Vodafone Samoa subscribers can now receive mobile remittances from Australia instantly using M-Tala’s newly expanded Rocket Remit service. 

Remittances to Samoa account for about 20 per cent of G.D.P. 

Rocket Remit allows Vodafone subscribers in Samoa to instantly receive financial transfers from Australia. 

The expansion of Rocket Remits mobile money transfer services now includes Vodafone's M-Tala.

The new service is the brainchild of mHITs (pronounced Em-HITS), the leading Australian FinTech mobile remittance pioneer. 

Rocket Remits currently has the largest network of payment transfers in the Pacific region. 

According to Vodafone Samoa CEO, Nofoasaefa Satish Sharma, the Rocket Remit initiative was prompted by customers’ needs to allow easy money transfer between Samoan families in Samoa and Australia. 

“We have heard our customers and went hard to work to ensure their needs are met. One of those needs was to allow money transfer from Australia directly to their Vodafone M-Tala," he added 

"We understand these are trying times and our people are more reliant on international remittances from loved ones in Australia than ever before.

"Vodafone offers over 44 locations across Samoa for a more convenient withdrawal process - this means our customers can beat the queues and even those in the rural parts of Samoa can save travel time to do other important tasks.” 

Due to a lack of tourism income during COVID-19, remittances have grown in importance in Samoa and reached levels of up to $55 million a month. 

Rocket Remit will be offering zero withdrawal fees to local customers until the end of the month. 

"M-Tala is easy to sign up for, visit www.vodafone.com/m-tala and register online or visit any of our Retail Stores with an ID,” Nofoasaefa said.

Vodafone's M-Tala was first launched in 2019 and is used by users to pay water bills, Vodafone bills and cash power.

According to mHITs CEO, Harold Dimpel, Rocket Remit will deliver the best money transfer services from Australia to other countries and offers unmatched payment technology. 

“Rocket Remit specialises in international money transfer via mobile money making it the world’s fastest and simplest way for sending money from Australia to emerging markets overseas," Mr. Dimpel added 

“Money transfer is instantaneous with funds directly credited to the recipient’s mobile money account without requiring a transfer agent or bank.  No other transfer method or payment technology including cryptocurrencies can achieve this level of transaction speed and convenience." 

Funds can be sent via an SMS and be accessed by the recipient from their mobile money account directly or in cash through an agent.