Africa sets standard in mobile payments

Carriers' success on the continent based on its shortage of affordable banking services

As telecommunications carriers in Europe seek a share of the billions of dollars likely to flow to companies that build mobile-payment systems, Claudio Chiche has a few words of advice: Ask Africa for help.

"I pay my electricity, water and cable TV with my mobile phone," Chiche, chief commercial officer of Mozambique carrier Mcel, said as he browsed handsets at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. "Here, I can't do that."