South Africa, Aug. 11 -- MTN claims to be the first mobile operator in South Africa to implement this biometric digital ID technology at scale. The rollout aims to simplify contract applications and enhance security in a sector where SIM swap and identity fraud remain significant challenges.

Cornelia van Heerden, executive for customer operations at MTN South Africa, said the system was designed to streamline customer journeys without compromising convenience.

"Our objective was simple. We wanted a customer-first solution that streamlines processes while addressing the growing challenge of fraud in the telecoms space," she said.

The biometric system was developed in partnership with Vigilate AI, a global biometric technology provider. ...