Telecom Merchant Acceptance Platform: the operator as an SME acceptance channel

What this solution is

Telecom Merchant Acceptance Platform is the operating loop where the operator becomes a payment acceptance channel for the SME segment (small and medium business). Not a competitor to Click and Payme — a distribution and bundling partner with unique assets: wide retail network, SIM identity, billing relationship.

In Uzbekistan QR payments in SME are noticeably adopted. Local payment systems (Click, Payme) and national networks (Uzcard, Humo) hold the market. The operator can play several roles in this landscape — from light distribution to own processor — each with different ambition and investment levels.

When the operator needs this solution

The SME segment is a meaningful share of revenue or growing faster than the core. The payment channel is a natural extension.

The operator has wide retail and dealer network in SME-density zones. A distribution advantage exists, but is not used.

Existing relationships with a partner bank allow launching a payment product without a full banking licence.

Competitors in the connectivity space start adding value-added services. The operator without a comparable offer loses position in SME.

If 2-3 of these signals are present, the platform has a commercial case.

How it works

The platform is designed by ambition level — four options.

Light role — distribution. The operator signs SME up to existing payment systems (Click, Payme, bank terminal) through retail and dealers. Earns commission on acquisition. Minimum investment, fast start.

Medium role — aggregator. The operator offers a single QR that accepts payments from several payment networks. The merchant signs one agreement, customers pay from any app. Medium investment, higher integration complexity.

Heavy role — own processor. The operator obtains a payment processor licence and builds its own QR network. Major investment, regulatory complexity, multi-year build.

Bundled role — combined with tariff. Connectivity + QR + cybersecurity + backup in a single SME bundle. The operator differentiates as one supplier for the SME’s whole digital stack.

In a realistic situation most operators in Uzbekistan start with light or bundled, evolving to aggregator over 18-30 months.

What an engagement with SamaraliSoft includes

Audit of the SME segment (3-4 weeks). Current SME revenue distribution, growth trajectory, partnership with payment systems, retail capability in SME engagement.

Decision framework (2-3 weeks). What level of ambition is realistic — distribution / bundling / aggregator / processor. Comparative economics, capability requirements, timeline.

Platform design at the chosen level (4-8 weeks). Differs significantly depending on the choice.

Partnership layer. Agreements with payment systems (light/medium) or licence application (heavy). Often 6-12 months of parallel work.

Pilot launch (90-120 days). One region, one merchant segment. Measure acquisition rate, transaction volume, dealer engagement.

Expansion (12-18 months). Geographic rollout, additional segments, progression to a more ambitious level if the first works.

What the operator gets

On a 12-18 month horizon (depends on chosen level):

Light role: commission revenue from acquisition, additional value-add in the SME proposition, low cost of entry. Not a major revenue line, but retention positive.

Bundled role: differentiation in SME, single biller relationship, reduce churn in the SME segment by 10-20%.

Aggregator: per-transaction revenue grows with scale, leverage in negotiations with payment systems improves, foundation for own processor if needed.

Heavy role (own processor): payment fees as a separate revenue line with potentially significant size. But that is a 3-4 year invest before material returns.

Universally: SIM identity as a verification anchor for merchant onboarding reduces fraud in acquisition.

When the solution is not needed

If existing payment networks already cover the SME landscape adequately, marginal operator value.

If the SME segment is a small percentage of revenue and unlikely to grow strategically.

If retail and dealer network are not trained for SME engagement (sell only B2C SIM cards).

If the organisation is in an acute phase of other fintech initiatives.

If internal payments capability does not exist and a partner is not identified.

How to start

Request the SME Payment Opportunity Sizing — 3-4 weeks. Analysis of the operator’s SME segment, decision matrix to choose ambition level, partner mapping, and a realistic 18-month roadmap for the chosen level.

Related reading

• /en/insights/telecom-merchant-qr/ — merchant QR in detail
• /en/insights/telecom-wallet-or-bills/ — fintech entry
• /en/insights/telecom-arpu-bundles-devices/ — ARPU growth
• /en/insights/telecom-growth-after-connectivity/ — growth beyond connectivity