In a bold move that may reshape the future of mobile networks across Africa and beyond, Hayo has unveiled a full-fledged eSIM platform that promises to offer AI-ready, top-level security, and white-label capabilities designed specifically for mobile network operators (MNOs). With this, Hayo is setting its sights on making digital and borderless mobile connectivity more accessible — while helping operators keep control of their customer relationships.
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A new era in mobile connectivity
The shift from physical SIM cards to eSIM technology has been underway for some years, but many operators still struggle with legacy infrastructure, slow onboarding, and fragmentation. Hayo’s new offering aims to collapse those barriers by providing an end-to-end, white-label eSIM solution that MNOs can brand as their own.
Under this model, operators can launch eSIM-based services without building every component themselves. They retain full control of the customer journey while offloading the complexities of backend operations and compliance. The result? Faster time-to-market, reduced costs, and a path toward more revenue from roaming and IoT segments.
Feraz Ahmed, CEO of Hayo, captures the essence of this disruption: he notes that “for too long, MNOs have been constrained by the limitations of physical SIM cards. With our eSIM platform, we’re giving them the ability to deliver instant, secure and borderless connectivity, putting them back in control of the customer experience.”
In other words, rather than being reliant on hardware logistics, operators can focus on innovation, differentiation, and customer loyalty.
What’s inside Hayo’s platform
At its core, Hayo’s system bundles all the critical components required to operate eSIM services:
- Profile generation engine — to create eSIM profiles
- SM-DP+ hosting and delivery — ensuring secure provisioning
- Web and app distribution channels — enabling operators’ front-end platforms
- Remote/in-app provisioning — so consumers can activate remotely
- Custom APNs — tailoring connectivity as needed
- Global roaming agreements & aggregator CMP — managing roaming and network partnerships
- Analytics and reporting — to track performance
- White-label capabilities — to brand it fully as the operator’s own
On the security front, Hayo ensures all communications use TLS 1.2+ (i.e. HTTPS) and comply with GSMA specifications (SGP.01, SGP.02, SGP.21-24, SGP.28, SGP.31, SGP.32). Activation codes are delivered via QR codes that carry one-time, secure tokens. KYC and eKYC checks are mandatory before profile generation, and detailed audit trails are maintained across activation, revocation, and downloads — ensuring compliance with regulatory and GSMA standards.
Boaz Yaya, Hayo’s Director of Operator Relations, emphasises that this is more than just a system upgrade: “The global shift to eSIM is more than just a technology upgrade. It’s a transformation that is redefining how mobile connectivity is delivered and experienced. By combining over 30 years of telecom expertise with a network of 500+ trusted partners, Hayo is helping MNOs enter the eSIM market with confidence and expand across Africa, the Middle East and across the globe.”
Practically, operators also benefit from a branded app/web store to sell and activate profiles, a robust aggregator CMP to manage roaming relationships (and recapture lost roaming revenues), and control over which partner networks to prioritise.
Why Nigeria (and Africa) should care
In Nigeria — as in many African markets — mobile penetration and smartphone adoption continue to surge, while cross-border travel, IoT deployments, and mobile-first consumer habits intensify. The demand for seamless, on-demand connectivity is no longer niche — it’s becoming a baseline expectation.
Yet, many operators are still anchored to the older SIM-centric model, incurring high costs in logistics, facing fraud risks, and battling slow onboarding processes. Hayo’s model offers a way forward: operators can pivot to an eSIM-first approach, leapfrog certain legacy constraints, and better monetise roaming services.
Indeed, industry forecasts suggest a steep incline in eSIM adoption — GSMA Intelligence projects that between 61 % and 88 % of smartphone connections will be using eSIMs by 2030.
For Nigeria’s telecom sector, the stakes are high. Operators that adopt modern, flexible platforms may gain earlier access to value streams in IoT, cross-border mobile services, enterprise connectivity, and digital services that ride on connectivity.
Moreover, a white-label eSIM solution like Hayo’s gives operators full ownership of the customer relationship — critical in markets where data-driven upselling, loyalty, and customer insight are increasingly decisive.
But there are also challenges: ensuring regulatory alignment, managing subscriber privacy, negotiating global roaming agreements, and maintaining robust cybersecurity are nontrivial tasks. Hayo’s emphasis on audit logs, compliance with GSMA specs, and built-in security protocols would help assuage those risks.
What next — and what to watch
As Hayo rolls out its eSIM platform, the key tests will be whether operators in Nigeria and across Africa adopt it and whether they can capitalise on it. We’ll want to watch:
- Operator take-up — Which telcos sign on? Will local giants adopt or resist building their own systems?
- Regulation & compliance — How will national telecom regulators in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, etc., adapt licensing and oversight to eSIM models?
- Roaming deals — How effectively will operators leverage Hayo’s aggregator CMP to regain roaming revenue and prioritise preferred networks?
- Consumer uptake — Will customers adopt eSIMs at scale? Will onboarding be smooth, trusted, and user-friendly?
- IoT and B2B growth — Will this platform unlock more enterprise deals, device players, and cross-border connectivity services?
If all these lines move favourably, we could see Nigeria’s mobile industry shift faster than expected toward digital-first connectivity.
Conclusion
Hayo’s launch marks a bold vision: empower operators with an AI-ready, secure, and fully brandable eSIM platform that lets them reclaim control while meeting the evolving expectations of end users. Whether that vision becomes reality in Nigeria depends on operator courage, regulatory agility, and consumer trust — but the direction is clear.
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