DING
27.1.2021 12:12:04 CET | Business Wire | Press release
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.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127005442/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
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
Hilton Announces Exclusive Agreement with YOTEL to Expand Global Footprint in Lifestyle Segment19.3.2026 12:00:00 CET | Press release
Independent, design-led YOTEL brand gains reach through Hilton’s global distribution platformHilton Honors members gain access to a sleek, contemporary new way to stayYOTEL will be the first independent brand as part of newly established Select by Hilton brand Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced an exclusive agreement with YOTEL that will provide guests yet another way to stay within the hospitality leader’s growing global portfolio. With highly efficient hotels in urban markets, YOTEL has pioneered ways to meet changing guest needs through stays that feature smart room design, and clever tech-enabled features. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260318705963/en/ YOTEL Boston The franchise agreement with YOTEL expands Hilton’s network, filling a distinct customer need in the growing lifestyle segment in a manner consistent with its proven asset-light model. YOTEL will continue to independently manage and license it
Keenfolks Launches KEENFOLKS X_19.3.2026 12:00:00 CET | Press release
A Global AI-Native Marketing Infrastructure Network for Enterprise GrowthKeenfolks, the AI transformation partner behind marketing initiatives for brands including Coca-Cola, Diageo, Mars, Reckitt, Nestlé and Merck-MSD, today announced the launch of KEENFOLKS X_, a new global marketing network designed to operate on shared AI infrastructure The traditional holding company model that has shaped global marketing for decades is facing increasing pressure as capital markets, consolidation activity, and client demands point to a need for structural change. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260319751842/en/ Miguel Machado, CEO and Co-Founder, Keenfolks The marketing industry is searching for a new model. The question is no longer whether agencies need to change, but which ones were built for this shift from the start. Keenfolks, the Integrative AI® partner built natively for the Age of Intelligence, today announces th
Infobip's 20-Year Analysis of 3.8 Trillion Messages Reveals Rise of Omnichannel, RCS and AI-Driven Communication19.3.2026 11:45:00 CET | Press release
Analysis of 628 billion interactions in 2025 highlights the shift to conversational experiences, with nearly 98% of traffic now sent by customers using multiple channels AI-first cloud communication platform Infobip has released its Messaging Trends Report 2026, offering an analysis of the state of business communication. Drawing on data from 628 billion mobile interactions in 2025 and a historical review of 3.8 trillion messages over the past 20 years, the report charts the evolution from single-channel messaging to complex, AI-powered omnichannel experiences. The data reveals a shift in how brands engage with customers. While SMS remains a critical pillar for reliability, accounting for 62% of traffic, the growth of rich, conversational channels is accelerating. RCS traffic grew 3x globally last year, with 70x increase in North America. WhatsApp continues to dominate the conversational landscape, facilitating 91% of all conversational AI interactions on the platform, marking a 25% in
REPLY Unveils the New Editions of the Reply AI Music Contest and Reply AI Film Festival under the Theme “Imaginatio Nova”19.3.2026 09:00:00 CET | Press release
This year once again, the top finalists of the music contest will perform live on stage at Kappa FuturFestival in Turin, while the finalists of the film contest will be invited to an event organised by Reply and Mastercard, to be held in September in Venice. Reply [EXM, STAR: REY, ISIN: IT0005282865] confirms its commitment for 2026 to fostering dialogue between creativity, technology and artificial intelligence through the Reply AI Music Contest and the Reply AI Film Festival, the two international AI competitions open to creatives, filmmakers, musicians and innovation professionals from around the world. The theme of the 2026 edition, “Imaginatio Nova”, is an invitation to explore a new phase of imagination, where human creativity is renewed through technology. This approach views artificial intelligence not as a substitute for artistic talent, but as a catalyst for new visions, languages and expressive possibilities, capable of generating forms that did not previously exist. This pr
Valeo Foods Group Accelerates Growth in Eastern Europe With Acquisition of Prestige-96, a Leading Bulgarian Sweet Baked Goods Player19.3.2026 08:00:00 CET | Press release
Valeo Foods Group, one of Europe’s leading producers of sweets, treats and snacks, today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Prestige-96 AD (“Prestige”), a market-leading Bulgarian manufacturer of sweet baked goods. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260319225232/en/ Prestige-96 sandwich biscuits. Founded in 1996, Prestige is one of Bulgaria’s most established and trusted producers of biscuits, wafers and sweet snack products. Its portfolio features some of the country’s most recognisable local brands including - Naya (Ная), Hyper (Хайпър), Mirage (Мираж) and Roden Kray (Роден Край). Prestige employs approximately 450 people across its operations. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Valeo Foods Group’s long-term growth strategy, focused on acquiring market-leading, iconic local brands as part of its continued European expansion. As Valeo Foods Group’s eighth acquisition sinc
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
