Why Kenyans Are Moving Away From Physical Airtime

Kenyans are increasingly moving away from purchasing physical scratch cards to top up their phones. With the coming of mobile money platforms such as M-Pesa, Kenyans are able to purchase airtime on their phones without moving from their homes.

According to many retailers who sell airtime for various telecommunications companies, the purchase of physical airtime among Kenyans has been reducing with time with the majority purchasing physical scratch cards being those buying smaller amounts such as 10 shillings.

The spread of the deadly Coronavirus has also made Kenyans cautious and forcing them to adapt to cashless form of transition in the purchase of goods and services. The government has been urging Kenyans to embrace the cashless transition to minimize the spread of Covid-19.

According to Falcolink Technologies, it is easier to purchase airtime through mobile money platforms than it is when one purchases a physical scratch card. First, it saves time because one does not have to move from their houses to the shop for the search of the airtime. Second, it saves one the inconvenience of having to log in all the codes for the airtime to load.

“Our main business is selling Airtel electronic Airtime through MPESA paybill number 156215. The minimum amount to transact via payroll is 5 bob. Many people, however, fear purchasing airtime via PayBill numbers because of charges. For us, charges are free for airtime purchased between 5 and 100 shillings,” said one of the representatives from Falcolink Technologies.

With the fast-spreading of Coronavirus that has the ability to survive on surfaces for hours and days, it is safer for one to adapt to cashless transactions like the purchase of airtime than purchasing it physically.