Simple

Changing technology leaves phone users holding more of the cards

- Remy Muscat

The last decade has seen technology continue to rapidly influence consumer habits, and with that mobile operators have been introducing an ever-growing array of mobile services and offerings to expand their customer base – all the while trying to retain existing clients. Consumers continue to embrace the digital age, and they are rapidly seeking ways to expand their mobile experiences and capabilities.

Many operators in emerging countries suffer from high volumes of dormant SIM cards, particularly in prepaid markets, as cost-conscious users juggle with SIM cards to take advantage of the best offer of the moment. They switch operators opportunistically and tend to own several SIM cards – many of which become inactive and stop generating revenue.

The multi-SIM phenomenon is among the latest trends that consumers – particularly among the newer and more emerging markets – are taking advantage of, allowing them to switch carriers on the fly with the simple switch of a SIM card. In addition, the development of affordable multi-SIM devices has encouraged the multi-SIM phenomenon, particularly in Africa and Asia. Globally, the multiple SIM phenomenon remains prominent. This is particularly true for prepaid markets such as Nigeria, Kenya and Ivory Coast, which are all above 96% prepaid penetration. South Africa is at 88%.