Business Wire

DING

27.1.2021 12:12:04 CET | Business Wire | Press release

Share
Phones, Payments and the Pandemic: Covid’s Impact on How We Communicate and Spend Money

The release of the Inaugural Ding Global Prepaid Index (GPI) has produced unexpected findings of an untapped market with high growth potential that has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. This bi-annual global study commissioned by Ding , the world’s largest mobile top-up service, examines the views of 7,000 respondents across the US, the UK, France, KSA, UAE, Qatar, Brazil, Indonesia, and the Philippines, regarding their engagement in the prepaid market and their attitudes towards it. The prepaid market is defined as people who use prepaid mobile billing; prepaid financial products such as prepaid credit cards; prepaid utility bill payment, or prepaid gift cards / vouchers.

Market Intelligence - what the report tells us

This report is telling: 79% of respondents use at least one prepaid service, while 45% use two or more; prepay is seen as a more flexible way to engage the services they need and want rather than bill pay (or postpay) options. Prepaid mobile bills account for the highest usage (61%), followed by prepaid utility bills (31%), prepaid vouchers and gift cards (19%) and prepaid financial products such as a prepaid visa card (17%).

While many assume that the prepaid market primarily serves those in a lower income bracket, the study has revealed that a high number across all income brackets engage in prepaid services. In fact, higher-income earners use prepaid products most, with 84% of respondents in this bracket stating they use prepaid services. This result is relatively high across the board, with 78% of low-income earners using prepaid services as do 79% of medium-income earners.

“The Global Prepaid Index has revealed the enormous market potential for prepaid products,” said Mark Roden, Chief Executive and Founder of Ding. “Our research shows that prepaid products attract all walks of life, with many people engaging by choice rather than out of necessity. In an era where we can use technology to provide better transparency and control over our finances, as well as to use it to quickly access services, it is no surprise that people are willing to have their electricity or mobile phone service cut off for example because, in minutes, they can just top it up again.”

Market Opportunity

“Today we see a business opportunity to cater to the prepaid market more than ever,” said Roden. “The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend not only due to financial uncertainty but also with many unable to see their loved ones in person due to social distancing and restrictions on international travel. Even on our own platform, we have seen close to a 50% annual uptick in prepaid transactions during 2020, with customers prioritising keeping in contact by either topping up their own phones or sending airtime to others.”

*** Ends ***

About the Ding Global Prepaid Index (GPI)

The Ding Global Prepaid Index (GPI) is a major bi-annual survey analysing the prepaid market.

The inaugural GPI shines a light on the people who may see prepaid products and services as their only option to live in the world today. 7,000 respondents were surveyed across Europe, Asia and the Americas regarding their use of prepaid offerings, examining the attitudes, activities and outlook of the forgotten billion in particular during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those surveyed were evenly distributed across gender and aged over 18, 30 percent of the sample also identified as expats.

About Ding

Ding was founded to improve people’s lives by helping those with less gain access to more. As the number one international mobile top-up service in the world, Ding has been keeping people connected since 2006, when it launched this first-of-a-kind service. Today, Ding’s users have successfully sent over 450 million top-ups globally, via the app, online at Ding.com, and in-store at over 600,000+ retail outlets worldwide.

Ding is the world’s leading universal top-up service. Ding delivers a top-up every second, via 550+ operators, across 140+ countries – helping families and friends around the world to stay connected.

Link:

ClickThru

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

The Estée Lauder Companies and University of Leeds Partner to Advance the Future of Complexion Shade Matching14.8.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release

New research aims to tackle one of beauty’s most persistent challenges: accurately matching shade complexion-enhancing products to the full, diverse spectrum of global skin tones The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today announced a research collaboration with the School of Design, University of Leeds, United Kingdom, and Dr. Kaida Xiao, a world-renowned leader in color science and visual perception. Despite significant advances in beauty innovation, finding the right foundation or concealer shade remains one of the most common consumer frustrations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260814256032/en/ Foundation shades are evaluated as part of color science research. By combining advanced color science with research into how consumers perceive their own skin, this partnership aims to strengthen the development of luxury and prestige complexion-enhancing products with more precise shade matching and improve

