Mobile payments company Fortumo and mobile operator Smartfren have announced the launch of direct carrier billing in Indonesia.

Thanks to the partnership, 12.5 million Smartfren subscribers can now make online payments without the need for a credit card by charging payments to their mobile account. Out of 250 million Indonesians, only five million have a credit card, according to the World Bank. At the same time, there are more than 65 million smartphone users in the country. This means that while most people have access to online content, 9 out of 10 people are unable to pay for it. Carrier billing resolves this problem for merchants, enabling any mobile phone owner – both prepaid and postpaid – to charge payments to their mobile phone bill.

“As one of the leading mobile data providers in the market, Smartfren always provide an easy and smart solution for the customer. With direct carrier billing supported by Fortumo, our subscriber will be able to purchase their in-app items and premium memberships as easy as deducting their own Smartfren balance or bill, and this is fully supported by our widest 4G LTE network for the best experience to enjoy the services,” said Revie Sylviana, Senior Vice President of Digital Services at Smartfren.

“Integrating with Fortumo means carriers do not have to invest time and resources into growing their revenue from carrier billing. Our partnerships with leading digital merchants from all segments of the industry help carriers quickly scale up their revenue. We are very happy to partner with Smartfren and give access to online payments for millions of their subscribers,” said Siddharth Sahi, the vice president of Business Development and Carrier Relations at Fortumo.

In addition, Fortumo has recently announced partnerships with Globe in the Philippines and Tri in Indonesia. A