# Solomon Mobile

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/solomon-mobile
> research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-06
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Our Telekom Powers Up M-SELEN — Our Telekom](https://www.ourtelekom.com.sb/our-telekom-powers-up-m-selen-now-available-in-solomon-islands/)
- [M-SELEN financial inclusion — UNCDF](https://www.uncdf.org/article/8665/its-instant-and-hassle-free-new-mobile-money-service-welcomed-as-a-tool-for-financial-inclusion-in-solomon-islands)

## Overview

**M-SELEN** is **Solomon Islands' national mobile-money service**, launched **12 June 2023** by **Our Telekom** (Solomon Islands' largest telecommunications provider) with support from the **UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and Government of Australia** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Solomon Islands report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SB)</sup>. M-SELEN aims to **bring basic financial services to everyday Solomon Islanders** — addressing the country's substantial financial-exclusion challenge where **only 25% own a bank account, 35% rely on informal financial services, and 31% have no access at all** to formal financial services <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

The structural arc: M-SELEN registered **76,000+ users and processed nearly SBD 100 million (~US $12 million) transactions in its first year** <sup>[2][2]</sup> — substantial for Solomon Islands' ~700,000 population. The project resulted from a **2019 feasibility study by UNCDF + Government of Australia + Our Telekom**, implemented under the **Pacific Digital Economic Programme (PDEP)** — a joint initiative of UNCDF + UNDP + UNCTAD. M-SELEN's structural significance: alongside **[M-Vatu](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/m-vatu) Vanuatu (2019), [M-PAiSA QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/m-paisa-qr) Fiji (2010), [SATS](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/sats) Samoa (May 2023)**, M-SELEN represents the **Pacific Islands mobile-money modernisation wave** of the 2020s — with substantial UN + Australian development-finance support enabling small-island-nation payment-modernisation.

## History

**Background — Solomon Islands payment landscape pre-2023** <sup>[Solomon Islands report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SB)</sup>:
- **Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI)** — central bank.
- **Our Telekom** — Solomon Islands' largest MNO.
- Substantial financial exclusion: 25% banked, 35% informal services, 31% no access.
- ~700,000 population.

**2019 — UNCDF + Australia + Our Telekom feasibility study** <sup>[2][2]</sup>:
- Pre-launch research.

**Pacific Digital Economic Programme (PDEP)** [[uncdf]]:
- Joint UNCDF + UNDP + UNCTAD framework.

**12 June 2023 — M-SELEN launches** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:
- Our Telekom launches Solomon Islands' national mobile money.
- UNCDF + Australia support.

**First year — 76,000+ users + SBD 100M+ transactions** <sup>[2][2]</sup>:
- Substantial early adoption.

**Service expansion** <sup>[1][1]</sup>:
- Beyond basic cash-in/out/transfer: utility bill payment + merchant payments.

## Technical specification

M-SELEN is **Our Telekom's UNCDF-supported Solomon Islands national mobile money** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:

| Layer | Description |
|---|---|
| **Operator** | **Our Telekom** (Solomon Islands' largest MNO) |
| **Development-finance support** | **UNCDF + Government of Australia** |
| **Framework** | **Pacific Digital Economic Programme (PDEP)** (UNCDF + UNDP + UNCTAD) |
| **Launch** | **12 June 2023** |
| **Currency** | SBD (Solomon Islands dollar) |
| **First-year users** | **76,000+** |
| **First-year transaction value** | **SBD 100 million+** (~US $12M) |
| **Services** | Cash-in, cash-out, money transfer, utility bills, merchant payments |

**Pre-existing competitor**: **Pouch Pay** (Pacific PayTech) — Solomon Islands' first digital wallet + merchant-acceptance network with interoperable QR.

## Use cases

**P2P transfers** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Cardinal use — instant + hassle-free.

**Cash-in / cash-out** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Agent-based convert.

**Utility bill payment** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Service expansion.

**Merchant payments** <sup>[1][1]</sup>: Promoting digital payments in retail.

**Financial inclusion** <sup>[2][2]</sup>: Strategic — for 66%+ informally-served + no-access population.

## Implementations & ecosystem

**Operator**: **Our Telekom**.

**Development-finance partners**: **UNCDF + Government of Australia**.

**Framework**: **PDEP** (Pacific Digital Economic Programme).

**Companion ecosystem**: **Pouch Pay** (Pacific PayTech) — competing/complementary Solomon-first digital wallet.

**Major Solomon Islands competitors**: Pouch Pay; bank-specific products from BSP, ANZ Solomon Islands.

## Fun facts

- **Launched 12 June 2023**: Recent Pacific Islands mobile-money milestone.
- **76,000+ users in first year**: ~11% of 700K population.
- **SBD 100M+ first-year transactions** (~$12M).
- **UNCDF + Australia + Our Telekom partnership**: International development-finance + private-MNO collaboration.
- **2019 feasibility study → 2023 launch**: 4-year planning + deployment arc.
- **PDEP umbrella**: Multi-UN-agency joint framework.
- **25/35/31% banked/informal/no-access starting baseline**: Substantial financial-exclusion-addressed market.
- **Pacific Islands mobile-money wave**: Joins M-PAiSA Fiji (2010), M-Vatu Vanuatu (2019), SATS Samoa (May 2023), Tonga developments.

## Comparison

| Feature | M-SELEN (SB) | [M-Vatu](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/m-vatu) (VU) | [M-PAiSA QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/m-paisa-qr) (FJ) | [SATS](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/sats) (WS) | Pouch Pay (SB competitor) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Our Telekom (MNO) | Vodafone Vanuatu | Vodafone Fiji | CBS (central bank) | Pacific PayTech |
| Launch | **12 Jun 2023** | 2019 | 2010 | 16 May 2023 | n/a |
| Development partners | **UNCDF + Australia** | n/a | n/a | IFC + AUS + NZ + WB | n/a |
| Users (recent) | 76K+ first year | 500K+ FJ | 500K+ users | n/a | n/a |

## Status

**Active, fast initial growth** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>:
- **Our Telekom operator** since 12 June 2023.
- **76,000+ users + SBD 100M+** first year.
- **UNCDF + Australia + PDEP** support.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.ourtelekom.com.sb/our-telekom-powers-up-m-selen-now-available-in-solomon-islands/ "Our Telekom Powers Up M-SELEN"
[2]: https://www.uncdf.org/article/8665/its-instant-and-hassle-free-new-mobile-money-service-welcomed-as-a-tool-for-financial-inclusion-in-solomon-islands "M-SELEN financial inclusion — UNCDF"
[3]: https://pacificecommerce.org/solomon-islands-launches-m-selen-mobile-money-service/ "Solomon Islands launches M-SELEN"
[uncdf]: https://www.uncdf.org/ "UNCDF Pacific Digital Economic Programme"

- [1] [Our Telekom Powers Up M-SELEN][1]
- [2] [M-SELEN financial inclusion — UNCDF][2]
- [3] [Solomon Islands M-SELEN — Pacific Ecommerce][3]
- <sup>[Solomon Islands report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/SB)</sup> `reports/countries/SB-solomon-islands.md`

## Deployments

_No country reports mention this standard by name._