Airtel - HackMD

--- tags: money-service --- # Airtel | [AIRTEL](https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtel-rwanda) | | | -------------- | ----------------------------- | | Website | http://www.airtel.com | | Industries | Telecommunications | | Company size | 501-1000 employees | | Headquarters | Kigali, Kigali | | Privately Held | Privately Held | | Founded | 2012 | | Specialties | Telecommunications, ICT, Innovation, Data, VAS, Corporate Social Responsibility, Broadband & Networking, and Marketing | > Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the company ranks amongst the top 3 mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers. [^airtel_1] > Airtel was launched in Rwanda in March 2012 and is Rwanda’s most innovative mobile phone operator, which has introduced many “firsts” in the telecommunications sector. As a mobile operator airtel introduced affordable communication products and services that have transformed millions of Rwandans and businesses. [^airtel_2] - In one of her interviews Jidia Gasana Head of Airtel Money, mentioned that Airtel at some point was focused on Tigo cash and that is why there was such high awarness especially in rural areas[^jidia_gasana_0]. - What happens to people who have limited access to internet, people who are older or people with low income? - Do those people still have a choice of using cash? - What was the challenge with educating people and bringing the awarness when it comes to cashless economy in rural areas? - One of our participants mentioned that is sending Tigo Cash to an older relative in rural area - [Paticipant 9](https://hackmd.io/Qx1WCkmhRXm-Z59ZzQGIVA) - Focusing on Tigo Cash was because it was already widespread in rural areas or you had an idea how to go about it and you took the chance? - Few months ago Airtel launched digital platform for self-care. App allows customers to pay bills online, view payment history, save and complete account management. Customers get different rewards for using certain services, like: - Cash Back - having an interest for saving and making transactions with Airtel <small> Cash Back was launched last year to give back to all Airtel Money users who actively use the services to make payments, send and receive money.</small> - Do you see any changes in peoples behviour since they have interest from saving with you? - Do your customers get the same rewards for saving and making transactions with Airtel? - Community Champion - gets 5% for recharging family and friends airtime - Before My Airtel App customers used only USSD? - Is there any differences in services available for people that don't have smart phones? Saving? Paying bills? Peer to Peer transfers? ### About Airtel Money/Tigo Cash ? - Airtel Money/ Tigo Cash is a mobile commerce service (money transfer via the phone) that allows you to: 1. Send and receive money across networks 2. Buy airtime for yourself or other person (airtel customers) 3. Make Payments using airtel money (utility bills, goods & services) 4. Bank transactions (check bank balances, send money from your phone to your bank & from your bank to your phone or to another bank account.) 5. Make ATM cash withdrawal - Airtel Money/Tigo Cash is accessible 24 hours, 7 days a week from your phone menu and is secure, fast and easy to use. All you need is to get it started - What was the challenge creating partnerships with banks and telecom providers while pushing cashles economy? ### Why Airtel Money/Tigo Cash? 1. It is safe, secure and reliable. It runs on a dependable network with little or no breakdowns. 2. Reversals are free. If you send wrong amounts of money or send money to the wrong recipients, the transaction can be reversed for free, if not within 48 hours. 3. Withdrawals can be made from ATMs without the need for an agent. This is an agent option. 4. It is simple to use. ## Transaction fees - In few interviews that we did, we heard interviewees and interviewer say that making transactions on Airtel is free. That was confirmed by Amit Chawla Airtel Managing Director at a virtual press conference, but on [Airtel](https://www.airtel.co.rw/airtelmoney/transaction_fees) we can see that there are different transaction fees for: - Peer to Peer - Cash-Out - ATM Withdrawals - Push and Pull (from Airtel to Bank) - Wallet to Bank - Do you have any challenges when it comes to seizing customers that are using Airtel just for fast internet to completly switch to your services? - Is Airtel charging for making transactions? <small> example </small> #### Airtel Money Transaction: Peer to peer | Min (RWF) | Max (RWF) | Service Fee | |:---------:|:---------:|:-----------:| | 1 | 1.000 | 10 | | 1.001 | 10.000 | 50 | | 10.001 | 150.000 | 125 | | 150.001 | 2.000.000 | 750 | ## CONS > The most dumb connection with turtle speed, wish you can stop call it a 4G network. 16 June 2018. > Customer care is so bad. Can't believe I have been pleading for internet connectivitysince Friday and up to now nothing. What sort of company is this? 20 March 2018. > waiting for my line activation since a month. Never been assisted from your customer's service after my claims. By far the worst service i ve never seen. For your information I got my MTN line in 02 minutes... 23 March 2019. > i purchased electricity using airtel line on 23rd july it is now 4 days i didn't get electricity and the money, customer service are telling to wait i don't know if should wait until when!! bad service 26 July 2019. ### REF * https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/227179 * https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/207582 * https://taarifa.rw/airtel-issues-rwf90m-to-customers-of-airtel-money/ * https://www.cnbcafrica.com/east-africa/2020/03/18/behind-the-growth-of-rwandas-mobile-money-platforms/ * https://www.airtel.co.rw/ * https://taarifa.rw/airtel-launches-one-stop-digital-platform-to-offer-self-care-services/ * https://theconversation.com/going-cashless-isnt-straightforward-ask-sweden-or-zimbabwe-146187 * https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/cashless-economy-mobile-money-too-expensive * https://www.dw.com/en/rwanda-to-start-new-cashless-era-after-covid-19/a-54038132 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ * https://www.facebook.com/airtelrwanda/reviews/ [^jidia_gasana_0]: https://taarifa.rw/airtel-money-and-tigo-cash-platforms-finally-integrated/ "Behind the growth of Rwanda’s mobile money platforms" [^airtel_africa_3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airtel_Africa) [^airtel_1]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtel-rwanda [^airtel_2]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airtel-rwanda