South Africa’s MVNO market welcomes a unique entrant as STADIO, a prominent higher education provider, launches STADIO Connect on the MTN network. Addressing the longstanding challenge of high mobile data costs, STADIO offers some of the country’s lowest data prices to its students and staff, aiming to improve digital access critical for blended and online learning.
Recognizing that reliable internet is essential for attending virtual classes, submitting assignments, and accessing academic resources, STADIO Connect provides free SIM or eSIM cards preloaded with non-expiry data, airtime, and SMS upon student registration. The service currently operates across all STADIO campuses and will expand to distance learning students and their families in the second semester of 2025.
With over 100,000 students enrolled, STADIO aims to leverage its MVNO to reduce barriers to education and digital inclusion. The South African MVNO sector has been expanding, spurred by regulator ICASA’s 2022 mandate to enable MVNOs as part of spectrum licensing reforms.
While Cell C and MTN have dominated MVNO provision, Vodacom and Telkom are enhancing market competition through new MVNO enablement platforms and partnerships, indicating a maturing ecosystem supportive of innovative entrants like STADIO.
