Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC) recently launched its revamped mobile money wallet, SMEGA, offering consumers a unique and reliable facility to easily transact from the comfort of their homes and on the go.
With its unique and reliable features, SMEGA offers the convenience to transact using Botswana’s fastest and widely available network covering over ninety percent (90%) of the country, thus also making it convenient for travelers venturing into remote places where there are no ATMS or banks.
Chief Commercial Officer, Edward Wicks, said “SMEGA was inspired by the need to offer our customers a one-stop-channel for all mobile financial services. In this regard, our mobile money is a very user-friendly channel that gives customers a convenient way of transacting from the palm of their hands. SMEGA is for everyone and anyone, the only requirement for one to enjoy the service, is that that they must be a BTC mobile subscriber.”
SMEGA enables users to transfer money to other SMEGA customers and even non-registered individuals who will receive a passcode that they can present at any BTC outlet to redeem and receive money sent to them. Subscribers can also buy airtime and data, either for themselves or for other BTC Mobile prepaid numbers.
A subscriber can also receive money into their SMEGA wallet, buy prepaid electricity, and pay water and BTC bills -for both mobile and fixed lines. Business clients especially SMEs, are also catered for through the bulk payment service which enables them to pay staff wages, travel allowances and disburse petty cash directly into employee SMEGA wallets.
Wicks said this offers the business the convenience of paying employees directly without the need to handle large sums of cash on their premises, which can present a huge security risk to the business.
He is upbeat that with SMEGA, businesses can automate payments and not have to worry about the paper work related to issuing cash and cheque payments to their employees.
“SMEGA is for everyone and anyone, so wherever you are in the country all you need is a BTC Mobile number, both prepaid and postpaid, and you can register at any of our shops countrywide to enjoy the service and transact at your convenience. In addition to our shops, we have begun rolling out with Choppies and will provide SMEGA services throughout our 260 BTC service points and Kitsong Centres countrywide”.
The BTC network reaches far and wide in Botswana and where the operator does not have a shop, the company has a mobile truck (shop) that takes services to customers who may not have direct access to BTC fixed customer touch points; underpinning the convenience of not only accessing SMEGA but all BTC services.. Not only can customers make financial transactions through their mobile phones on the go covering a wider geographic coverage area, the other major differentiator with SMEGA wallet is the Motshelo Group Club Account.
BTC is the first and only network operator in the country to provide a service for Motshelo Clubs. The Motshelo account allows subscribers to contribute and save money. The facility does not have a limit on how much an account can hold.
“This offers members a unique opportunity to save and contribute money to their Motshelo account. The account provides transparency because all transactions require approval from other members,” said Wicks.