Shepherd Bushiri Ministries International, led by Shepherd Bushiri, has launched its own mobile virtual network.
The MVNO, known as PSB Network, is enabled by local telecoms firm MVN-X on the back of Cell C’s network.
PSB Network will offer voice calls at 99c/minute (on per-second billing) and a range of data options, starting at R10 for 15MB (67c/MB) and going up to R250 for 2GB (12c/MB).
The CEO of the MVNO is Steve Bailey, who is former head of Virgin Mobile in South Africa. According to Bailey, church communities represent a huge opportunity to launch MVNOs. He added that “The whole MVNO space is getting hot and by 2020 it could represent as much as 10% of the total mobile market in South Africa.”
The commercial director of PSB Network, Dave Wheatley, said that the MVNO is targeting 50 000 subscribers over the next year and has already signed up 5 000 customers. Prophet Shepherd Bushiri (PSB) Ministries claims to have around two million followers.
During the launch, PSB-branded ready activated SIM Cards were issued out for free, a strategy which saw thousands of people getting connected on the network.
Sharing the business’ projections, the Malawi-born Bushiri said that PSB Connect will shortly establish over 70 thousand WiFi hotspot centres throughout South Africa, to be followed by several other exciting initiatives.
