MTN Nigeria Debuts eSIM Trial in West Africa

MTN Nigeria is the first to debut embedded Subscriber Identity Modules (e-SIM) trial in West Africa. MTN will run e-SIM trial for one year; it is open to a limited number of subscribers with compatible devices.

See also: Mastercard & FASTA Launches FASTACard, First Virtual Credit Card in SA

An e-SIM is a small chip that is embedded on a mobile phone or smart device. It is designed for convenience, flexibility and simplicity. The compatible mobile devices include Google (Pixel 3, 3XL, Pixel 4, 4XL), Apple (iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, XS Max, iPhone XR), and Samsung S20 Series. Subscribers with compatible devices will have to register and activate the e-SIM for the duration of the trial. 

MTN launched e-SIM for users in South Africa and Uganda, last year. In Nigeria, MTN conducted 5G trials across Abuja, Calabar and Lagos states. The trail in Abuja was powered by Huawei, Calabar by ZTE, and Lagos by Ericsson. With the rise of 5G networks, there will be big changes in mobile and internet connectivity.  

The e-SIM makes it easier for subscribers to choose a prepaid plan provider, the information on the e-SIM can be rewritable by operators and the identification information can be updated over time.  

e-SIMS will eliminate the need for SIM card slots on mobile devices with time. Although the compatible devices are expensive, e-SIM provides better user experience, especially for travelers. It may be a while before the full potential of e-SIM is realized but it is an exciting innovation that is particularly useful for business owners.

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