Smartphone instalment plans once felt like a fringe solution in South Africa — a way for low-income earners to access devices through rigid agreements and high risk. But today, this model has evolved. What was once a narrow market has widened into a new standard for mobile accessibility, with more players, better terms, and smarter tech behind it.
Back in 2023 and early 2024, we explored how platforms like FoneYam, PayJoy, M-Kopa and Africa Mobile were quietly reshaping the way people financed phones. At the time, the conversation revolved around access: “How do we get devices into more hands?” Now, the question has shifted. It’s not just about access anymore — it’s about affordability, flexibility, and digital inclusion at scale.
The biggest change is that financing no longer stands alone. We’re now seeing a merging of services — financing plus device insurance, plus mobile data, plus upgrade options. In short, phone financing has become an ecosystem.
Take the rise of fintech–telco partnerships. Traditional lenders were often unwilling to work with low-credit or unbanked customers, but now tech-driven solutions are turning usage behaviour into credibility. Customers who pay their instalments on time are not just keeping their phones — they’re building financial identities. Platforms are becoming smarter, using AI to assess risk and offer more adaptive repayment plans. It’s a sign that South Africa’s digital economy is beginning to reflect real local behaviour, not just credit scores.
In 2025, to not own a smartphone is to be locked out of economic participation. Banking, job applications, school portals — everything runs through your phone. The real cost of disconnection is no longer just social — it’s structural. And that’s exactly why flexible ownership models are now a necessity, not a luxury.
We’ve also seen a cultural shift. Previously, ownership was the status goal — now, utility and uptime matter more. People want devices that work, come with support, and don’t break the bank if they’re lost or stolen. That’s led to a rise in bundled offerings: a solid phone, monthly repayments, data, insurance and repair support — all packaged into a single fee.
South Africa’s telecom and retail players are paying attention. Device financing is no longer just an NGO model or bottom-of-the-pyramid experiment. It’s being folded into MVNO strategies, retail loyalty schemes and even employer benefit programmes.
At Evercomm, we believe this trend opens major opportunities — not just for mobile networks and OEMs, but for tech providers who want to power these systems behind the scenes. The future isn’t just about selling devices — it’s about building long-term, tech-enabled customer relationships.
Phone financing has grown up. It’s no longer a stopgap — it’s the new normal. With more intelligent systems, fairer terms, and deeper market reach, we’re seeing a quiet revolution in how South Africans connect to the world.
And it’s just beginning.
