Movirtu’s Cloud Phone technology allows individuals to log into any handset to access their account for a small fee. The system will allow thousands of people in Madagascar who cannot afford to purchase a handset to make and receive calls more securely, and access text messages, voicemail, and mobile banking.
Heiko Schlittke, Managing Director of Airtel Madagascar, said, “We are very excited about this opportunity to expand our customer base in rural areas while providing access to additional services such as mobile money. Our partnership with IFC and Movirtu allows us to bring the benefits of our improved network to additional customers in rural areas while providing additional income to local entrepreneurs.”
Special Cloud Phone handsets on the Airtel Madagascar mobile network will be provided by Village Phone Operators, which are part of IFC's Village Phone Program. Village Phone links large telecom operators with entrepreneurs who sell airtime on the companies' networks to people in their local communities, expanding access to telephone services, helping local entrepreneurs build a viable business, and expanding the reach of participating telecoms companies.
Nigel Waller, Chief Executive Officer of Movirtu said, "At Movirtu, we pride ourselves on developing solutions based on real user needs. Cloud Phone was one of those solutions. Together with IFC's Village Phone Program we aim to improve lives of many thousands of rural poor."
The full launch of the Cloud Phone service, under the brand name “Antso Majika”, gives Village Phone Operators access to new revenue streams from Airtel mobile money payments and remittances. The pilot project indicated an expected increase in revenue of almost 25 percent for the Village Phone micro-enterprises in the first year.
Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC's Regional Director of Eastern and Southern Africa, said, "Extending mobile phone services into rural areas drives economic development and fosters entrepreneurship. The Village Phone program is an excellent example of how IFC and its partners are increasing access to finance for entrepreneurs, especially women. Cloud Phone services will help thousands access financial services and enter the formal economy."
The Village Phone program has helped provide credit to nearly 6,000 women and trained close to 10,000 to establish phone service businesses in Madagascar, Malawi, and Nigeria, increasing the economic participation of women in these countries.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. We create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We do so by providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory services to ensure sustainable development. In a time of global economic uncertainty, our new investments climbed to a record $18 billion in fiscal 2010. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
About Airtel Madagascar
Airtel has Madagascar's largest mobile phone coverage and is the only operator to cover all 22 regions of the island. Airtel’s track record of innovation continues with the introduction of services such as Blackberry Prepaid service, Airtel Money, and many others. The growth plan of Airtel in Madagascar is directly linked to its desire to be an innovative company that works to achieve a positive difference in people's lives by facilitating communication and supporting communities. Airtel is committed to consistently provide products and enhanced services, thus opening a new world of opportunities. http://africa.airtel.com/madagascar
About Movirtu
Movirtu is a leading provider of mobile identity solutions to wireless telecommunications service providers. Its award winning Cloud PhoneTM software already enables mobile operators to service the 1 billion people who earn less than $2 a day, living in rural poor communities in Sub-Sahara Africa and South Asia. Movirtu's solutions also bring mobile banking services and personalized information services to those without a handset, SIM card or bank account. Demand for Cloud PhoneTM applications extends to the 1 billion people who own more than two SIM cards living in developed markets. Movirtu is a private company, headquartered in London with offices in Johannesburg and Delhi. www.movirtu.com
For more information, please contact:
In London:
Julia Simonova Lopez
Tel: +44 20 7043 1131
E-mail:
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In Johannesburg:
Gregor Pfeifer
Tel: +27 (0) 11 731 3139
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IFC, Movirtu, Airtel Madagascar announce innovative Cloud Phone to expand access to mobile network services in Madagascar
Antananarivo, Madagascar, October 10, 2011 – IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, in partnership with Movirtu and Airtel Madagascar, are expanding access to communications services in rural Madagascar with a technology that allows individuals to share mobile telephone handsets while maintaining private phone numbers and accounts.