Towards a framework for improving unstructured supplementary data service (ussd) technology adoption for digital financial services
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Date
2023
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Mobile technology evolution and innovations ushered in various low-cost technologies, such as unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) technology, to accelerate digital financial inclusion and affordable access to digital financial services among developing countries. Due to its (USSD technology) ubiquity and affordability, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) described USSD technology as a major driver of Nigeria’s payments system vision strategy implementation. Similarly, the proliferation of mobile phones with an unprecedented increase in licensed USSD financial technology services providers in Nigeria has increased USSD technology's pervasiveness as consumers’ preferred digital channel to perform digital financial services. Despite continuous investments in USSD technology roll-out by various financial service institutions to accelerate digital financial inclusion and the over ninety-five per cent digital financial inclusion rate targeted by the CBN by 2025(from the initial 2023 target year set by the CBN), stakeholders and economic actors within the Nigerian banking industry suggest slow adoption of this low-cost technology might impact achieving the target set by the CBN. Following CBN-led stakeholder engagements, the CBN signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to deepen mobile network operators' (MNOs) role in the DFS ecosystem and, consequently, to improve USSD technology roll-out. The CBN released a regulatory framework on USSD technology in 2018 to enable players' active participation and deepen USSD technology adoption and usage.
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Keywords
USSD Technology Adoption Framework, Mobile Payment, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Technology, Technology Innovation, Mobile Technology Innovation