Gigs Enters Asia with ShopBack, Fueling Super-App Connectivity Race

SINGAPORE – May 08, 2026 – Connectivity platform Gigs has officially launched in the Asia-Pacific region through a landmark partnership with rewards giant ShopBack, a move that signals a new front in the battle for consumer engagement. The deal enables ShopBack to embed a travel eSIM service directly within its app, allowing its millions of users to purchase and manage mobile data plans for international trips without ever leaving the platform.

The partnership marks a significant milestone for Gigs, a well-funded startup that provides the underlying technology for companies to offer their own branded mobile services. Following successful integrations with fintech titans like Revolut and Klarna in Europe and the US, this entry into Asia's dynamic, mobile-first market via ShopBack represents a major strategic expansion and a validation of the growing trend of embedded connectivity.

The Super-App Evolution

This collaboration is more than just a new feature; it's a prime example of the ongoing evolution of consumer platforms into all-encompassing 'super-apps.' In the race to capture user loyalty and increase engagement, tech companies are increasingly bundling essential daily services with their core offerings. Research indicates that customers using multiple products from a single financial provider have a churn rate that is 25% lower, a powerful incentive for platforms to diversify.

Gigs' model is purpose-built for this new reality. By providing a "telecom-as-a-service" platform, it allows companies like ShopBack to add mobile connectivity in a matter of weeks, a process that would traditionally take over a year and involve navigating complex regulatory hurdles. This agility has powered similar moves by other major players. Revolut, for instance, launched its own Gigs-powered eSIM that quickly became its most-used non-financial product, later expanding to full mobile plans in the UK. Similarly, payments firm Klarna recently launched a mobile plan for its 25 million US customers, aiming to transform its app into a daily-use digital platform.

For ShopBack, integrating travel connectivity is a strategic move to solidify its position in the lucrative travel vertical. The platform, which already helps users earn cashback on flights and hotels, can now extend its value proposition to the moment a traveler lands in a new country.

"Travel is a key category for ShopBack and connectivity is a fundamental part of that experience," said Neetesh Pansare, Director of New Verticals at ShopBack. "Being connected should not be a luxury, it is truly essential. Not having to hunt down a local SIM or worry about roaming fees the moment you arrive: that is exactly what making every trip more rewarding looks like."

Gigs' Global Play for a Trillion-Dollar Market

Backed by $100 million in funding from prominent investors including Ribbit Capital, Google, and Y Combinator, Gigs has established itself as the global leader in this emerging category. Its platform powers mobile services for a combined distribution footprint of over 850 million users through partners like Revolut, Klarna, Nubank, and NETGEAR. The company's expansion into Asia-Pacific was a calculated next step.

"ShopBack is exactly the kind of partner that defines what Gigs is built for: a platform with massive scale, deep user trust, and a genuine commitment to go further for its customers," commented Rafa Plantier, Vice President of Growth at Gigs. He described the partnership as a "landmark moment" and a "validation that every great consumer product can and should include connectivity."

While the APAC market is crowded with traditional mobile operators and dedicated travel eSIM providers like Airalo and Holafly, the Gigs-ShopBack model introduces a powerful new dynamic. By embedding the service within a trusted, high-frequency app and tying it to a rewards ecosystem, it bypasses the need for users to seek out and download yet another single-purpose application. The ability to earn Cashback on data top-ups provides a compelling, built-in marketing and retention tool that standalone competitors cannot easily replicate.

A Seamless Experience for the Connected Traveler

The new service is designed to eliminate common travel frustrations. ShopBack users can now discover, activate, and manage their international data plans entirely within the app. The offering is built on a "one eSIM for life" model; once the digital SIM is installed, it works in over 160 countries. Travelers can simply top up their data as needed for any trip, earning cashback on every purchase. The feature also allows users to share eSIMs with travel companions directly from the app, adding another layer of convenience.

The service launches immediately in several of ShopBack's key markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan region, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany, reflecting the global nature of its user base. This focus on a frictionless user experience—from instant activation to in-app management—is central to the value proposition, aiming to make international connectivity as simple as any other digital purchase.

As Gigs looks to secure more partners in the region—targeting fintechs, airlines, and other multi-service platforms—this launch sets a powerful precedent. It demonstrates how deeply integrated services can transform a user's relationship with a brand, turning a transactional platform into an indispensable travel and lifestyle companion. The convergence of finance, rewards, and essential utilities is no longer a futuristic concept but a tangible reality, and Asia-Pacific is poised to become its most important battleground.