ZPG Reaches Agreement to Sell Hometrack to Providence Equity Partners14.8.2026 11:00:00 CEST | Press release

ZPG today announced an agreement with Providence Equity Partners for the sale of Hometrack. Under ZPG’s ownership, Hometrack has grown into a leading provider of residential real estate digital valuation and property risk data & analytics in the UK and Netherlands. The transaction marks a natural evolution for ZPG as the group focuses on its distinct businesses, each performing strongly and well positioned for the opportunities ahead: Zoopla, a leading UK property and homeowner data platform; Alto, the UK’s foremost workflow platform for real estate agents; RVU, a leading distribution and home management platform built on iconic UK household brands, including Uswitch and Confused.com; and Tempcover, a market-leading temporary insurance provider. ZPG and its shareholders remain excited about the outlook for each of these businesses. Charlie Bryant, Chief Executive Officer of Hometrack, said: “ZPG and its shareholders have been outstanding partners, their support has been integral to bui

Paysafe Becomes Envision Racing Title Partner to Build the Future of Fan Engagement; Where Motorsport, Gaming and Payments Become One14.8.2026 09:59:00 CEST | Press release

New alliance will turn Formula E fans into participants, connecting race weekends, gaming and rewards through Paysafe's global payments network, with the team entering the new Gen4 era as Paysafe Envision Racing Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), a leading payments platform, today announced a title partnership with Envision Racing, one of Formula E's most successful and innovative teams, heralding a new era as Paysafe Envision Racing. Together, the two companies will power the future of connected fan experiences, uniting world-class motorsport, gaming and digital payments into the most engaging, rewarding and sustainable fan ecosystem in sport. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260814738341/en/ A new era begins in Formula E as Envision Racing becomes Paysafe Envision Racing. The partnership is built on a simple idea: fans shouldn't have to choose between watching the action and being a part of it. From the grid to gaming, es

CFO Worx Named No. 448 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 List, the Most Prestigious Ranking of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies13.8.2026 22:21:00 CEST | Press release

Company Recognized for 776% Three-Year Revenue Growth, Earning a Place Among the Nation’s Most Successful Independent Businesses CFO Worx today announced it has been ranked No. 448 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, the annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s most successful independent and entrepreneurial businesses, recognizing companies that have achieved remarkable growth while driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the economy. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Oracle, and Patagonia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260813927944/en/ Brian Alvarez, CEO of CFO Worx "Earning a place on the list comes down to the trust our clients place in us and is a testament to the caliber of the team behind every engagement," said Brian Alvarez, CEO of CFO Worx. This year’s Inc. 5000 recognizes a

Andersen Global udvider sine juridiske kompetencer gennem samarbejde med Beech Incorporated13.8.2026 18:01:00 CEST | Pressemeddelelse

Andersen Global indgår en samarbejdsaftale med det sydafrikanske advokatfirma Beech Incorporated og udvider dermed sine juridiske kompetencer i regionen. Beech Incorporated leverer juridisk og regulatorisk rådgivning til mine-, vedvarende energi-, infrastruktur-, olie- og gassektorerne med speciale inden for fusioner og opkøb, kommercielle forhold, projektfinansiering, sundhed, sikkerhed og miljø, ansættelsesret samt compliance. Firmaets tværfaglige team rådgiver klienter gennem hele projektets livscyklus – fra udvikling og finansiering til drift og interessenthåndtering – og er anerkendt som et førende advokatfirma af blandt andre publikationer somChambers and Partners og The Legal 500 . "Vores tilgang bygger på en praktisk forståelse af de brancher, vi arbejder inden for, og på at levere konkret og handlingsorienteret rådgivning til klienter, der opererer i komplekse regulatoriske miljøer," siger Warren Beech, der er CEO for Beech Incorporated. "Gennem samarbejdet med Andersen Global

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye