Safaricom has been accredited with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Certification, a worldwide standard of data security for businesses that process card transactions, by the PCI Security Standard Council (PCI SSC).
The approval is a great feat for the telco and aligns with its mission to transform from a telco to a tech co by 2025.
As a result, Safaricom will now be able to issue virtual cards to enable tap to pay global payments to partners such as Google, Uber, Microsoft, among others.
“Safaricom has always been driven by the desire to innovate and provide cutting-edge solutions to our customers. As we navigate the digital landscape, security remains at the heart of everything we do,” said Safaricom Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Peter Ndegwa.
“This certification for M-PESA is a recognition of our dedication to safeguarding financial transactions of our customers,” he added.
The approval means Safaricom can begin offering various solutions such as tap-to-pay, and merchants receive online and in-person card payments for its customers.
Fintechs and Financial institutions are equally set to leverage Safaricom’s card processing capabilities empowering them to provide end-to-end mobile and card payment solutions.
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With this certification, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) -listed telco will become part of a few institutions in Africa that can create a regional payment switch system while safeguarding customers, merchants and partners’ payment data.
Safaricom can now enhance API capability to grow developers on the M-PESA platform to provide enhanced services and expand the portfolio of mobile money services and payment solutions.
“With this development, our customers can rest assured that our processes ensure that their data is protected at all times. It also means that our partners can access more innovative and secure solutions for their clientele,” said Ndegwa.
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is a globally recognised standard that offers a comprehensive framework to safeguard sensitive customer information during transactions.
It ensures robust controls and security measures are in place to protect against data breaches, fraud and unauthorised access.