The financial services arm of French telecom giant Orange S.A., Orange Money, is partnering with South African fintech firm JUMO to offer mobile-based microloans in Africa.
The initiative will launch in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Botswana, allowing users to request and receive credit directly through their Orange Money wallets—eliminating the need for traditional bank visits or paperwork.
JUMO, a digital lending infrastructure provider focused on emerging markets, uses algorithmic models to assess creditworthiness based on customer behaviour, such as spending patterns, savings habits, and mobile top-ups. The fintech, backed by investors including Goldman Sachs, has previously partnered with MANSA Bank and MTN in Côte d’Ivoire to support small businesses with digital loans.
The collaboration reflects a broader transformation in Africa’s mobile ecosystem. Telcos like Orange are increasingly positioning themselves as financial service providers, leveraging their massive user bases and transaction volumes to offer savings, loans, and payments. In 2024 alone, Orange processed over $184 billion in mobile money transactions across its 100 million-strong customer base.
“This partnership combines Orange’s scale with JUMO’s smart lending engine to provide accessible, low-risk credit to the unbanked,” industry analysts note.
Orange and JUMO’s partnership isn’t an isolated move. Across the continent, telecom operators are expanding their fintech footprints. MTN’s MoMo is piloting lending products in East Africa, while Kenya’s Safaricom recently rolled out an overdraft service in Ethiopia via M-PESA and Awash Bank. Airtel Money has also made strides, launching a virtual card with Mastercard and a July partnership with Tanzania’s Cooperative Development Commission to provide financial tools for farmers.
Telecom companies in Africa are no longer just selling airtime—they’re fast becoming key players in the future of finance. As they delve deeper into digital lending and financial services, they are reshaping how millions of Africans access money.
