Revolut Pushes Into Mobile With Telco-Fintech Crossover
British fintech Revolut is entering the mobile telecoms market with the launch of its own monthly phone plans in 2025, beginning in the UK and Germany.
The development is part of its move to become a multi-service digital platform and marks a shift in how fintechs and telcos can operate in parallel.
Revolut will offer unlimited calls, texts and data through a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) model.
As an MVNO, Revolut does not own its own telecoms infrastructure but instead leases capacity from established networks, enabling it to provide services without managing mobile towers or spectrum licences.
The service will include roaming in select regions and promises no long-term contracts.
Revolut's expansion into the telecoms industry
The entry into telecoms reflects Revolut’s ongoing expansion beyond core financial services.
Its eSIM product, launched in April 2024, laid the foundation for this next step into mobile.
Hadi Nasrallah, GM Telco & Retail Director at Revolut, explained in a LinkedIn post: “We see this as phase two of our original eSim product that was launched last April and has had millions of activations.
“Finally, as shared last week in our annual report, we've had 27 million downloads in 2024, being the number 1 finance app in Europe.
"We're focused on getting to 100 million daily active customers in 100 countries, telco would be a small part of that.”
Revolut’s strategy involves integrating mobile plans directly into its app.
Customers will be able to manage their phone services much like they already handle their money: with full transparency and control through a digital-first interface.
The mobile plans are designed to mirror the simplicity and flexibility of Revolut’s financial products, supporting the brand’s aim to remove complexity from everyday services.
Rather than launching as a mobile network operator (MNO), which would require costly infrastructure and regulatory hurdles, Revolut’s MVNO approach allows quicker and more agile market entry.
The strategy aligns with a growing trend among European fintechs to evolve into super-apps, bundling services like travel, crypto and now mobile into a single user experience.
This method highlights a regulatory advantage in Europe.
Tomaso Duso, Department Head at DIW Berlin and Chairman of the German Monopolies Commission, previously told Euronews: “It’s almost impossible to enter the EU market as an MNO, as access is tightly regulated and new spectrum licences are rarely awarded.
“In contrast, it's not too difficult for non-traditional players to enter the market as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), as they can lease capacity from existing networks without having to invest in their own infrastructure.”
While Tomaso's remarks were not made in response to Revolut’s announcement, they underline the strategic rationale for fintechs to choose the MVNO route.
Fintech meets mobile
Revolut’s approach is positioned as a challenge to traditional telecom providers.
Hadi adds: “Mobile offerings are ripe for disruption. Traditional providers have hidden fees, painful experiences and outdated UX. We're solving all three with a tech-led, transparent, value-first product.”
Its mobile service will initially target customers in the UK and Germany.
In the UK, users will be offered 20GB of roaming across the US and EU. German users will get 40GB of EU roaming. Domestic use includes unlimited data, calls and texts, with no fixed contracts.
Pricing will start at £/€12.50 per month as an introductory rate. Revolut users will be able to pay with loyalty points earned through the app’s rewards scheme and have the option to acquire a local phone number.
The pricing model and digital management system are aimed at mobile users looking for flexibility and ease.
Instead of dealing with complex roaming charges or unexpected fees, users manage everything through the Revolut app. This follows the company's principle of putting the user in control, a theme consistent across both its fintech and now telco services.
By adding telecoms to its ecosystem, which already includes eSIMs, hotel bookings and mortgages, Revolut positions itself as a digital companion to everyday life.
What impact will the launch have on mobile-focused fintechs?
Revolut’s telecoms launch is more than a new product.
It signals a growing convergence between fintech and telco, with both industries responding to users who expect flexibility, clarity and digital convenience.
By embedding mobile directly into its platform, Revolut alters traditional industry lines and challenges both banks and telecoms operators to rethink their offerings.
For fintech firms navigating saturated markets and margin pressures, vertical expansion into adjacent industries may provide a path forward.
Mobile is particularly appealing due to its daily relevance and the ability to reach customers where they spend most of their time — on their smartphones.
The announcement is part of a broader push among fintechs to own the ecosystem in which users manage their financial and digital lives.
Instead of focusing solely on financial products, Revolut now offers an integrated lifestyle platform, responding to user expectations for seamless, app-based experiences.
The shift may push legacy players to modernise, form partnerships or adopt white-label models to keep up. Banks could find themselves exploring telco integrations or loyalty schemes that mirror Revolut’s approach.
Ultimately, the fintech’s move into mobile underlines a transition toward cross-industry platforms where finance, communication and lifestyle intersect.
By bringing mobile under its umbrella, Revolut adds another layer to its digital proposition and sharpens its competitive edge.
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