Absa to launch its own mobile network

Absa is set to launch its own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). When it launches, it will be the last of South Africa’s traditional Big Four banks to introduce a cellular offering.

Cell C chief executive officer Jorge Mendes previously told Business Times that his mobile network was one of two companies shortlisted by Absa to support its MVNO.

The bank has acknowledged it is “late to the party” in mobile solutions, but did not want to enter the market merely because other banks had launched their own MVNOs.

Instead, it wanted to ensure the offering it developed was desirable to its customers and served their specific needs.

There are already over 2.45 million South Africans using banking MVNOs. FNB was the first bank in South Africa to launch an MVNO in 2015.

FNB Connect initially operated only on Cell C’s network, but added MTN as an additional network provider in 2023 to improve its connectivity quality and coverage.

The MVNO reached a major milestone of one million active subscribers in November 2025. The broader FNB Connect ecosystem has been a major money-spinner for the bank.

Standard Bank followed FNB with its offering in 2018. Originally called Standard Bank Mobile, it also started out on Cell C’s network.

In 2024, the service migrated to MTN’s network and was rebranded to Standard Bank Connect. It had amassed over 350,000 by April 2026.

The newest addition among the Big Four is Nedbank Connect, which was quietly rolled out to customers in August 2025.

Although it has yet to share subscriber numbers, the bank recently told MyBroadband the service has experienced solid growth.

The largest and fastest-growing bank-based MVNO by customers is not part of one of the traditional players.

Launched in September 2022, Capitec Connect grew to 1.1 million active subscribers in three years. The service runs on Cell C’s network and offers highly competitive prepaid mobile data prices.

Why mobile services make sense for banks

South Africa’s other two major banks, Discovery Bank and GoTyme, have not yet divulged any plans to offer MVNO services.

In response to questions from MyBroadband on this, Discovery Bank said it would not comment on speculation or potential product launches outside of formally announced initiatives.

The bank said its future was on deepening, strengthening, and integrating capabilities and partners where they delivered clear, long‑term value to clients within its shared‑value framework.

Launching an MVNO as an extension of an established business, such as a bank, offers several advantages over running a fully-fledged mobile network.

Firstly, it requires far less capital. Businesses don’t have to spend money on infrastructure rollouts or maintenance.

They also don’t have to invest as heavily into marketing to educate customers about the service and convince them to sign up — they can reach them on existing platforms like their apps.

Secondly, the service can be integrated with the business’s broader value offering. For banks and retailers, this can include loyalty programmes.

Innovative technologies like eSIMs, which are being supported on an increasing number of phones, and electronic remote identity verification systems have also reduced friction in onboarding.

Banks also don’t have to set up new physical spaces for transactions and services that require in-person assistance, they can use their existing banks.

Lastly, an MVNO is ancillary to the institution’s main offering. As it does not rely solely on revenue from mobile services, it can have minimal margins on its cellular products or cross-subsidise their costs.

MVNOs can also provide an additional stream of wholesale revenue to cellular networks and indirectly extend their services to users they might otherwise not have reached.

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