Windhoek: Instant Payments Namibia (IPN) has launched its official website to provide the public and stakeholders with information on Namibia's Instant Payment Programme and the development of its national instant payments ecosystem. IPN, a subsidiary of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), was established to operate and manage the Namibia Instant Payment Solution (IPS).

According to Namibia Press Agency, in a media statement issued on Friday, IPN chief operating officer Marsorry Ickua stated that the website will serve as a central public information and news platform for the programme, the Instant Payment Solution, and its consumer-facing brand, WayaMe. "The website will serve as a central public information and news channel for Namibia's Instant Payment Programme," Ickua said.

Ickua explained that the IPS is designed to connect participating banks, payment service providers, and electronic money issuers through shared payment infrastructure, common rules, and technical standards. He added that WayaMe will serve as a common consumer-facing identity for payment services enabled by the IPS, while customers will continue using applications, wallets, USSD services, and other channels provided by their respective financial institutions and payment service providers.

The website also provides information on the phased development of the IPS and the services it is intended to support, including person-to-person transfers, merchant payments, business and government disbursements, as well as selected cash-in, cash-out, and ATM services. These services will depend on participating-provider availability and approved use cases, Ickua noted.

The website further provides information on the solution's objectives, including interoperability, affordability, safety, and financial inclusion, as well as frequently asked questions, participation requirements, and programme milestones. IPN's news section, Ickua added, will carry official announcements, media statements, and other developments as the programme progresses.

Ickua emphasized that "The Instant Payment Solution, a key enabler of the National Payment System Vision 2030, is intended to contribute to a more inclusive, interoperable, and digitally enabled payments ecosystem for Namibia." It is also aimed at expanding financial inclusion, particularly among rural and informal sectors facing logistical and financial barriers to accessing conventional banking services.