When traveling abroad, staying connected to the Internet and being able to make calls has become essential for many people. eSIM, or electronic SIM, offer a convenient and flexible solution for accessing mobile phone services around the world without having to physically change your device’s SIM card. In this article, we’ll explore what eSIMs are, how they work, and how you can use them to get internet and phone calls while traveling abroad.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a virtual version of a traditional SIM card, which is usually embedded directly into the mobile device. Unlike physical SIMs, eSIMs are configured, activated and deactivated via software. This means you don’t have to physically insert or remove a SIM card when you want to change operator or when you travel abroad.
Why use eSIMs for internet and phone calls abroad?
Using eSIMs for internet and phone calls abroad offers a lot of flexibility and convenience during international travel. It is still possible to purchase disposable virtual cards directly from one of the telephone operators in the country you are planning to go to. This guarantees very advantageous prices compared to classic international telephony offers.
Buying an eSIM is very simple and takes very little time. In fact, numerous services are available that allow you to do this. The simplest method is certainly to download an app like Airalo or Holafly which offer a wide range of eSIMs from mobile operators all over the world at very affordable prices.
How does Airalo work?
During my last trip to Thailand I tried Airalo and I must say that I was very satisfied with the experience.
Once you have indicated the country in which you want to purchase the eSIM, the application offers a series of options to choose from depending on your needs. The offers usually have a duration that varies between 7 and 30 days and it is possible to choose between different plans based on the number of GB of internet or phone call minutes included.
The prices are really competitive compared to the classic telephone operators that I had tried to contact before leaving (personally I saved around 60%). I also never had any connection problems during the trip.
Disposable eSIMs can be purchased and activated in just a few steps:
- Before proceeding, make sure your device supports eSIMs. Most of the latest generation smartphones offer this functionality, but I recommend checking in the device settings.
- Choose an offer and purchase the eSIM that suits your travel needs. This can be done online through the provider’s website or app.
- After purchase, you will receive a QR code via email or through the eSIM service app. This QR code is essential to activate your card. Alternatively, you can manually enter the activation code.
- Follow the instructions provided by the platform to activate your SIM using the QR code. This process may vary slightly depending on your device and the service you choose.
I recommend activating the virtual offer shortly before leaving in order to make the most of the validity period.
eSIMs offer a practical solution for staying connected while traveling abroad without the need to physically change your SIM card.