Insights on Mission Mobile & The Future Of Mobile Innovation.

Q: For those who haven’t heard of Mission Mobile before, how do you describe what you do?

A: At its simplest, we help mobile operators capture demand they’re currently losing. Every day, MNOs are turning customers away after a failed credit vet. We step in at that moment with a second-look process that right-sizes the offer to what the customer can actually afford. The end result is fewer declines, more activations, and happier customers - without the operator taking on extra risk.

Q: What problem are you solving for MNOs specifically?

A: Operators spend heavily to drive traffic into their channels, whether online or in-store. But when someone walks away unserved because they didn’t pass traditional credit vetting, that spend is wasted. On top of that, prepaid ARPU is capped, and postpaid growth is slowing. Our solution gives operators a new growth lever: converting those “lost” customers into long-term subscribers, with products and repayment structures that make sense for them.

Q: How does this actually work in practice?

A: The customer applies as normal. If they’re declined, instead of walking away, they get a second look through Mission Mobile. We connect directly alternative data, assess risk in real time, and then match them to the right device and plan. To the customer, it feels seamless. To the operator, it’s virtually zero lift.

Q: You often talk about “thin-file customers.” Why is this such an important focus?

A: Because they represent a huge missed opportunity. In markets like South Africa, more than 40% of potential customers don’t have the credit history to pass a bureau check. But that doesn’t mean they’re bad customers. Many are salaried, stable, and just under-served by the current system. By moving from a history-based view to a cash-flow view, operators can unlock entirely new segments that would otherwise remain stuck in prepaid.

Q: What do MNOs get out of this beyond the extra activations?

A: A few big things:

• Higher ARPU, because customers migrate into in-bundle usage rather than burning out on prepaid.

• Lower early churn and fewer clawbacks.

• A better in-store experience. Consultants don’t have to send customers away disappointed -they can still complete the sale. That builds trust and turns the retail store into more than a top-up counter; it becomes a place where real problems get solved.

Q: How heavy is the integration for an operator who wants to work with you?

A: Surprisingly light. We built MM to be virtualised - there’s no big systems project or capex required. We plug into existing on-biller processes, and the operator continues to control the line. Commercially, it’s simple too: they share in both the tariff OGR and the handset revenue.

Q: Why do you call Mission Mobile a “growth lever” rather than just another product?

A: Because this isn’t about adding another tariff or running another promotion. MNOs already have those tools. What we’re offering is a way to unlock growth from customers they’re currently walking away from. It’s a lever they can pull without extra spend, without capex, and without pushing risk back onto their balance sheet. That’s very different to how most growth initiatives in telecoms are framed.

Q: How do you think about risk, both for the operator and for Mission Mobile?

A: Risk management is built into our model from day one. The operator doesn’t carry the risk on their books, we do. That’s why we can be aggressive in capturing demand while still keeping repayment performance in line.

Q: What kind of response have you seen so far from customers who come through Mission Mobile?

A: Very positive. A lot of people see the phone as a productive asset, it helps them work, study, or run a business. For someone who’s been declined elsewhere, being given a fair second chance and walking out with a phone they can afford creates real goodwill. We’ve also seen that when customers are onboarded this way, they tend to stick. It builds loyalty from the start.

Q: Finally, what’s your ambition for Mission Mobile over the next few years?

A: To become the default second-look and hybrid engine for operators across Africa, and eventually other emerging markets. If we can consistently help MNOs capture demand, grow revenues, and serve customers who’ve been overlooked by the traditional model, then we’ve done our job.