Mwiya Wamunyima, acting chief technical officer, Zamtel.

Zambia's government-owned mobile operator Zamtel yesterday debuted its e-SIM in the capital, Lusaka.

Zamtel is one of three mobile phone networks in the country; the others are Airtel and MTN.

The telco yesterday said: “This significant milestone was honoured by the presence of our esteemed guest, the permanent secretary of technology and science, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, who commended this exciting advancement.”

It added: “We remain committed to enhancing our customers’ experience, and this launch is yet another step in delivering greater convenience and value.”

The launch by the telco comes at a time analysts say the e-SIM is now provoking change across the telco industry, presenting telecom operators with the promise of new revenue streams, differentiated offerings and reduced costs - and an enhanced user experience for consumers.

Craig Palmer, CEO, VAS-X, recently wrote on ITWeb Africa, saying: “Flexibility and convenience are the key differentiators for customers when it comes to the benefits of e-SIM over the traditional SIM.

“With e-SIM the days of only being able to use one, or possibly two, SIM cards at a time are becoming a thing of the past as it allows users to easily switch between different operators or plans according to their needs - and without having to physically remove the card or obtain a new one.

“The fact that e-SIMs can be remotely provisioned means there is no requirement for a user to visit or speak to an operator, making the on-boarding process quick and easy and allowing the user to switch operators remotely.”