Page 67 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Halalah and BayanPay Get Mobile Wallet License from Saudi Arabian

Monetary Authority

Halalah and BayanPay have become the as an electronic (digital) wallet company STC Pay is popular among the expatriates
two latest startups to receive digital wallet and Geidea as a payment services company living in Saudi as it allows them to make
license from the Saudi Arabian Monetary last month. Halalah, launched in 2018 as cross-border money transfers. Halalah
Authority (SAMA). The licensing of the two one of the first mobile wallets has quickly doesn’t have that but it has a fairly large
startups was announced last week after gained a decent market share and has over offline partner network, allowing users to
their successful graduation from SAMA’s 50,000 downloads for its Android app and pay at these stores with QR codes. It also
sandbox. With these two, SAMA has now probably even more for iOS app (given the allows users to top up their phone line and
issued (fintech) licenses to four non- fact that its iOS app has received more different other accounts (including Careem
banking financial institutions. STC Pay and reviews and ratings than the Android app). and PlayStore) with credit and send money
Geidea were the first two companies to It is only behind STC Pay that has over a to other users on Halalah. BayanPay,
receive the license. STC Pay was licensed million downloads for the Android app. according to its website, operates multiple
payment products including a wallet and
payment gateway. The wallet allows users
to transfer money to other BayanPay wallet
users and bank accounts and pay at offline
merchants that are part of BayanPay’s
network using QR codes. BayanPay Wallet
also offers its users with spend analysis
and reports. Interestingly, Finablr, the
UAE-based payments company that went
public last year by listing on the London
Stock Exchange, had acquired a majority
stake in BayanPay last year. Finablr now
lists BayanPay as one of its brands on its
website and announced its expansion to
Saudi (through BayanPay) last week.

Pakistan’s Telecom Operators Provide Special Packages amid Coronavirus

Pandemic

In light of the present COVID-19 pandemic, launched by all CMOs to facilitate people for Free" service wherein free calls can
telecom operators in Pakistan have to stay and work from home (details are be made to selected government offices/
launched a number of packages to facilitate available at operators and PTA's websites). doctors/laboratories. Zong is also offering
their customers across the country and “Other initiatives include the abolishment free calls to 4343 which offers access to
to provide them with awareness about of balance validity period by Jazz and local Government hospitals and doctors.
Coronavirus and uninterrupted services. extension in balance validity period by Ufone has made Pakistan Red Crescent
Under Pakistan Telecommunication Zong, free Whatsapp and balance share Society (PRCS) helpline 1030 free of cost
Authority (PTA)'s directions, SMS on promotions by Telenor. Zong has made for its subscribers across Pakistan. CMOs
precautionary measures against COVID-19 COVID related webpages of WHO and and PTCL are also doing CSR activities
in national & regional languages are NDMA as zero-rated i.e. free access to by providing relief packages containing
being sent to all mobile subscribers on a these websites. Jazz has also created a rations, medicines and protective gear to
regular basis. Cellular Mobile Operators dedicated webpage/portal (https://jazz. virus hit families in different regions of
(CMOs) have replaced standard ring back com.pk/darna-nahin-bachna-hai) wherein Sindh. PTCL is offering free of cost internet
tone (heard by caller when a call is being awareness about coronavirus is being to double play voice and TV customers
made) with messages about COVID-19 disseminated to the general public," read a till 30th April 2020 and has also extended
preventive measures. New packages/ PTA statement. Furthermore, all CMOs are deadline in billing dates for wireline
offers (by giving additional data and on- offering free calls to emergency numbers customers.
net voice minutes) at low prices have been (1166). Jazz has launched the “Assistance

67 MARCH 2020