DNI invests in KnowRoaming: what the deal means for travelers
Original editorial illustration. The map and connection paths are conceptual and do not represent a coverage guarantee.
South African investment group DNI has invested in travel eSIM provider KnowRoaming as part of more than R2.1 billion in announced connectivity, digital-services and fintech investments. The announcement was published on September 14, 2026, and KnowRoaming later said the partnership would support expansion across Africa and other international markets.
KnowRoaming has since launched KR.One, a reusable travel eSIM. Gadget reported the launch on October 8, and KnowRoaming now describes how customers can add later travel plans to the same installed profile. The amount DNI assigned specifically to KnowRoaming and its ownership percentage remain undisclosed.
The traveler takeaway: KR.One can save repeat installation on the same phone, but each trip still needs a suitable paid plan. Check its countries, allowance, validity and activation rules before buying.
What DNI and KnowRoaming confirmed
DNI's investment announcement covers several businesses: Frogfoot, Vox and Hypa, Mission Mobile, and KnowRoaming. The reported total exceeds R2.1 billion across that portfolio. It is not a R2.1 billion price tag for KnowRoaming alone.
The company says its KnowRoaming investment is intended to widen consumer distribution and the service's international footprint. ITWeb's September 14 report quotes KnowRoaming director Mike Roffey saying the partnership should accelerate growth across Africa and internationally.
A September 18 interview with Gadget adds more detail. Roffey said DNI could help KnowRoaming reach customers through more channels and invest faster in its platform and marketing. He also described banks, telecom businesses and travel platforms as distribution routes, alongside an enterprise service for employee travel data.
That points to wider availability over time. It does not establish which bank, mobile operator or travel platform will offer the service next, nor whether partner pricing will match KnowRoaming's direct website.
| Confirmed | Not published |
|---|---|
| DNI has invested in KnowRoaming | The amount allocated to KnowRoaming |
| The wider DNI investment program exceeds R2.1 billion | DNI's ownership percentage in KnowRoaming |
| Africa and international expansion are stated goals | A new country-by-country rollout schedule |
| KR.One is available as a reusable eSIM, with new plans added to its profile | Whether a particular destination plan or device meets a traveler's needs |
| Current KnowRoaming plans can still be bought through its existing channels | Any investment-driven price, allowance or refund change |
KR.One is the most relevant product announcement
KnowRoaming's KR.One product page says a customer installs one eSIM and adds a destination plan for each later trip. The profile stays on the same phone between journeys, so the traveler does not need a new profile for each purchase.
The distinction between an eSIM profile and a data plan matters. The profile is the digital SIM stored on the phone. A plan supplies a destination, allowance and validity period. Keeping one profile installed does not mean data stays active forever, that every country is included or that one price applies worldwide.
For customers with an older KnowRoaming eSIM, the change requires a new profile. According to the company's migration instructions, the next plan purchase adds KR.One to the phone. Unused data on the older eSIM does not transfer; the old plan can be used until its allowance or validity ends.
Before buying a plan, travelers should check:
- Whether their exact phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked
- Whether every destination on the itinerary is included in the selected plan
- When the plan begins and how long it has to be activated
- What happens if the phone is replaced or the profile is deleted
- The plan's allowance, hotspot rules and refund conditions
What the investment does not change for current trips
KnowRoaming recommends installing with a stable internet connection before departure, then selecting the travel eSIM for data and enabling data roaming on that line at the destination. Its current setup guidance explains the app and QR-code paths. If data does not connect, check the current instructions for the chosen plan rather than assuming every destination uses the same APN.
Its terms say packages must be activated within 90 days of purchase. KnowRoaming's plan explanation says validity starts when the plan connects in a supported country. Check the selected plan at checkout, particularly if a regional plan includes your departure country.
The investment announcement does not change these practical checks:
- Confirm that the exact phone variant supports eSIM and is network-unlocked.
- Read the country list for the plan, not the provider's general destination count.
- Check whether the package is data-only and whether hotspot use is stated.
- Note the activation trigger and validity period before installing.
- Keep the home SIM's data roaming off unless the home carrier's roaming is intentional.
- Save the QR code, manual installation details and support route before departure.
The refund boundary still depends on use
KnowRoaming's refund policy, last updated March 3, 2026, says a traveler can request a full refund when the eSIM has not been installed, or when it is installed but the data plan has not been activated. Once a plan is active, a full refund is not guaranteed. The company says it may consider a full or partial refund when less than 2% of the data has been used or when a service problem is directly related to KnowRoaming.
