If you’re thinking about travelling to South Africa from somewhere else, you now have another roaming eSIM plan that probably won’t bankrupt you or make you cut your stay short just to afford mobile data.
Melon Mobile, a local mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has teamed up with Airalo, an international eSIM provider. This gives tourists in SA another way to access mobile services, including data, voice, and SMS services, without the need to buy a physical SIM card or an expensive roaming plan.
Who wants a South African eSIM?
“Melon has always been about simplifying connectivity and putting the customer first. By teaming up with Airalo, we’re giving international visitors something truly game-changing: seamless digital connectivity that works instantly, without limits, anywhere in South Africa,” said Calvin Collett, CEO of Melon Digital.
To make use of this partnership, download the Airalo app (Android, iOS) and pick South Africa as your destination before you actually get here. You should see the options to get a data-only eSIM or one that supports data, calls, and texts. While both list ‘RSA CellC’ as the provider, that’s likely a bug. We’ve reached out to confirm.
Next, you’ll need to verify your identity. Once that’s done, you should be able to purchase your chosen package. After you’ve paid, you should receive an email with instructions on how to install the eSIM on your supported device — you’ll want to make sure Airalo recognises your device as supported.
If you’ve done all the right things, when you touch down in SA, you should be automatically connected via Melon Mobile, which uses MTN’s infrastructure. Top-ups are available when you run out.
