Telecel, Zimbabwe’s second largest telecom, is squaring up to its bigger rival Econet by launching its long awaited mobile payment service.
Telecel, with 2.5m mobile subscribers to Econet’s 8m, has already delayed the launch of Telecash twice, first pushing the launch date back from November to December 2013 and then again to early 2014.
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However, reports in the local media say sources inside Telecel have told them the service will finally launch this week.
EcoCash, the mobile money service Telecash will compete against, already has 3m subscribers, according to Econet, meaning the newer service may struggle to get established.
On the other hand, the Zimbabwean media has noted that the newer mobile money service may have an advantage in that the market has some familiarity with mobile payments thanks to Econet’s scheme.
In addition, Telecash is expected to offer lower tariffs, which may force its rival to adjust its own pricing system.
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