FNB Connect, the bank’s Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) has unveiled its latest offering, embedded SIM cards (eSIMs), now available to both retail and commercial customers. eSIMs help simplify mobile connectivity for customers, reducing the time of sign-up to activation to under three minutes. Customers no longer need to wait for physical SIM card delivery.
FNB is next to join the ‘supports eSIM’ list
An eSIM is a digital chip embedded directly into devices allowing users to connect to multiple networks without physically swapping cards. According to FNB Connect CEO Sashin Sookroo, the adoption of eSIM-ready devices among the bank’s customers has surged by 169% over the past three years. “We anticipate further growth as eSIM-enabled smartphones become more accessible and affordable,” he says.
The digital card allows for speedier activation, as it takes less than three minutes to activate the card from sign-up and all you need to do is scan a QR code (usually). No need to go out to collect the card or have it delivered. An end-to-end digital experience, without the need for extra administrative steps, is a useful convenience.
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This innovation also opens avenues for exciting eSIM-based services. In celebration of the launch, FNB is offering qualifying customers an additional 100GB of free data monthly for six months on its complimentary eSIMs. The bank has also launched other initiatives to assist underserved communities, like offering bread for 99c.
The bank also maintains that eSIM deployment should be a boon for the environment. By eliminating the need for physical SIM cards, the bank expects a reduction in plastic waste and the environmental costs associated with production, warehousing, and delivery. This allows both FNB and its customers to participate in carbon footprint reduction. This project will help the bank achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions in South Africa by 2030.
