Afrihost AirMobile Explained

Airmobile is a virtual network provided by Afrihost, which runs off of MTN's infrastructure and network. Our aim with AirMobile is to offer clients Pure Mobile Joy.

Our decision to establish ourselves as a virtual network through MTN allows for greater control over services, network optimisation, and a more tailored mobile communication experience for our clients, contributing to the company's overall expansion and success.

AirMobile is offered on both a prepaid and monthly basis. Prepaid users have the flexibility to top up their data and airtime as needed in the AirMobile app.

AirMobile Monthly clients will receive their monthly airtime & data or data only on their selected package and will use their AirMobile SIM card or eSIM for service access.

Yes, Airmobile does have eSIM capability. This means that you can take advantage of electronic SIM cards for your devices, providing a more convenient and flexible way to activate and switch between mobile plans without the need for a physical SIM card. Simply sign up via the AirMobile app or Afrihost Website and select eSIM during the sign-up process.

You can simply do a SIM swap. Follow the SIM swap steps to change from a physical SIM card to an eSIM. You must be sure that your device is eSIM capable

Your eSIM is linked to your device. If you get a new device you simply delete it from the old device and add it to your new device.
If you no longer have access to the old device in order to delete it, you will need to request a SIM swap. This way the system will cancel your previous eSIM and allocate you a new one.

Yes, all SIM cards whether embedded or physical need to be RICA'd. We have made the RICA process quick and easy for you. Effortlessly upload your documents during the sign up process in ClientZone or the AirMobile App.

Please note that all SIM cards must be RICA'd by MIDNIGHT on the day of sign up. If you fail to do so, your AirMobile product will be suspended. The product will be activated again once all your RICA documents have been uploaded and verified

Afrihost utilises two different APNs to accommodate the distinct services offered through AirMobile and MTN. AirMobile operates as a separate virtual network, and thus, it has its own APN.

AirMobile users will have no access to MTN services beyond Afrihost offerings. The ws.air.mvno APN is tailored to the features and functionalities of AirMobile.

On the other hand, our Legacy Air Mobile (MTN) existing clients and those who prefer to use MTN SIM cards, the afrihost APN is retained. This allows users to continue using MTN prepaid SIM cards and access other MTN services outside of the Afrihost offerings.

As a Legacy Air Mobile client, you can port your mobile services over to the Afrihost AirMobile network.

Legacy Air Mobile Monthly products use MTN SIM cards, you can port your mobile services over to the Afrihost AirMobile MVNO.

Any airtime or data on your account will be transferred to your new AirMobile SIM.

Existing Legacy Air Mobile Data Only clients DO NOT have to do anything.

Their existing SIM card will continue working and they will remain on the same package and price.

• If a SIM card has not been used for 150 days meaning there’s been no data usage, calls, or top-ups it will be deactivated, and the number may then be recycled.

• Unfortunately, not. Once a number has been recycled, it’s returned to a shared pool and may be assigned to a new client for use.

• To keep your number active while you’re abroad, you can move it to a monthly airmobile package. For example, you can change your prepaid number to a data-only package, which helps ensure your number stays active and won’t be deactivated and recycled.

No, the Airmobile network is only limited to South Africa for now. Please do check back for updates as this may change in the future.

Yes, AirMobile offers international services. You can call an international number from South Africa using your AirMobile number. Please refer to our Mobile Call Rates guide in the AirMobile App or visit our Help Centre for information on supported countries, charges, and activation details.

AirMobile allocated monthly airtime (voice minutes) and data (bandwidth) is valid from the 1st (first) day of a calendar month in accordance with their selected AirMobile Monthly package.

Our system prioritises the utilisation of funds from your paid-for wallet when you top up before your promotional data expires, ensuring that paid-for services are consumed first before tapping into the promotional data.

No, Afrihost AirMobile users won't have access to MTN-provided services.

No, if you exhaust your data allocation, your airtime cannot be used to access the internet. Airtime and data are distinct components, and airtime credit cannot substitute for data usage once your data limit is reached.

No, AirMobile and legacy Air Mobile (MTN) are two different products and therefore cannot cross over. Only AirMobile to AirMobile clients can airshare.

Monthly allocated AirMobile airtime and data is valid from the 1st (first) day of a calendar month, and it will roll over until the last day of the following calendar month.

For example, AirMobile Monthly airtime and data allocated on 1 March will be valid until 30 April.

The rollover period will not exceed 31 days.

Yes, Top up Data will only expire at the end of the FOLLOWING month. This means that if you haven’t used all your monthly data by the end of the month, it will rollover to the next month.

For example, if you buy 100MB and you have 50MB left at the end of February, the 50MB of data will rollover to March, to use until the end of March.

You can view the expiry date of your data in the AirMobile App.

Yes, Airtime purchased within a calendar year will expire at the end of the following year.
For example, if airtime is bought in 2024, it will remain valid until the last day of 2025. You can view the expiry date of your airtime in the AirMobile App.

Yes, Allocated Data will only expire at the end of the following month. This means that if you haven’t used all of your monthly data by the end of the month, it will rollover to the next month.

For example, if you are allocated 3GB and you have 2GB left at the end of January, the 2GB of data will rollover to February, to use until the end of February.

You can view the expiry date of your data in the AirMobile App.

• Data top ups are valid until the end of the calendar month after the month in which it was allocated.

• For example, data allocated on the 15th of January will be valid until midnight on the last day of February.

• Airtime top-ups are valid until the end of the following year after it is allocated.

• For example, airtime allocated on the 15th of June 2024 will expire at midnight on the 31st of December 2025, the following year.

Yes, we support this functionality for most major banks, including FNB, Standard Bank, Capitec, Absa, and Nedbank.

Client Care:

• Dial 135 - Support
• Dial 136 - Account and Balance enquiry
• Dial 132 - Voicemails

USSD:

• ⁕135# - Product options - Main menu.
• ⁕136# - Balance menu.
• ⁕135⁕1# - Top-up menu.
• ⁕135⁕11# - Data menu.

• A Blu Voucher is a payment method that allows you to convert cash into digital currency. It’s a simple and secure way to make online payments without needing a bank card or account.

You can purchase Blu Vouchers at several outlets, including:

• Spar

• Dis-Chem

• Clicks

• OK Grocer

• Boxer

• Power Fashion

• Pick n Pay (including Express and Quick Save)

• Edgars

• Shoprite

• Checkers and Checkers Hyper

• Jwayelani

• Goal

• Engen

• MBT Petroleum

• FreshStop

• BP

• Sasol Delight

• Puma

• Fuel 1

• Gulf

• TotalEnergies

• Shell

• Standard Bank

• Nedbank

• Absa

• Capitec

• Discovery Bank

• C-Connect

• Kazang

• Blu Approved

• Glo Cell

• Blu Vouchers are valid for 36 months from the date of purchase.

• Once a voucher has expired, any remaining balance will no longer be valid and cannot be redeemed. Be sure to use your voucher before it expires.

• No, Blu Vouchers are redeemed in full.

Example:

If you buy R25 airtime using a R100 Blu Voucher, R25 will go toward your airtime top-up and the remaining R75 will be credited to your Afrihost Wallet. You can use that balance later for future top-ups or other purchases.

AirMobile leverages the extensive coverage of the MTN network, providing reliable and widespread coverage across the region. You can check our network coverage map.