On Friday 27th September, Africell launched its latest service the Electronic SIM which can only be found in places like the Americas, Europe and Asia. Sierra Leone is the first country in the sub-region to have started using E-SIM; thanks to the vision and effective planning of the management of Africell.
The launch which attracted a galaxy of journalists, business professionals, and artists including Rose who performed a remarkable music and dance scene as an opener to the brief but heart-throbbing event, was held at Catco Hotel, Wilkinson Road in Freetown
Station Manager of AfriRadio, John Konteh, who launched E-SIM, took his time to explain to his excited audience how the new E-SIM works and the benefits that could be derived by users. He touched on the added security features the E-SIM service offers and further explained how the system can be accessed, used and maintained.
According to him, like the ordinary SIM card which every mobile phone user is au fait with, the E-SIM provides all the same services and even more and better. “Once you are connected to our system with your E-SIM, you can even throw away your ordinary SIM,” Konteh informed his thrilled audience.
The only snag is that the E-SIM only works on two phones: an iPhone or a Google Phone and only after they are connected to the Africell system. He added that though Africell would have loved to extend this service to holders of other models of mobile phones, it is only these two models that phone manufacturers have built that are compatible to E-SIM system. He added however that, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, other models of mobile phones would be compatible to using E-SIM. “The beauty of it all is that once you are linked to our network via E-SIM, subscribers will be able to make and receive calls and have instant access to the internet,” Mr. Konteh who doubles as Manager AfriRadio informed his audience.
On how subscribers can be connected to the system, Mr. Konteh pointed out that with E-SIM, there is no need for the normal SIM card because the SIM card would immediately replaced electronically once the connection is done. He added that subscribers with iPhones or Google phones need go to any of Africell’s many outlets across the country or the headquarters at Wilberforce to exchange their SIM cards to E-SIM service.
He explained to his attentive audience that subscribers could either retain their number if they wish to or have the option of choosing one of five 5 platinum numbers for use as their E-SIM account with Africell. “Once that is done, a Bar Code will be generated and all your details from your ordinary SIM card transferred to the E-SIM service and wham, you are connected and you will be able to make and receive calls and browse the internet without a normal SIM card,” Mr. Konteh said.
He maintained that for subscribers using Africell for the first time, the usual regulatory practice of collecting their bio-data which involves producing authentic identification documents and other personal information is followed through, after which, the customer will choose one from among 5 platinum numbers as his choice after which, a bar code will be generated and this will then be scanned onto the phone and the customer is automatically to the Africell network.
