Vodacom Tanzania has committed $28 million to upgrade its M-Pesa system, aiming to improve performance, enhance security, and prepare the platform for expanded growth across East Africa.
In a statement released on Thursday, the telecom operator explained that the upgrade shifts M-Pesa from its older G2 framework to a more advanced financial technology system built for scalability, resilience, and quicker innovation.
According to the company, users will notice greater service reliability, with maintenance interruptions reduced from several hours to just minutes. New security enhancements have also been added to better safeguard customer data and transactions, especially as mobile money usage continues to rise across the continent.
For agents, merchants, and corporate partners, the upgraded system is expected to support higher transaction volumes, provide better reporting capabilities, and ensure clearer service management. Vodacom noted that the platform will also allow faster deployment of new features to meet changing market needs.
A key element of the rollout is a 30-day “HyperCare” phase, during which technical and customer support teams will closely track performance, quickly resolve any issues, and ensure a smooth transition.
Chief Executive Philip Besiimire stated that the investment reflects the company’s ongoing dedication to advancing digital financial services.
“We are strengthening the foundation of M-Pesa to ensure it remains secure, reliable, and ready to support innovation at scale,” he said.
The development comes shortly after the introduction of a tap-to-pay feature on M-Pesa, launched in collaboration with Visa and Paymentology, highlighting Vodacom’s broader strategy to grow its digital payments ecosystem.