Partner case · Telecom (MVNO)

Univasa and how they turned into a global travel connectivity brand

A regional Nigerian MVNO became a travel-tech connectivity brand with coverage in 150+ destinations — in 12 months, without building a single piece of local infrastructure.

The client

About the client

Univasa began as a registered Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) headquartered in Nigeria. The company built its early reputation on affordable internet and IT solutions across West Africa, developing strong technical expertise as a telecom and infrastructure provider.
At its core, Univasa ran a diversified regional business spanning connectivity, voice, SMS, and enterprise IT support — but its growth remained tied to the physical and regulatory limits of traditional telecom infrastructure.
Before
Physical SIMs only, regional licensing, local revenue base.
After
Global eSIM product, 150+ destinations, travel-tech positioning.

Pain points & goals

Where the business was constrained, and what it set out to achieve.
!
Main challenges
Regional infrastructure dependency. Growth tied to local licensing and physical telecom infrastructure.
Expansion barriers. Difficult to scale internationally beyond core U.S. and Nigeria markets.
Margin pressure. Strong competition in low-margin, traditional telecom services.
Limited brand recognition. Minimal visibility outside regional markets.
Revenue concentration. Heavy reliance on local usage and enterprise contracts.
Business & strategy objectives
Global market entry. Expand instantly into international markets.
Travel-focused product. A digital connectivity product for travelers, with no physical infrastructure.
New revenue streams. Income from a global user base beyond core telecom services.
Enterprise distribution. Channels with airports, airlines, and travel agencies.
Brand repositioning. Stronger positioning as a travel-tech provider.
Together, these constraints created the need for a scalable, borderless product that could extend beyond geography.

Why esimba.ai?

Univasa selected esimba.ai for its ready-made global provisioning infrastructure, enabling instant eSIM coverage across 150+ destinations without negotiating local telecom contracts or building physical infrastructure market by market.
150+
Destinations, day one
Global provisioning already in place — no local contracts to negotiate.
API
API-first architecture
eSIM plugs directly into Univasa's existing systems and billing flow.
B2B
Travel-industry ready
Built-in enterprise support opened a fast path into airport, airline, and agency channels.

The solution

Implementation

esimba.ai worked with Univasa to launch a fully integrated, travel-focused eSIM product.
1
Keepgo API integration
Connected Univasa's platform to Keepgo's global eSIM provisioning network.
2
Seamless system connection
Integrated with existing infrastructure for a smooth user flow, without disrupting core operations.
3
Custom payment gateway
Region-specific payment methods configured for Univasa's client base.
4
Partnership enablement
Built the foundation for distribution through airports, airlines, and travel agencies.
5
Strategic positioning
Repositioned eSIM as a core travel product rather than a telecom add-on.

Results & key impact

Sales started coming in after the first 6 months and peaked at the one-year mark.
10X
Growth in 12 months
From a product that didn't exist in their lineup.
7,500
eSIMs sold
Direct-to-consumer and via partner channels.
$15K+
Net profit
On wholesale rates that kept end-user prices competitive.
190+
Destinations reached
Scaled with zero local infrastructure.
Key impact
Business repositioning
Evolved from a regional telecom/IT provider into a global travel-tech connectivity brand.
Core growth driver
eSIM became a central growth product, scaling across 190+ destinations without local infrastructure.
Traveler touchpoints
The Univasa brand sits directly inside key traveler journeys.
Instant regional launch
New regions go live through partnerships rather than physical rollout.
Partnerships unlocked
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
Wakanow — major travel platform
Regional airline & travel partners

Ready to turn your telecom brand into a global travel connectivity powerhouse?

Launch your branded eSIM platform in days with esimba.ai.

More partner cases

Nikana: Accommodation platform

After onboarding Nikana as a managed web store partner, we built a dedicated eSIM subdomain, Nikana eSIM, with zero changes to property operations. Full implementation took 10 days, and the results after 5 months were substantial.

Learn more →

Global blockchain ecosystem embedded in Telegram

We embedded esimba.ai's eSIM store as a native Mini App directly inside the Telegram environment, fully managed via API. Integration supported hybrid payments with one-click installation on iOS and Android across 150+ countries.

Learn more →