Roshan, Afghanistan's leading telecommunications provider, and TransferTo, an Ingenico Company and the Global Airtime Remittance Hub, today announced a new strategic partnership to offer an international airtime transfer service. The service enables Afghans living overseas to transfer airtime to any of Roshan's more than 5.5 million customers across Afghanistan.
Customers abroad can transfer credit directly by Short Message Service (SMS) or visit select retail locations in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, or Australia, to transfer funds. For a population of approximately 30 million, and an additional 2.5 million Afghans living abroad, the service is a cost-effective way to send airtime credit across borders.
Eric Barbier, Chief Executive Officer at TransferTo, said, "The service launched in partnership with Roshan will offer additional airtime transfer channels for Afghans overseas" and added that "the partnership with Roshan is also a key milestone for TransferTo's service deployment in Afghanistan".
"We are pleased to partner with TransferTo to introduce an airtime transfer service, which will help us expand distribution internationally to reach the Afghan diaspora. As the market leader, we remain committed to bringing innovative products and services that benefit our customers both within and outside Afghanistan, helping Afghans stay connected to each other and the world," said Altaf Ladak, chief operating officer, Roshan.
About Roshan
Roshan (Telecom Development Company Afghanistan Ltd) is Afghanistan's leading telecommunications provider, with coverage in over 230 cities and towns and over 5.5 million active subscribers. Roshan directly employs more than 1,200 people and provides indirect employment to more than 30,000 people. Since its inception eight years ago, Roshan has invested approximately $500 million in Afghanistan and is the country's single largest investor and taxpayer. Roshan is deeply committed to Afghanistan's reconstruction and socio-economic development. The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is a major shareholder of Roshan and promotes private initiatives and building economically sound enterprises in the developing world. Also owned in part by Monaco Telecom International (MTI) and TeliaSonera, Roshan brings international expertise to Afghanistan and is committed to the highest standards of network quality and coverage for the people of Afghanistan.
