Travelling abroad involves navigating new streets, cultures, and languages. This makes our phones a key part of the experience as you can quickly look up something or translate signs, text, and audio. But for most of these services, you need an internet connection, which is another hurdle in itself.
The good thing is that this one can be easily solved using an eSIM. It helps travellers stay connected no matter where they are and how many borders they cross. But exactly what is an eSIM?
In this guide, we’ll look at the details you need to know about travel eSIMs before you board your plane.
What is a travel eSIM?
Our phones can only connect to the internet through an internet service provider, whether that’s through a network carrier like EE or a Wi-Fi hotspot. When you don’t have Wi-Fi, you need to connect to a carrier through a SIM, but it can either be physical or virtual.
The virtual options are referred to as eSIMs, and they rely on a chip that’s embedded in the phone’s hardware instead of a physical plastic card. A travel eSIM provider uses this chip to connect you to a local network, just like any physical card would. The provider usually has an agreement with different network providers.
Getting a travel eSIM plan helps avoid using local network roaming, which is often unpredictable and quite expensive.
How a travel eSIM works
In physical SIM cards, network carrier data is stored in the chip of the card. In eSIMs, it’s stored virtually, taking advantage of the embedded chip that comes as part of the phone’s hardware. Then, when you activate the eSIM, it automatically connects you to a network and lets you use data, make calls, and send and receive messages, just like you would with a traditional SIM.
However, a key point to note here is that the services you get depend on your eSIM provider and plan. Most travel eSIMs only offer data services since most travellers rely on platforms like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and iMessages for communication.
Activating an eSIM is usually straightforward. Most providers send a QR code to your email, and you only need to scan it to set it up. Others offer the alternative of installing an app, which then sends eSIM data to your phone.
When you travel and your phone detects a new network, your eSIM will prompt you to activate its services.
Benefits of using a travel eSIM
A travel eSIM offers several benefits that make it an increasingly popular option for travellers.
Convenience without swapping SIMs
You don’t have to buy an overpriced SIM card at the airport or remove and replace cards. You only need to buy a plan, and you’ll be online from the minute you land.
Flexibility for changing plans or destinations
If you decide to go with physical SIM cards, you’ll need to get a new one every time you cross a border. When using an eSIM, all you need to do is change your plan. Some even offer regional plans, like an EU plan. When you have such a plan, you can move from one country to another without ever worrying about connectivity.
Cost savings compared to roaming
Traditional roaming can be quite expensive, and the charges are often not predictable. eSIMs give users competitive rates as they have a chance to compare plans and providers. You can then buy a plan that aligns with how you use your phone, with options ranging from 1 GB to unlimited monthly data.
Immediate access to essential services
An eSIM allows you to set up everything before you leave. Install the eSIM data using your home Wi-Fi or a data connection and disable roaming for your local card. Immediately you land or cross a border, your phone will prompt you to activate your travel eSIM. No need to queue at the airport to buy an overpriced SIM card.
These benefits make a travel eSIM a practical choice for travellers who want a smooth and reliable connection when travelling abroad.
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