Lyca Mobile Shuts Down in South Africa After Six Years

As of January 9, 2024, customers are advised to switch their numbers to other mobile networks to avoid any potential loss.

Phone calls, texts, and mobile data services are no longer available, along with the discontinuation of online top-ups and retail vouchers. Plans purchased at retail locations will expire on or before the closure date.

Lyca Mobile, originating in the UK in 2006, served over 15 million customers globally. It entered South Africa in 2017 through a partnership with local operator Cell C.

The closure follows financial challenges faced by Cell C, as reported in November 2023, including a declining user base and stagnant revenue.

Cell C sought additional financial support and transferred control of its spectrum, network, and service licences to The Prepaid Company (TPC), increasing TPC’s stake to a majority share.

In October 2023, Lyca Mobile experienced a cyberattack, causing disruptions globally, except in the United States, Australia, Ukraine, and Tunisia.

The shutdown impacts South Africa, a significant player in African Internet connectivity, scoring 100 points in the Africa e-Connectivity Index 2021 and ranking 52nd globally in broadband speeds as of August 2023.