Telkom is a South African mobile network provider renowned for its generous data packs and low-priced prepaid SIM cards. They are also known for convenient recharging, reasonable usage-based plans, and a widespread LTE network. Users won’t fear venturing into the rural parts of the country, either. Some bundles include roaming benefits whenever you must switch to another carrier’s 2G, 3G or LTE network, say Vodacom. However, none of this matters unless you can learn how to activate a Telkom SIM card. As you’ll see below, that process is rigorous.
1. Activate your Telkom SIM card online
Tourists or newcomers to South Africa are surprised by the meticulousness of the registration process. This stems from the RICA (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) law. It was passed by the government to curb cybercrime and impersonation and cut off anonymous forms of communication among lawbreakers. Therefore, before a carrier can activate any SIM card, it must be registered under an organization or a person. With that said, here’s how the activation of a Telkom SIM card works:
1. Prepare necessary things
You can scramble to gather the stuff you need on the go, as the procedure isn’t time-limited. However, it’s far more efficient to have it handy before you start. You’ll need the following:
- Your personal information. First and last name, e-mail address, address, any SIM card phone numbers you have.
- Your SIM card’s ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier). This is a 20-digit number printed on the back of the SIM card pack Telkom sent you. Otherwise, check method 4 of learning how to identify a SIM card carrier.
- RSA ID, i.e., an ID of the Republic of South Africa. If you aren’t a citizen, you’ll have to provide another form of identification, depending on the country.
- Proof of residence. Anything that shows you live at a location you provided — store account, bank statement, utility bill. They must not be older than 3 months.
- A smartphone with a camera. You must take a selfie to prove your identity.
- A phone with a working Telkom SIM (Optional). The data you consume during the registration is zeroed from your bill. Ideal if you’re away from Wi-Fi or have a metered plan.
2. Visit the RICA page on Telkom’s official website to begin
To begin the procedure, visit the Telkom RICA page. Click on the START RICA button in the bottom right corner. You’ll be taken to a “Telkom For Me” page. You can also switch to “Telkom For My Business” in the top left corner, but we won’t cover that process at this time. Start by entering your first and last name, a 13-digit RSA ID, and your ICCID. When you’re done, click on Next.
3. Fill out personal details, then verify with RICA
You’ll be asked to provide the contact details we mentioned above. However, that’s merely so Telkom can e-mail you a link and send an SMS on how to continue the RICA process. You must continue the authentication on the RICA website (https://ricaonline.co.za/) after following the link. This will take you to the Subscriber Registration page, then require you to fill out additional details, such as the nationality of your ID if you aren’t South African, passport expiration date, and more.
4. Upload a copy of your ID and proof of residence
After you complete step 3, the rest takes place on Telkom’s official website. At this point, you must take a picture or scan your RSA ID. The picture must be uploaded in JPG, JPEG, PDF, or PNG format, as the website won’t accept any other. With that done, proceed with uploading evidence of residence, some of which we mentioned above. The file format limitations apply here, too.
5. Take a selfie
You’ve reached the end of the road. The final step includes taking a picture of yourself, with or without holding out your ID, depending on what Telkom requires of you. Unlike the two steps above, you can take a picture directly if you’re accessing the website from a mobile phone. With that submitted, your part is finished. The carrier has your application and gears begin turning in the background.
6. Confirm your Telkom SIM card is activated
Officially, it takes approximately 2 hours for a RICA-activated SIM card to start working fully. You’ll receive a confirmation SMS and an e-mail when that happens. However, depending on the number of requests, it may take up to a day. Users can also try dialing Telkom SIM card USSD codes, such as *101# or *188#, to check, although this won’t expedite the process. Additionally, international roaming won’t be enabled by default. You must fill out a separate application after logging in with your account, which takes a few minutes at best.
2. Contact Telkom Customer Support
If you fail to activate a Telkom SIM card via the default method, there are other avenues to explore. You can reach Telkom Customer Service in these ways:
- Physical store. Use Telkom’s Store Locator feature to find the location closest to you.
- Contact Form. Click on Talk to us at the bottom of the home page, then Chat with an agent. Available Monday-Friday, 08 AM-5 PM, and on Saturday 08 AM-1 PM.
- Call them. Same as above, but select Give us a call instead. Choose a department, and you’ll see a phone number.
- Social media. Telkom is available on Twitter and Facebook under @TelkomZA and on Instagram as @telkom_za.
- Mobile application. An application named Telkom App lets you seek help with troubleshooting on Android and iOS.
- E-mail. Send a message to [email protected]. Don’t reveal your personal details unless asked.
3. Purchase a RICA activated Telkom SIM card
This is a common alternative for users without a permanent residence, an RSA ID, or a company in the country. It’s also drastically faster, as the most time-consuming procedure is out of the picture, and you can pick fast shipping. We can’t vouch for any third-party vendors, so take your pick after looking into their reputation. After you insert the SIM card, depending on the seller, you can either use it immediately or must enter a specific USSD code beforehand.