USSD Menus are a Public Utility
Firas Ahmad
![Firas Ahmad]()
Firas Ahmad
Emerging Markets Innovator | Fintech | Group CEO AzamPay / Sarafu | firasahmad.substack.com
Innovators who need access should have it
The question of who has the right to access the USSD menu on mobile phones and what commercial arrangements and service level guarantees are appropriate between MNO and third party MFS providers is an extremely important one. It will have drastic implications for innovation for MFS as well as the expansion of financial inclusion.
Serial Entrepreneur | BankTech | PropTech | LogiTech | AgriTech | MobiTech | FinTech | RegTech | InsureTech | PayTech | EduTech | MediTech | AuditTech | MediTech | RiskTech | Opt Trd | Digital Nomad | Private Equity |
3 年I agree with you
Venture | Crypto Assets | Investor | WHU MBA
3 年BTW (By the Way): If a smart contract launched in the Ethereum blockchain got hacked i.e, the DAO (a contract to create a decentralized autonomous organization funded by investors in Ethereum) back in June 2016 (attacker took out $50Mn out of the blockchain that was later returned to DAO investors via a re-writing of the code), why would anyone think that the mobile money apps ubiquitous in Africa, are remotely safe? That Safaricom "Mpesa App" will get compromised if they keep joking around, na. Haya. https://ogucluturk.medium.com/the-dao-hack-explained-unfortunate-take-off-of-smart-contracts-2bd8c8db3562
Project Focal Point @ IOM - UN Migration
3 年I am still mad that CRDB charges cash when you want to access simbanking via USSD..
Chief Executive Officer at inalipa
3 年https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-ssa/marketing-strategies/app-and-mobile/zenith-bank-measures-ussd/amp/ Firas Ahmad thought you would appreciate this if you haven't seen it already
Business Sales Specialist @ Bolt Business | Technology Sales Acumen
3 年Great Article..,. The issue is with the Telcos, and the Pricing and fees they associate with USSD are insane to say the list. Clearly the pricing is designed for third parties to form a partnership/alliance/profit sharing business models with Network operators. Any innovation fails because of this roadblock