Vodacom Tanzania Partners with Thunes to Expand Real-Time Cross-Border Payments to Uganda and China
Vodacom Tanzania has partnered with Thunes to enable real-time cross-border payments through the operator’s M-Pesa Global Payment solution, allowing customers in Tanzania to pay merchants in Uganda and China directly from their mobile phones.
The integration is designed to address long-standing pain points in cross-border trade, including high costs, slow processing times, and security concerns associated with traditional payment methods. By using Thunes’ Direct Global Network, the service aims to improve the speed and efficiency of international transactions for both consumers and businesses.
The partnership focuses on two of Tanzania’s key trading partners. According to the information provided, China has been Tanzania’s largest trading partner for eight consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching US$8.8 billion in 2024. Trade with Uganda also showed strong momentum, totaling around US$2.23 billion in the same year, a 64% increase compared with the previous year.
Through the new service, customers can send payments to Uganda via MTN MoMo and to China via Alipay. Transactions can be initiated using either the M-Pesa USSD menu or the M-Pesa Super App, broadening access to users who prefer basic mobile interfaces as well as app-based channels.
Epimack Mbeteni, M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania, said the partnership is intended to support seamless, secure, and affordable cross-border payments. He added that the integration positions M-Pesa at the center of Africa’s digital commerce future by helping people transact more efficiently across borders.
Dawei Wang, SVP Network at Thunes, said the combination of Vodacom’s technology and Thunes’ network allows Tanzanian customers to pay partners in China and Uganda in real time.
The move reflects a broader shift toward mobile-led financial infrastructure in African markets, where cross-border commerce often depends on remittance-style processes or conventional banking rails. By connecting mobile money systems directly, the service is expected to reduce friction for everyday users and merchants engaged in regional and international trade.
Industry Analysis
This partnership underscores the growing role of mobile money in facilitating cross-border commerce in Africa. Linking Tanzania’s M-Pesa ecosystem with payment networks in Uganda and China could help lower transaction barriers for small businesses and traders who rely on fast settlement and predictable costs. It also highlights the increasing importance of interoperable digital payment networks in markets where mobile phones are the primary financial access point.
For fintech and telecom providers, the collaboration shows how strategic network integrations can extend payment reach without requiring customers to move into traditional banking channels. As cross-border digital payments continue to expand, partnerships like this may become a key model for enabling regional trade and improving financial connectivity.
