From next-generation 5G connectivity to M-Pesa credit access and Vodacom Business tools for small and medium enterprises, the operator used the 61st Feira Internacional de Maputo (FACIM) to present different pathways for bringing technology closer to the everyday needs of Mozambicans and their businesses.

What changes for a company when it can work and communicate in real time? And what difference does it make for a citizen to be able to apply for a financial service without travelling dozens of kilometres? These were the questions around which Vodacom structured its presence at FACIM. The 5G network occupied the centrepiece of the stand, flanked by M-Pesa and Vodacom Business solutions designed to address concrete needs of individuals and enterprises.

5G Beyond Speed

Vodacom presented its 5G offering through technology demonstrations, interactive experiences and conversations about the possibilities of next-generation connectivity. The objective was to show visitors how a network with greater transmission capacity and lower latency can support new ways of working, collaborating and delivering services. For a business, the value of the technology goes beyond the speed of downloading a file. It lies in the ability to connect teams and operations in real time, run more demanding applications and develop digital services that depend on a stable connection. For consumers, improved connectivity could broaden access to experiences and services that are currently constrained by network quality.

“Through practical demonstrations, interactive experiences and knowledge sharing, visitors will be able to discover how this technology can increase productivity, drive innovation and accelerate digital inclusion,” Vodacom said in its description of the programme prepared for the fair.

The gap between a demonstration and everyday use depends, however, on network availability, device access and each person’s or organisation’s capacity to adopt new services. It was in this broader context of digital transformation that the operator also presented financial and business solutions already oriented towards day-to-day tasks.

M-Pesa Moves to Close the Distance to Credit

A teacher posted in a district where the nearest bank branch is dozens of kilometres away may have to pay for transport, rearrange commitments and lose a full day of work simply to submit a loan application. This was the example chosen by Sérgio Gomes, director-general of M-Pesa, to explain the problem that a new partnership is designed to address.

“And it is this distance that we decided to shorten today,” he said. The agreement between M-Pesa, Máximo Microbanco and the Centre for the Development of Financial Information Systems (CEDSIF) provides for the delivery of “Adianta-Lá”, a salary advance product from Máximo Microbanco, via mobile phone.

The initiative forms part of a broader transformation of financial service access channels in Mozambique. According to the Bank of Mozambique’s 2025 Financial Inclusion Report, access points grew 36 percent during the year, driven primarily by the expansion of electronic money agents. Regional disparities persist, however: Maputo city and province record the highest coverage levels, while Niassa, Nampula, Zambézia and Cabo Delgado register the lowest.

The partnership aims to act directly on the time and cost of reaching a financial service. According to M-Pesa, the potential universe of beneficiaries encompasses more than 380,000 civil servants and state agents. The granting of financing remains subject to the product’s eligibility criteria and the approval of each individual application.

The service brings together the competencies of the three institutions. Máximo Microbanco sets the conditions and assesses credit applications; CEDSIF supports eligibility validation and the operationalisation of salary deductions; and M-Pesa provides the channel through which the customer requests and receives the approved amount.

The application is made via the *150# menu, requiring neither a smartphone nor an internet connection. After authorising access to the necessary data, confirming via PIN and receiving approval, the amount is credited to the customer’s M-Pesa account. Repayment is made in a single instalment through salary deduction, according to the model presented for the product.

For Manuel António dos Santos, chairman of the board of CEDSIF, this collaboration allows digital transformation to be applied to a concrete problem. “Traditionally, access to formal credit imposes bureaucratic barriers and lengthy processes that create daily inconveniences,” he said.

Vodacom Business Brings Digital Tools to Small Enterprises

In a small business, the same person may be attending customers, negotiating with suppliers, issuing invoices and tracking payments. The time devoted to each task weighs on the capacity to sell and to keep the business running. It is for this daily reality that Vodacom Business presented “Meu Negócio” — a prepaid package offering directed at micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The proposition combines voice and data with communication, commercial presence and management tools. According to Íris Chivite Guimarães, head of the SME division at Vodacom, the offering was designed based on difficulties identified among businesses, both in terms of cost-bearing capacity and the use of digital solutions. “It was necessary to bring a much more accessible offering,” she explained.

The choice of a prepaid model is relevant for businesses whose activity and cash flow can vary throughout the month. “We decided to keep the offering on prepaid, first to provide more benefits, because we believe that those who have a business probably have a greater need to speak with customers and partners,” said Íris Chivite Guimarães.

Among the tools presented are email with a custom domain, website creation, Microsoft licences, online meeting solutions, invoicing software and page and appointment management applications. The Bazaar platform adds an e-commerce capability.

In practice, a services company could manage appointments and communicate with clients remotely; a trader could promote products and receive orders through digital channels. Bringing these functions together in a single offering may facilitate the organisation of activities that were previously dispersed, though the outcome depends on the suitability of the tools for each business and their effective use. Business continuity is another argument advanced by Vodacom Business. When in-person operations are disrupted, maintaining contact with customers and suppliers can help preserve part of the operation. “Today, those who do not operate digitally will find it difficult to guarantee the continuity of their business,” said Íris Chivite Guimarães. Signing up for the offering requires the company to hold the activity licence required by the state.

Technology With Everyday Application

The solutions shown at FACIM operate at different scales. The 5G network points to new connectivity capabilities and to services that may be built upon them. M-Pesa aims to simplify access to a specific financial product. Vodacom Business brings together tools for communication and the management of small businesses.

Taken together, they reflect Vodacom’s intention to link investment in technology to recognisable needs: working remotely, reaching customers, managing a business or accessing financing with fewer journeys. The reach of these solutions will ultimately be measured by the ability to make them available and genuinely useful in the daily lives of Mozambicans.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=552623