Airtel Money Launches Mastercard-Supported Virtual Card for Global Payments

By Samuel Mbewe

Airtel Africa has launched the Airtel Money GlobalPay Card, a virtual payment solution developed in partnership with Mastercard, allowing users to make secure international online transactions directly from their Airtel Money wallets.

The new virtual card gives Airtel’s more than 150 million mobile subscribers across 14 African countries access to Mastercard’s global merchant network. Users can now pay for goods and services on international platforms, marking a major step in expanding digital payment capabilities on the continent.

Airtel Money Chief Executive Officer Ian Ferrao said the partnership is aimed at improving customer experience and simplifying access to global commerce.

“By adding Mastercard’s secure virtual payment solution to Airtel Money, we are making international payments simpler and more accessible for our customers,” Ferrao said.

The launch places Airtel Money in direct competition with Safaricom’s M-Pesa GlobalPay, which introduced a Visa-backed virtual card in 2022.

Expanding Global Payment Access

The Airtel Money GlobalPay Card is a fully virtual solution that connects directly to users’ mobile money wallets. It can be used for payments with international online merchants, including platforms such as Amazon, Facebook, Netflix, Uber, Google, AliExpress and Alibaba.

Customers can also pay for travel bookings, subscriptions, utilities, and purchase goods from international suppliers using their mobile phones. Airtel said the solution is designed to support the growing demand for digital payments and to help small businesses engaged in cross-border trade.

The company added that the partnership supports its broader mission of financial inclusion, providing mobile money users with efficient and secure access to international payment services.

Strengthening Mastercard’s African Footprint

Mastercard’s Senior Vice President for Digital Partnerships in the Middle East and Africa, Muhammad Nana, said the collaboration aligns with the company’s goal of building a seamless global payment ecosystem.

“Our digital partnerships strategy focuses on enabling the digital transformation of our partners, helping them provide their customers with access to a seamless global payment ecosystem,” Nana said.

Mastercard has significantly expanded its presence in Africa through partnerships with telecommunications firms, banks, and fintech companies. In January 2025, the payments company opened its first West African office in Accra, Ghana.

The firm has also collaborated with companies such as Kalabash, KaiOS, Boost, Smile ID, Access Bank and Fidelity Bank to improve cross-border payment solutions and expand access to digital services for underserved communities.

Recent initiatives include partnerships with Orange Middle East and Africa, MTN Group, Onafriq, and Amazon Payment Services, further reinforcing Mastercard’s role in advancing digital commerce across Africa and the wider Middle East.