It took a while, but Standard Bank Connect is finally getting into the eSIM game. Embedded SIMs are old hat for many of South Africa’s more popular MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators), but now that the bank has reported strong growth via Connect since its relaunch in 2024, it certainly seems keen to propel it to new heights.
“[eSIM] allows customers to activate mobile services digitally and store multiple profiles on a single device, making it easier to switch between numbers or plans,” the bank said.
Connecting eSIMs
According to the company, Connect has seen “solid” year-on-year growth, having recently amassed more than 350,000 customers in total. Adding eSIM functionality can only strengthen that figure as Standard Bank Connect seeks out a more diverse clientele, particularly as many Saffas begin to juggle multiple SIMs at once.
“Industry estimates suggest that a large majority of mobile users in South Africa actively use more than one SIM,” the bank said. “The continued shift toward multi-SIM usage underpins our expansion into eSIM. Our ambition is to see eSIM become a meaningful share of our customer base by the end of 2026.”
Read More: Capitec Connect to get eSIM support later this year
The bank confirmed that eSIMs are currently available on existing mobile plans, with prepaid options set to follow. It remains to be seen whether it can truly compete with the rest of South Africa’s MVNOs. The bank’s eSIM ambitions rest on its pricing and whether it can offer added value over a more established network.
Judging by Connect’s SIM-only month-to-month plans, customers likely don’t have much to worry about. Clients on the Standard Bank network can secure 8GB of mobile data for a reasonable R130/m. Or, bump that up to 35GB, and pay a similarly affordable R300/m.
