in 1999 with something very simple, Mobile Banking. We started with something very simple. We then went into eChanneling - doctors appointment through the mobile top-up. Also electronic top-up, which we all know was very popular.

If you look at the electronic payment overview, we pioneered over 350,000 transactions via 9,000 outlets per day. This gave us the islandwide reach to take on the mobile commerce segment.

The potential of m-Commerce is to empower the average citizen. It can also capture the full potential of Inward Remittances. This gives the possibility of a person in the UAE to send money directly back to the local shop or utility bills so they can care for their families. Today the urban and richer community has access to banking.

Why are some people unbanked today? Is it access to banking infrastructure? In rural areas this is very much so. Is it access to payment infrastructure? In some areas you have to take a 1 or 2 hour bus ride to pay your bills. Are we limited by an unbanked ecosystem? In many areas it is a pure cash economy. Is it limited utility infrastructure? In some cases it’s not affordable for banks to go into these areas. Is it support from regulators? Some want a permanent address, but how do you do that with a mobile ATM?

As an example, we have eZPay. It starts with the customer coming into a Dialog outlet and requesting an eZ Pay starter pack. The eZ Pay account is linked to a bank for instant access. It can be an existing account or a new one. eZ Pay accounts can be topped up, there can be cash withdrawals, money transfers, etc. It also means ‘banking at the corner store’, where consumer can do their banking at many touchpoints.

How does this benefit the bank? You get expanded points of presence, ability to withdraw and top-up, inward foreign remittances, and security based on the device.

What does the consumer get? The consumer can use their mobile to connect to their bank of choice. They also get it on a device that they already keep with them always.

For the mPowered business, they get automation and transaction logging, cashless transactions, etc.