Mobilink Launches Utility Bill Payment Solution

Karachi: 22 February, 2011 – Mobilink, Pakistan’s market leader in cellular services adds Utility Bill Payments solution to its Mobile Financial Services Portfolio enabling all Pakistanis regardless of cellular ownership to make utility bill payments. With the largest portfolio of utility companies across Pakistan on board with NADRA e-Sahulat, Mobilink is the only cellular operator currently offering bill payments solution for all forms of utilities in collaboration with NADRA e-Sahulat.

As of today bill payments for 18 utilities, including electricity, gas, water and Telephone can be made at all Mobilink business centers, franchises and selected Mobilink shops. Service powered by NADRA’s e-Sahulat is open to customers of all networks and even those who do not own a cellular connection. Designed as a complete experience keeping the needs and concerns of the customer in mind every step of the way, the Bill Payment Solution offers unmatched convenience to the end user.

The solution does not require any registration or any additional fee associated with it at any point. Moreover, all retailer transactions occur in real time, are secured by a 4 digit MPIN and generate an instant SMS receipt sent to both user and retailer in case of mobile ownership. The SMS based confirmation is not only free of cost  but it is a value addition to facilitate the customer track his or her transaction. Consumer bills are also stamped for authenticity. At the back end, the service has a helpline from 8 AM-12 AM to answer customer queries.

"The mobile phone has emerged from a mere communication tool with a boundless range of opportunities. Customers today want convenient ways to engage with and manage their daily financial lives. Our bill payments empower customers to make utility bill payments anytime, anywhere through a reliable and secure channel. As the trusted cellular services provider for over 30 million Pakistanis, we feel that adding payment capabilities to our retailer network is a natural step in establishing Mobilink’s position in the mobile financial services arena," said Bilal Munir Sheikh, Vice President Marketing, Mobilink at the launch of the Utility Bill Payments Solution.

e-Sahulat infrastructure has been transformed into a National Smart Services Platform being offered to Financial and Telecom Sector for branchless banking. The solution conforms to the branchless banking guidelines issued by State Bank of Pakistan. This arrangement will help commercial banks and Telcos to extend branchless banking concept without raising any infrastructure thereby saving capital and operational cost.

Currently, bills of the 18 utilities across Pakistan can be paid using this mechanism. Mobilink aims to expand this panel, already the largest offered by any Telco operator, in coming months.

About Mobilink:

Mobilink, (www.mobilinkgsm.com ) a subsidiary of the Orascom Telecom Holding, is Pakistan's leading cellular and Blackberry service provider.  With more than 31 million subscribers, Mobilink maintains market leadership through cutting-edge, integrated technology, the strongest brands and the largest portfolio of value added services in the industry, a broadband carrier division providing next generation internet technology as well as the country's largest voice and data network with over 8,000 cell sites.  Mobilink has already invested over US $3.3 billion in the country to date and provides uninterrupted countrywide connectivity, unmatched customer services and international roaming in over 140 countries.

For further information:
Sheeraz Mohiuddin / Ashar Noman /SHAMROCK Communications  (Pvt) Ltd.
Call 021-35823694-5 Cell: 0333-2235774