SmartSwitch Botswana Expands Biometric Payment System for Food Aid
SmartSwitch Botswana, a subsidiary of Lesaka Technologies, has been supporting financial inclusion efforts in the country through a fintech solution tailored for food voucher recipients.
Since its establishment in 2006, the company has extended its services to over 75,000 individuals in underserved communities.
The company operates with exclusive rights to implement Botswana’s Universal Electronic Payment System (UEPS), a platform also recognised by the central banks of Namibia, Ghana, and South Africa as a national payment system.
Read more: https://fintechnews.africa/45344/fintech-botswana/smartswitch-botswana-biometric-payment-system/
West African Central Bank Extends Payment License Deadline to August 31
The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) has once again extended the deadline for payment service providers to comply with its licensing rules. These providers now have until August 31, 2025, to obtain official approval to operate legally in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The decision was shared in a statement dated May 27, 2025.
The BCEAO said this new extension is meant to give companies more time to complete all necessary steps to secure their license. While the bank did not outline what penalties might apply for missing the deadline, it warned that operating without approval after that date will not be tolerated.
This is the third time the deadline has been pushed back since Instruction N°001-01-2024 was issued on January 23, 2024. That regulation set the standards for payment services within WAEMU. At first, companies had until July 31, 2024, to get licensed. That was moved to January 31, 2025, and then to May 1, 2025. Now, with the latest shift, only licensed entities will be allowed to offer payment services starting September 1, 2025.
Orange Egypt secures $85M loan for 5G rollout
Orange Egypt has secured a syndicated loan of almost US$85 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Banque Misr to support its 5G deployment in Egypt.
A syndicated loan is a type of loan provided by a group of lenders (a syndicate) to a single borrower, typically a large company, for a significant amount of money.
The financing package comprises €39 million (US$44.5 million) from the EBRD and $40 million from Banque Misr’s Dubai branch. The loan will help fund Orange Egypt’s 5G mobile license from the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), which Orange secured last year.
Read more: https://www.connectingafrica.com/5g-networks/orange-egypt-secures-85m-loan-for-5g-rollout
This Week In Digital Payment – Africa’s Fintech Surge Fuels Financial Inclusion Growth
Africa is experiencing a significant shift in its financial landscape, propelled by fintech innovation and the expansion of cross-border digital payments. As cross-border payment systems on the continent are expected to escalate from $329 billion in 2025 to $1 trillion by 2035, this growth is linking millions through mobile money solutions and bolstering financial inclusion.
However, the digital payment boom brings increased cybersecurity challenges, emphasizing the need for fintechs to adopt advanced AI technologies for fraud detection and enhanced data security. The upcoming Digital Finance Africa 2025 conference in Johannesburg will bring together industry leaders to explore these developments, focusing on secure, inclusive financial solutions.
Visa Expands APAC Offerings with AI, Digital Payment Tools, Stablecoins
Visa has introduced a series of new products and partnerships at its Asia Pacific Media Showcase in Singapore, marking a shift toward AI-enabled commerce across the region.
Central to the announcement is Visa Intelligent Commerce, a new initiative that opens the company’s payments network to developers and engineers building AI-powered experiences.
It includes integrated APIs and a commercial partner programme designed to connect AI platforms securely to Visa’s infrastructure.
Read more: https://fintechnews.sg/112203/payments/visa-apac-offerings/
Visa Launches A2A Payment Platform with Card-Like Protection
Visa has launched its account-to-account payment platform in the UK, introducing consumer protections to bank transfer transactions that match those available with card payments.
Visa A2A operates on Pay.UK‘s Faster Payment System and targets bill payments and subscriptions before expanding into ecommerce.
Account-to-account payments, which enable direct bank transfers without card networks, have grown rapidly in the UK following open banking regulations introduced in 2018.
Read more: https://fintechmagazine.com/articles/visa-launches-a2a-payment-platform-with-card-like-protection
