Online money transfer service WorldRemit and telecom operator MTN have signed a global partnership that will enable WorldRemit customers to send remittances instantly to MTN’s Mobile Money customers, the companies announced in a press release.

Ismail Ahmed, founder and CEO of WorldRemit said, “Mobile money is rapidly displacing cash as a way of receiving money from friends and family abroad. WorldRemit’s partnership with MTN allows our customers around the world to send money instantly to MTN Mobile Money users.

“As well as being fast and convenient, MTN Mobile Money is reaching millions of people who don’t have bank accounts, giving them access to a variety of life-enhancing financial services including savings and insurance schemes.”

MTN Mobile Money is currently used by 22.2 million customers in 16 countries across Africa including Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, (Cyprus), Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda and Zambia.

To kick-start the partnership, MTN’s operations in Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia will be added to WorldRemit’s list of mobile recipient options, with additional countries following soon after, according to the announcement.

“The partnership with WorldRemit is yet another important step in our journey to enable the affordable transfer of monies across borders," Pieter Verkade, MTN group chief commercial officer, said in a statement. "Our remittance strategy places the customer at the heart of any offer we introduce as MTN and, working with WorldRemit, we intend to further extend the convenience of MTN Mobile Money to our customers."

MTN Mobile Money enables users to perform local and international money transfers, make utility payments, save money in their interest bearing mobile wallets, purchase airtime and access a range of mobile financial products, according to the announcement.

More than 50 percent of all WorldRemit transfers to Africa are received in Mobile Money accounts or as mobile airtime top-ups.