{"id":615551,"date":"2025-10-28T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T07:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=615551"},"modified":"2025-10-28T09:02:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T07:02:15","slug":"three-big-south-african-networks-falling-behind-in-major-new-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/cellular\/615551-three-big-south-african-networks-falling-behind-in-major-new-technology.html","title":{"rendered":"Three big South African networks falling behind in major new technology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of South Africa’s top mobile network operators (MNOs) still lacks eSIM support in any form, while two others do not offer the option to buy a prepaid eSIM via the web or a mobile app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

eSIMs are digital SIM cards that function like physical SIM cards. The eSIM itself contains a profile and settings that can be read and run by a special chip on a smartphone, tablet, or other electronic device. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many other features initially exclusive to premium or flagship smartphones, the feature has gradually filtered down to mid-range and budget devices in the past few years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the United States, eSIMs have been so popular and widely adopted that Apple has abandoned physical SIM cards for its iPhone models sold in the country since 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The iPhone Air, launched in September 2025, is the company’s first smartphone without a SIM card tray globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

eSIMs have also gained traction among international travellers who want to avoid bill shock from high roaming costs and have connectivity as soon as they land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telecoms industry experts believe that eSIMs will eventually replace physical SIM cards completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All but one of South Africa’s main mobile network operators (MNOs) have added eSIM support in the past few years. The only outstanding network is Rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operator previously looked positioned to be the first to launch eSIM support. In May 2019<\/a>, Rain co-founder Michael Jordaan posted on Twitter that the network would “soon” launch eSIMs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company also announced a partnership with Truphone to support the feature, and MyBroadband forum members<\/a> uncove<\/span>red code on the Rain website that suggested a launch was imminent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its last feedback to MyBroadband, the mobile network said that adding eSIM support was “very much” part of its plans. However, it could not provide a launch timeframe for the features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MTN and Telkom still require store visits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C, eSIM was initially only available to contract customers before being expanded to prepaid users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also required that customers visit a store to get a physical package or slip with a QR code to download and activate their eSIM. As of October 2025, MTN and Telkom still require this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By failing to offer prepaid eSIMs online, the two networks risk alienating themselves from consumers who have become accustomed to being able to buy products with minimal effort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MTN previously told MyBroadband it planned to launch the ability to buy prepaid eSIMs online in 2024. Earlier in 2025, it said it would launch the capability “soon.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a response in October 2025, MTN said it only planned to introduce the option in early 2026 and repeated what it told MyBroadband earlier this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Over the past year, our focus has been on educating customers about the benefits of eSIM technology and ensuring widespread access through all our stores,” MTN South Africa said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“With that foundation in place, we’re now moving into the next phase, broadening distribution to include online and alternative sales channels.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several MVNOs that use MTN’s network are selling prepaid eSIMs via online channels. These include Afrihost Air Mobile, FNB Connect, Melon Mobile, Nedbank Connect, Spot Mobile, and UConnect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telkom did not respond to MyBroadband’s latest query for feedback on progress with eSIMs. The network previously said that online eSIMs were part of its broader digital roadmap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rica fraud could be a key factor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One challenge with making prepaid eSIMs available online is ensuring that proper protocols are in place to prevent fraudulent registration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (Rica) requires that all SIM cards in South Africa be registered to a person or business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RICA details are supposed to include a user’s full name, ID or passport number, and a physical address supported by a valid proof of residence or accommodation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the first MVNOs to offer eSIMs for online purchase \u2014 Me&You Mobile \u2014 withdrew the feature after an investigation found its online RICA system allowed for registering numerous eSIMs with fraudulent details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two Stellenbosch University computer science students who discovered<\/a> the issue explained that it could aid in commiting crimes like social grant fraud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the issue of fraudulent RICA SIM card registrations dates back many years, making SIMs readily available without RICA checks can make it even easier to get a phone number for nefarious purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The table below summarises which MNOs and MVNOs offer the ability to buy prepaid eSIMs online or through a mobile app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operator<\/th>Online prepaid eSIMs available<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Afrihost Air Mobile <\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
C-Connect<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Capitec Connect<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Cell C<\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
FNB Connect<\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Me&You Mobile<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong> (withdrawn)<\/td><\/tr>
Melon Mobile<\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Nedbank Connect<\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
MTN<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Pick n Pay Mobile<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Rain<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Shoprite K’Nect Mobile<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Spar Mobile<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Spot Mobile<\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Standard Bank Connect<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Telkom<\/td>No<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
UConnect<\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Vodacom<\/td>Yes<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Only two major networks in South Africa offer the ability to buy a prepaid eSIM online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":341042,"featured_media":615769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[605,355,46671,87817,101401,20557,42,43716,109,41],"class_list":["post-615551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cellular","tag-apple","tag-cell-c","tag-embedded-sim-esim","tag-esims","tag-iphone-air","tag-mobile-virtual-network-operator-mvno","tag-mtn","tag-rain","tag-telkom","tag-vodacom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615551"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/341042"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=615551"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":615647,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/615551\/revisions\/615647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/615769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=615551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=615551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=615551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}