Requests must be made within 90 days of purchase, and no refund is issued after the plan's validity has expired. Review the live policy and any applicable offer terms before purchasing.
How OpenSim compares for current trips
KR.One can suit a frequent traveler who wants to keep one provider profile installed and buy a new plan before each journey. OpenSim is an alternative for travelers comparing country, regional and global data plans for a particular route. OpenSim publishes this article, so compare both providers' current terms before choosing.
On October 27, 2026, OpenSim listed a South Africa plan with 1 GB for seven days at USD 2.50. The public catalog identified that plan as eligible for top-up. The site also lists Africa and Global 120+ areas options for itineraries that include several covered destinations.
Prices and inventory can change. Not every OpenSim plan is reloadable. Check the selected card's allowance, validity, coverage, fair-use terms and top-up eligibility before checkout.
Neither provider wins every itinerary. A reusable profile has value when a traveler returns often and the next destination plan is available at a suitable price. A country or regional plan may be easier to compare when the immediate priority is a known route, allowance and validity. Check the actual plan rather than choosing on the provider-level destination count alone.
Questions travelers are asking about the DNI KnowRoaming investment
Did DNI buy KnowRoaming?
DNI says it invested in KnowRoaming. The public announcement does not disclose that DNI bought the entire company, nor does it state an ownership percentage. Describing the transaction as a full acquisition would go beyond the published facts.
How much did DNI invest specifically in KnowRoaming?
That amount has not been published. More than R2.1 billion covers DNI's wider set of investments in Frogfoot, Vox and Hypa, Mission Mobile, and KnowRoaming. It should not be presented as the KnowRoaming investment alone.
Is KR.One available now?
Yes. KnowRoaming now lists KR.One on its website and explains how to purchase and install it. Gadget reported the launch on October 8, 2026. Availability and the plans offered still depend on the destination and a compatible, unlocked phone.
Will KR.One let me install one eSIM for every trip?
KnowRoaming says you can keep the KR.One profile installed on the same phone and add a new plan for a later trip. Each plan has its own destination list, allowance and validity; the profile does not provide lifetime data.
Can existing KnowRoaming customers reuse their current profile?
Not as a KR.One profile automatically. KnowRoaming says the next purchase adds a new KR.One eSIM. Data remaining on the older profile does not transfer, so use it before its plan expires and check the migration instructions before removing it.
Does the investment add calls or SMS to KnowRoaming plans?
No new call or SMS feature was announced. Many travel eSIM packages are data-only, allowing internet calling and messaging apps while the home line handles its own calls and texts. Check the exact package rather than assuming a phone number is included.
Can I keep my home number active with a travel eSIM?
Usually, a dual-SIM phone can keep the home line available while using a travel eSIM for mobile data. Home-carrier voice, SMS and roaming charges can still apply. Select the travel eSIM as the data line and review the home carrier's settings before departure.
Does KnowRoaming allow hotspot use?
KnowRoaming's product page says KR.One supports hotspot sharing. Check the selected plan and phone before relying on it for a laptop: tethering uses the plan's data, and any daily high-speed limit still matters.
When should I install and activate a KnowRoaming eSIM?
KnowRoaming recommends installing with stable internet before departure and activating on arrival in a supported destination. Its current terms say packages must be activated within 90 days of purchase. The selected plan's checkout and instructions take priority.
Should I choose KnowRoaming or OpenSim?
Choose from the live plans for your itinerary. KR.One can be convenient for repeat trips on the same phone. OpenSim has country, Africa and global choices, including eligible top-ups. Compare each plan's coverage, price, allowance and validity before deciding.
What to watch next
The remaining questions are plan-specific: which destinations are included, how much data is provided, what the plan costs and what happens if a phone is replaced. KnowRoaming says moving to a new phone requires installing a profile again. Ask its support team about an active plan before deleting the old profile or changing devices.
DNI's distribution strategy also matters. A bank or mobile operator may bundle KnowRoaming differently from the direct website, with separate eligibility, benefits or pricing. Read the partner's terms before assuming that a direct KnowRoaming offer carries over.
How this guide will be updated
This guide uses DNI's investment announcement as carried by TechFinancials, reporting from ITWeb, Sunday Times and Gadget, and KnowRoaming's product, setup, terms and refund pages. The OpenSim South Africa example was checked against its public catalog and product page on October 27, 2026.
We will update this page when KnowRoaming changes material KR.One terms, DNI discloses a transaction detail that changes the traveler interpretation, or a confirmed partner rollout changes availability. Provider and package pages remain authoritative at booking time.
