Vodafone India and ICICI Bank have launched M-Pesa in Assam and other northeastern Indian states, The Times of India reported.

The mobile money transfer and payment service has been lauded for providing access to financial services for unbanked and under-banked segments.

According to the newspaper, the service is now available in more than 350 towns through more than 1,200 agents, as well as 91 Vodafone retail outlets in Assam and the Northeast.

M-Pesa accounts allow customers to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to mobile phones and remit money to bank accounts, as well as top up mobile phone accounts and pay utility bills.

M-Pesa is now available in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, West Bengal, UP East, UP West, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa, the newspaper said, and will continue rolling out in phases.

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