South African MTN customers can now authenticate their identities through fingerprints or facial recognition
MTN South Africa has taken a significant step forward in combating identity theft and SIM swap fraud by implementing a digital identity system using fingerprint and facial recognition technology in all its stores. This system, part of MTN's ongoing investment in innovation, is designed to streamline sign-ups, reduce fraud, and deliver real, tangible value to customers.
The biometric system, developed in partnership with global biometric solutions provider Vigilate AI, authenticates customers during onboarding and re-identification in real-time, drastically reducing identity fraud risks while streamlining processes and reducing errors. The deployment, following a successful six-month pilot in 20% of stores, is a critical step in combating identity theft and SIM swap scams, which were estimated to cost around R5.3 billion annually in 2024 according to a July 2025 report by the Communication Risk Information Centre (Comric).
Cornelia van Heerden, Executive: Customer Operations at MTN South Africa, stated that the deployment of this biometric system is part of their ongoing investment in innovation. "This system enables near-instant contract approval and service activation, enhancing both security and customer experience by making verification faster, safer, and more convenient," she said. Customer feedback during the pilot was overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing faster sign-ups and improved convenience.
With this implementation, MTN becomes the first mobile operator in South Africa to implement this digital identity system at scale, representing a significant step forward in combating complex telecom fraud and enhancing overall customer service quality. Daniel Hartwright, CEO of Vigilate AI, considers the partnership with MTN a big step forward for secure customer verification in South Africa. He added, "This partnership sets a new benchmark for the telecoms industry."
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Sources: 1. MTN South Africa's Biometric System 2. Vigilate AI and MTN Partnership 3. Customer Feedback on MTN's Biometric System 4. MTN's Ambition 2025 Strategy
- The partnership between MTN South Africa and Vigilate AI, a global biometric solutions provider, signals a remarkable investment in innovation, as they collaborate to develop and implement a cutting-edge digital identity system.
- This digital identity system, which uses fingerprint and facial recognition technology, is designed to bolster cybersecurity by authenticating customers in real-time, minimizing identity fraud risks, and streamlining processes to enhance overall customer experience.
- As MTN becomes the first mobile operator in South Africa to implement this system at scale, it signifies a significant stride in innovation, enhancing service quality, and setting a new standard for secure customer verification in the telecom sector.
