As South Africans head into the Easter break, travel is back on the agenda. But this year, rising fuel prices driven by global geopolitical tensions are reshaping both travel choices and customers’ spending patterns. For travellers, this means one thing: the overall cost of travel is rising, and every line item matters more.
Analysis from FNB Connect shows that travellers are increasingly looking at areas where they can still plan ahead and retain control. One such area is mobile connectivity, with strong growth recorded in the uptake of the Global Travel eSIM. The majority of those travelling internationally are opting for shorter trips, with 7-day, 10-day and 15-day data bundles with their eSIMs. This aligns with a broader shift towards shorter, more cost-conscious travel patterns.
“Customers are naturally looking for areas where they can cut down and stay in control of their spend without compromising their experience,” says Sashin Sookroo, CEO of FNB Connect. “They’re planning more carefully and choosing solutions that help them manage their spend upfront rather than dealing with surprises later. The Global Travel eSIM is designed to give customers that control by allowing them to manage their connectivity even before they depart.”
While flights and accommodation are often fixed, the cost of connectivity is one area that travellers can control. In nine out of ten countries, FNB Connect’s Global Travel eSIM is significantly cheaper than traditional roaming, with savings ranging from 22% to as much as 100%.
“Customers can reuse their Global Travel eSIMs whenever and wherever they need, plus all associated costs are quoted in rands so that what you see is what you get. This means you won’t get bill shock at the end of your trip. Think of it like a once-off purchase that can be recharged for different destinations in the same way that customers recharge for airtime,” explains Sookroo.
Beyond convenience, managing costs and avoiding unexpected charges remains a top priority for travellers.
“Connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have but it’s also an area where customers have historically had very little cost certainty. That’s why we’re seeing strong adoption of solutions that give customers more predictability and control.”
This is reflected in usage patterns. Smaller and mid-sized data bundles of up to 5GB make up 88% of purchases, suggesting that customers are selecting right-sized data options that support essential travel needs such as navigation, bookings, communication and secure access to banking services while abroad.
Beyond cost, there’s also a clear behavioural shift underway. Global Travel eSIM adoption has grown by 258% since April 2025, with sustained demand even outside of peak travel periods. While December remains the peak month, post-peak volumes in early 2026 have remained higher than pre-peak levels.
“This tells us that this isn’t just a seasonal trend,” says Sookroo. “Customers are becoming more comfortable with digital-first solutions, and once they experience the convenience, it becomes part of how they travel.”
The eSIM supports connectivity in over 200 destinations, and FNB is seeing strong demand across key international and regional routes. The top 10 destinations currently contribute almost 50% of sales and revenue, with the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Europe, Mozambique and the United States ranking high.
What’s changing is not just the product, but the role it plays. Connectivity is increasingly becoming the fuel to people’s lifestyles across the board. Travellers can activate Global Travel eSIM via the FNB Banking App 60 days before they depart, removing the need to search for connectivity after landing or connecting to potentially unsafe Wi-Fi, supported by full connectivity and real-time usage tracking to help them remain within budget or top up in advance.
“For us, it’s about making everyday moments simpler for customers,” Sookroo adds. “Travel can be stressful, especially in a higher-cost environment. If we can remove even one point of friction, like connectivity on arrival, that makes a meaningful difference to the overall experience. In a higher-cost world, convenience is no longer just about ease. It’s about making smarter decisions with every step of the journey.”
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