The telecommunications operator, which is owned by JSE-listed MTN Group, said on Wednesday that it will deploy a digital ID system with real-time biometrics across all its stores nationwide.
The roll-out follows a six-month pilot in 20 of the companys stores, where the biometric identification system significantly improved onboarding efficiency and reduced identity fraud.
The new system allows for real-time fingerprint and facial recognition during customer onboarding or re-identification, enabling faster processing of contract applications and dramatically reducing the risk of identity-related fraud. This is particularly crucial in an era where Sim swap and identity fraud remain widespread threats, said MTN South Africa executive for customer operations Cornelia van Heerden in a statement.
This biometric system not only simplifies onboarding it also assists in fraud prevention."