Infrastructure Issues in EPS

Infrastructure is necessary for the successful implementation of electronic payments.

Proper Infrastructure for electronic payments is a challenge.
1. For electronic payments to be successful , there is the need to have reliable
and cost effective infrastructure that can be accessed by majority of the
population.
2. Electronic payments communication infrastructure includes computer network
such as the internet and mobile network used for mobile phone.
3. In addition, banking activities and operations need to be automated. A
netor! that lin!s ban!s and other financial institutions for clearing and payment
confirmation is a pre"re#uisite for electronic payment systems. $obile netor! and
Internet are readily available in the developed orld and users usually do not have
problems ith communication infrastructure.
4. Good communication Infrastrucrure %Poor communication infrastructure
&Internet and mobile netor!ing' is one of the reasons that hinder the e"payment
system ( . )o level of internet penetration and poorly developed telecommunication
infrastructure impede smooth development and improvements in e"commerce.
efforts by the *overnment and other financial and I+, sta!eholders to move country-s
payment system from a cash"dependent platform to the globally acceptable electronic"
driven alternative may be impeded by dearth of critical telecommunication
infrastructure.
!. In developing countries, many of the rural areas are unban!ed and lac! access to
critical infrastructure that drives electronic payments.
". .ome of the debit cards technologies like #utomated $eller %achines &#$%s'
are still seen by many as unreliable for financial transactions as stories told by people
suggested that they could lose their money through fraudulent deductions, debits and
other lapses for hich the technology had been associated ith by many over the last
fe years.
(. $elecommunication and electricit) are not available throughout the country,
hich negatively affect the development of e"payments. ,he development of
information and communication technology is a major challenge for e"payments
development. .ince I+, is in its infant stages in /epal, the country faces difficulty
promoting e"payment development.
*. +egulator) and ,egal issues
/ational, regional or international set of las, rules and other regulations are
important re#uirements for the successful implementation of e"payment schemes.
.ome of the major elements include rules on money laundering, supervision of
commercial ban!s and e"money institutions by supervisory authorities, payment
system oversight by central ban!s, consumer and data protection, cooperation and
competition issues. ,he virtual and global nature of e"payment also raises legal
#uestions such as hich jurisdiction ill be competent and about applicable las in
disputed cases, validity of electronic, electronic contracts and electronic signature. A
legal and regulatory frameor! that builds trust and confidence supporting technical
efforts is an important issue to be addressed in implementing e"payments. )ac! of
suitable legal and regulatory frameor! for e"payment in Ethiopia, an African country
is a challenge. Ethiopian current las do not accommodate electronic contracts and
signatures. Ethiopia has not yet enacted legislation that deals e"payments and e"
commerce concerns including enforceability of the validity of electronic contracts,
digital signatures and intellectual copyright and restrict the use of encryption
technologies. /ational regulatory and legal frameor! that aligns ith regional and
international agreements is crucial in creating a certain and reliable environment.
Adopting model las at the global level such as 0/+I,A) $odel la on e"signatures
can help the purpose.
-. Socio./ultural /hallenges
+ultural and historical differences in attitudes and the use of different forms of money
&e.g. use of credit card in /orth America and use of debit cards in Europe' complicate
the tas! of developing an electronic payment system that is applicable at international
level . 1ifference in the degree of the re#uired security and efficiency among people
of different cultures and level of development aggravates the problem.
+onsumer-s confidence and trust in the traditional payments system has made
customers less li!ely to adopt ne technologies. /e technologies ill not dominate
the mar!et until customers are confident that their privacy ill be protected and
ade#uate assurance of security is guaranteed. 0ew technologies also re1uires the
test of time in order to earn the confidence of the people, even if it is easier to use
and cheaper than older methods.