Internet connection on the go: eSim, local cards, dedicated plans

Summer has begun and holidays are now in the air, if not already started for some. Many travellers are booking or finalising their trip, perhaps heading towards Japan, the United States or Australia, to discover local cultures and traditions and landscapes dreamed of for a lifetime.

The endless queues in search of a Local SIM cardperhaps in a country where little English is spoken, and then being forced to change it on your smartphone, are however a memory. Or at least, they can be. In fact, there are other solutions to avoid being disconnected while traveling or constantly searching for a Wi-Fi connection, which may be unsafe.

eSims: what they are and how they work

Many travellers are in fact opting for eSim, the new digital cards that allow you to connect anywhere in the world and surf online without having to purchase a physical card upon landing – to tell the truth, physical cards in some cases can even be ordered at home before departure. Like a traditional SIM, it is a plan that connects the device to the local partner mobile network but unlike the physical one, it is integrated into your device – usually it is installed by scanning a QR Code – and can be deactivated at any time. Not only that: it is independent of the usual operator – because the package connected to the eSim can be activated directly once landed – and works entirely digitally, making connectivity accessible and also more respectful towards the environment, because it limits the consumption of plastic for production and packaging.

eSims have been launched several years ago but in recent years they are taking off both for home use – for example in phones with only one slot but which support them, so as to have two numbers – and as cheap alternative for data connectivity abroadespecially outside the European Union where – as we have explained on other occasions – the connection is guaranteed by regulations such as the regulation Roaming like at home. The package proposals are extremely flexible and allow you to select the availability of gigabytes and the validity period, even if for many they still represent a relatively new technology.

In short, you can think of an eSim as a classic SIM card but in digital format that allows you to download data while you are abroad without the possibility of connecting to the network through your operator – not because there are no agreements but because the packages offered by operators are often expensive and guarantee few GB of data.

Airalo

An example of how to activate the service is Airalothe leading global eSim marketplace that offers the possibility to download and install an integrated eSim on your smartphone in just a few clicks, thus giving you access to a prepaid data package in over 200 destinations.

The over 10 million users who rely on Airalo during their trips abroad can access the service in 53 languages ​​and connect without roaming limits. To get an eSim, simply visit the site or download the app, select the country or region you will be visiting and choose a specific plan with the right data limit and validity period based on the length of the trip. To activate it, you will not need to add or change physical cards but only an unlocked phone that supports eSims. In addition, with Airalo it is also possible to connect multiple devices to the same eSim package by configuring a Hotspot mobile and sharing data with another nearby device.

Other solutions

Even network operators, such as Tim And Vodafonehave adopted this technology to improve their customers’ experience, offering rates and plans connected to eSim based on the amount of gigabytes, minutes and text messages needed, with the possibility of browsing in 5G. The services can be managed directly through the MyTim and My Vodafone apps, allowing customers to have total control over their telephone line. Perhaps activating, in the case of trips abroad outside the EU, dedicated rate plans such as Tim in Travel Pass which – for the EU, USA, Canada and Brazil – offers 10 GB, 500 text messages and 500 minutes of calls for 30 days at 20 euros.

In addition to eSims, there is always the (old) possibility of buy a physical SIM directly on site, for example in airports, kiosks and shops before or after customs checks, with the disadvantage of having to face some queues and the possibility of connecting only after having physically changed your SIM.