Econet extends airtime credit to EcoCash, seeks to maximise mobile money revenue

Remember the credit facility that allows you to borrow relatively small amounts of airtime when you are in a jam? We’ve seen local mobile operators like Econet Wireless and NetOne promoting this as one of their VAS services.

Well, Econet has just announced that it is extending that facility to its EcoCash subscribers. Users of the mobile money service are now able to borrow the same amounts of airtime (30c, 50c, 75c) by accessing EcoCash or through the EcoCash App.

The option is already on the EcoCash menu but when we tried accessing the service via the USSD driven Ecocash app it wasn’t yet available like most of its other recent updates.

So why put it on EcoCash?

The process to get airtime on credit has always been fairly simple, though. All you have to do is dial *179# and follow the prompts so why is Econet also making this available via EcoCash? After all, the airtime borrowed this way also attracts the same 10% interest.

It seems a lot like an attempt by EcoCash to boost its revenue prospects from its 5 million subscribers. Though part of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, EcoCash under EcoCash Services, which has revenue objectives of its own that are expanded on as part of the entire operator’s financial results.

So like all things in telecoms it all comes down to revenue by numbers. By converting a sizeable number of EcoCash subscribers, including some who already buy airtime via the mobile money route, EcoCash could earn a decent return from the 10% service fee.

EcoCash needs to continue to figure out ways of maximising earning potential, especially in an environment where mobile money services are emerging as a major pillar for the telecoms company. Anything that allows EcoCash to earn something extra, no matter how small, will be accommodated.