29/08/2026
TELIKOM SECURES E-WALLET LICENCE: MAJOR LEAP FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PORT MORESBY — State-owned telecommunications provider Telikom PNG has been officially granted a Payment Service Provider Licence by the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG), clearing the path for the rollout of its national digital e-wallet.
The regulatory milestone is set to reshape the financial landscape of Papua New Guinea, where an estimated 75% of the population currently lacks access to formal banking.
Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Hon. William Duma, welcomed the approval as a historic shift for state assets.
"This is the first step of a State entity moving beyond connectivity and into the business of digital finance. A bank branch cannot be built in every village, but a mobile signal already has."
Key Highlights of the Telikom E-Wallet Rollout
Bridging the Banking Gap: Designed specifically for rural, highlands, coastal, and island communities, enabling ordinary mobile phones to act as personal financial tools.
Core Capabilities: Users can store savings, send and receive money transfers, and manage daily micro-transactions directly from their devices without physical bank branches.
Economic Support: Provides immediate financial infrastructure for local coffee and vanilla growers, cocoa producers, market vendors, fishermen, and small businesses.
Strict Oversight: BPNG Governor Elizabeth Genia and Minister Duma stressed that compliance, anti-money laundering controls, and consumer protection will remain non-negotiable top priorities during deployment.
By utilizing its nationwide mobile coverage, Telikom’s new platform will allow cash transfers in seconds across distances that previously required days of travel.