By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: FNB
Seen Here: Sashin Sookroo, FNB Connect CEO Photo Credit: FNB
Johannesburg, South Africa — As South Africans prepare for the Easter holiday rush, a familiar ritual — travel — is being reshaped by a less familiar pressure: rising costs. From fuel price hikes driven by global geopolitical tensions to broader inflationary strain, travellers are rethinking how they spend, plan, and stay connected abroad.
New insights from FNB Connect reveal a clear shift toward cost-conscious travel behaviour, with mobile connectivity emerging as a critical area where consumers are taking back control.
Shorter Trips, Smarter Spending
According to the data, international travellers are increasingly opting for shorter trips, favouring 7-day, 10-day, and 15-day travel windows. This trend reflects a broader recalibration — one where affordability and efficiency are prioritised over extended stays.
“Customers are naturally looking for areas where they can cut down and stay in control of their spend without compromising their experience,” said Sashin Sookroo.
While flights and accommodation remain largely fixed expenses, travellers are turning their attention to more flexible cost components — particularly mobile data and roaming.
eSIM Adoption Surges
At the centre of this shift is the growing adoption of the Global Travel eSIM, a digital-first connectivity solution that allows users to manage mobile data before departure.
FNB Connect reports a 258% increase in eSIM uptake since April 2025, with demand extending well beyond traditional peak travel periods. Even in early 2026, post-holiday usage has remained significantly higher than pre-peak levels — signalling a lasting behavioural change rather than a seasonal spike.
The appeal is straightforward: predictability.
Unlike traditional roaming, which often results in unexpected charges, the eSIM offers upfront pricing in rands and the ability to preload data bundles. Travellers can also reuse the same eSIM across multiple destinations, enhancing both convenience and cost efficiency.
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
In nine out of ten countries, the Global Travel eSIM is reportedly cheaper than standard roaming, with savings ranging from 22% to as much as 100%. For travellers navigating tighter budgets, this represents a meaningful opportunity to reduce expenses without sacrificing essential connectivity.
Usage data further reinforces this trend. Smaller and mid-sized bundles — particularly those up to 5GB — account for 88% of purchases, suggesting that users are opting for practical, needs-based data plans.
These bundles typically support essential travel functions such as:
- Navigation and mapping
- Booking confirmations
- Communication via messaging apps
- Secure access to banking services
Connectivity Becomes a Travel Essential
Beyond cost savings, the role of connectivity itself is evolving. Once considered a convenience, mobile access is now integral to the travel experience — enabling everything from airport transfers to real-time itinerary management.
The eSIM solution supports connectivity in over 200 destinations, with strong demand across key routes including the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Europe, Mozambique, and the United States. Together, the top 10 destinations account for nearly half of total sales and revenue.
Travellers can activate their eSIMs via the FNB Banking App up to 60 days before departure, eliminating the need to search for local SIM cards or rely on unsecured public Wi-Fi upon arrival.
A Shift Toward Digital-First Travel
For FNB Connect, the surge in adoption reflects more than just cost sensitivity — it signals a deeper shift in consumer behaviour.
“Customers are becoming more comfortable with digital-first solutions, and once they experience the convenience, it becomes part of how they travel,” Sookroo noted.
In a higher-cost environment, convenience is no longer a luxury — it is a strategic advantage.
Redefining the Travel Experience
As South Africans navigate a more expensive travel landscape this Easter, the focus is shifting from indulgence to optimisation. Every decision — from trip duration to data usage — is being weighed more carefully.
In this evolving context, connectivity is no longer just about staying online. It is about staying in control.
And for a growing number of travelers, that control begins before they even board the plane.
