South Africa has a new mobile operator
Nedbank has officially launched its mobile operator, Nedbank Connect, and has become one of the latest banks to join the telecommunications sector.
The service is officially live for customers of the ‘Big Four’ bank via the Nedbank Money App and Online Banking.
The system currently has four preset plans that range from 3GB at R169/pm to R499 p/m at 20GB.
For those who are not ready for a plan, they can get a prepaid SIM or an eSIM. Bundles range from R5.00 to R30.00.
The MVNO will also offer Greenbacks airtime rewards for customers, depending on their rewards level, which can rise to R300.
Customers can also convert their greenbacks into airtime. Customers will also get R100 airtime for free with every SIM.
Nedbank Connect offers international roaming, 24/7 call/centre support, unlimited calls of up to 60 minutes every month, and in-branch services.
The offering is currently only open to Nedbank customers. New sign-ups must open a Nedbank account before they can switch to a Nedbank Connect account.
When creating a new plan, there is a once-off initiation fee, plus R99 if you want a SIM delivered. Once a SIM is delivered to you and you activate it, monthly billing will start.
Customers will be able to port their existing number, which can take between 24 and 48 hours.
The latest player
Nedbank Connect is a mobile virtual network operator and a mobile service provider that does not own its own wireless network infrastructure.
Capitec and FNB are the dominant players in the South African banking MVNO space, and their networks are also called Connect.
Capitec Connect has taken over FNB as the most popular MVNO, reaching 1.5 million subscribers by the end of 2024. It is currently adding around 180,000 monthly subscribers.
MTN and Cell C remain the largest MVNO partners in South Africa, with MTN partnering with Standard Bank, while Cell C has partnered with FNB and Capitec.
“Nedbank Connect is currently available through the Nedbank Money app or online banking, with a broader public launch scheduled for 15 September 2025,” Nedbank told BusinessTech.
“Nedbank Connect leverages the infrastructure of a leading telecommunications provider MTN to deliver reliable mobile services.”
The partnership is also beneficial for mobile network operators, as they can increase margins through marketing and customers acquisition costs are taken over by their partner.
Fees charged by Nedbank Connect can be found below:
Prepaid data
30 Day Expiry
| Prepaid Data Bundle | Price |
|---|---|
| 100MB | R17.00 |
| 250MB | R20.00 |
| 500MB | R30.00 |
| 1GB | R35.00 |
| 2GB | R60.00 |
| 3GB | R90.00 |
| 5GB | R100.00 |
| 10GB | R150.00 |
| 15GB | R229.00 |
| 20GB | R250.00 |
| 30GB | R350.00 |
| 50GB | R450.00 |
| 100GB | R475.00 |
7 Day Expiry
| Prepaid Data Bundle | Price |
|---|---|
| 500MB | R15.00 |
| 1GB | R25.00 |
| 2GB | R39.00 |
| 5GB | R79.00 |
| 10GB | R99.00 |
| 20GB | R149.00 |
1 Day Expiry
| Prepaid Data Bundle | Price |
|---|---|
| 100MB | R5.00 |
| 250MB | R7.50 |
| 500MB | R10.00 |
| 1GB | R19.00 |
| 10GB | R99.00 |
| 20GB | R149.00 |
Voice Bundles
30 Day Expiry
| Voice Minutes | Price |
|---|---|
| 50 | R10.00 |
| 100 | R25.00 |
| 150 | R50.00 |
| 200 | R75.00 |
| 300 | R100.00 |
| 400 | R150.00 |
| 500 | R200.00 |
| 1000 | R250.00 |
Social Bundles
30 Day Expiry
| Social Bundles | Price |
|---|---|
| 1GB – WhatsApp | R30.00 |
| 1GB – Facebook | R30.00 |
| 1GB – Youtube | R30.00 |
| 1GB – Instagram | R30.00 |
| 1GB – TikTok | R30.00 |
Roaming Bundles
30 Day Expiry
| Prepaid Data Bundle | Price |
|---|---|
| R100 Full Roaming | R100.00 |
| R200 Full Roaming | R200.00 |
| R500 Full Roaming | R500.00 |
| R1000 Full Roaming | R1,000.00 |
| R2000 Full Roaming | R2,000.00 |
| R5000 Full Roaming | R5,000.00 |
| R100 Voice & SMS Roaming | R100.00 |
| R200 Voice & SMS Roaming | R200.00 |
| R500 Voice & SMS Roaming | R500.00 |
| R1000 Voice & SMS Roaming | R1,000.00 |
| R2000 Voice & SMS Roaming | R2,000.00 |
| R5000 Voice & SMS Roaming | R5,000.00 |
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