Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a panel of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide reliable, secure, and scalable mobile data network connectivity services across Postbank sites nationwide. The appointed MNO(s) will support existing Card Replacement Programme (CRP) sites and a wide range of current and future banking services, ensuring continuous network coverage, redundancy, and improved service reliability to facilitate efficient banking operations, customer onboarding, digital initiatives, and regulatory compliance.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Provision of nationwide mobile data connectivity supporting 4G/LTE and 5G where available.
• Support for existing CRP sites across all nine provinces and potential deployment at new sites such as branches and remote locations.
• Reports confirming signal strength at designated Postbank sites to determine the strongest available network provider per location.
• 24/7 support services, including incident management and escalation procedures.
• Secure activation and onboarding of SIM cards.
• Provision of a management portal for monitoring data usage, connectivity status, and service performance.
• Support for network redundancy mechanisms such as SIM roaming and multi-MNO capabilities.
• Compliance with South African data privacy and security regulations (POPIA, FICA, etc.).
• Support for additional messaging services like SMS, USSD, and related integration capabilities (not part of current evaluation but to be confirmed).

Technical Requirements

The technical specifications include:

• Nationwide coverage with reliable connectivity, including urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
• Support for minimum 4G/LTE and 5G networks with automatic fallback/roaming.
• Target transaction response times within 3 seconds under normal conditions.
• Network availability target of 90% monthly, excluding planned maintenance.
• Seamless integration of SIM cards with Postbank’s infrastructure, supporting secure routing and traffic management.
• Sufficient signal strength and bandwidth to support critical banking applications, even in semi-urban and rural areas.
• Provision of network resilience through multi-MNO capabilities and roaming options.
• Compliance with South African data privacy laws, with data stored within South Africa unless otherwise approved.
• Provision of proof of licensing as a licensed MNO or authorized network service provider.

Skills Requirements

The bidder must demonstrate:

• Capability to deliver nationwide mobile data services with extensive coverage and support for 4G/LTE and 5G technologies.
• Experience in managing large-scale mobile network support, including incident resolution and service management.
• Ability to provide secure SIM activation, onboarding, and integration with existing banking infrastructure.
• Provision of a management platform for real-time monitoring, reporting, and alerting on network performance and usage.
• Compliance with relevant South African regulations (POPIA, FICA, etc.) and data privacy standards.
• Capability to support additional messaging services such as SMS and USSD, with scalable capacity for high-volume campaigns.
• Proven track record in supporting banking or financial services environments with high security and reliability standards.