Airtime purchases accounted for 65 percent of all mobile money merchant payments in Central Africa in 2024, underscoring their continued dominance even as digital payment habits evolve, according to a regional report.
Data from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) showed that total payments for goods and services via mobile money reached CFA3,072 billion (US$5 billion) in 2024, up 3.7 percent from the previous year.
Transaction volumes also rose to nearly 1.5 billion operations, reflecting steady — though moderate — growth in the use of mobile payments across the six երկրների of the CEMAC bloc.
The region groups Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic under a shared monetary framework.
Despite increasing diversification in payment uses, airtime purchases remained the most common transaction type, with 974 million operations recorded in 2024.
In value terms, airtime represented just over 18 percent of total merchant payments, indicating that while frequent, these transactions are typically of low value.
The average airtime purchase declined slightly to CFA570 from CFA587 in 2023, reinforcing the trend toward small, everyday transactions conducted via mobile platforms.
By contrast, the average value of other types of mobile money payments dropped sharply — by nearly 47% — suggesting that digital payments are increasingly being used for lower-value purchases beyond airtime.
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BEAC said this shift reflects broader adoption of mobile money in daily consumption, as users turn to digital channels for routine transactions such as retail purchases, school fees and basic services.
The report attributes the overall growth in mobile payments to several structural factors, including promotional campaigns by telecom operators, such as fee waivers, which have encouraged wider usage.
Another key driver has been the expansion of the merchant acceptance network, with more small businesses, educational institutions and public entities integrating mobile payment options.
This wider ecosystem has made mobile money more accessible and practical for everyday use, particularly in regions where traditional banking infrastructure remains limited.
At the same time, the report highlights a gradual decline in the use of airtime as an informal payment method — a practice that has historically been common in parts of Africa — in favour of more secure and traceable digital transactions.
Analysts say the continued dominance of airtime reflects both habit and convenience, as well as the strong integration of telecom services into daily financial activity.
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However, the rapid growth of other payment categories suggests that mobile money is evolving into a broader financial tool, supporting a wider range of economic activities.
The increasing use of mobile payments for low-value transactions is seen as a key indicator of financial inclusion, as it enables more people to participate in the formal financial system.
With transaction volumes rising and average values falling, the data points to deeper penetration of digital finance into everyday life across Central Africa.
BEAC said these trends confirm the growing role of mobile money in the regional economy, driven by innovation, expanding infrastructure and changing consumer behaviour.
As adoption continues to rise, the challenge for providers and regulators will be to sustain growth while ensuring security, interoperability and affordability across the ecosystem.
