When traveling, everything goes smoothly depending on your mobile internet access. For years, we had to buy local SIM cards or resort to expensive international phone plans to find suitable data plans abroad. However, eSIM technology is starting to solve this problem when traveling. So, what are the pros and cons of traveling with an eSIM? In this article, we will take a detailed look at how eSIM works and how it can help you on your travels.
What is eSIM and Why is it Popular?
eSIM is a digital version of the traditional physical SIM card. In new generation phones, especially iPhones and Android devices, eSIM support is becoming increasingly widespread. This technology replaces physical SIM cards, offering a more practical and easy-to-carry solution. With eSIM, you can store multiple data plans on your device and quickly activate a digital plan when you travel abroad instead of buying a local SIM card.
Advantages of eSIM:
- Using Multiple Plans: eSIM lets you store multiple data plans on your phone, meaning you don’t have to buy a local SIM card when you go abroad. Instead, you can get a digital plan and start using it in minutes.
- No Need to Carry a Physical SIM Card: Thanks to eSIM, an integrated chip inside your phone, you no longer need to go to the store to open a SIM card slot or buy a new SIM card.
- Structure That Takes Up Less Space: eSIM creates more space on your phone, giving phone manufacturers the opportunity to make their devices thinner and more powerful.
Disadvantages of eSIM
Although eSIM technology offers many advantages, it also has some disadvantages. The activation process can sometimes be challenging, especially for users who have never used eSIM before.
- Activation Issues: While eSIM can be activated in the phone's settings, there may be incompatibility issues with some phones or operators. Especially older phone models do not support eSIM or may not work properly.
- Limited Coverage: In some countries in particular, eSIM is not yet widely used. For example, eSIMs may not work in some parts of Southeast Asia. Therefore, it is important to check if an eSIM is supported in the country you are going to.
Traveling with eSIM: Is It Different From Local SIM Cards?
Data plans that you can use while traveling with an eSIM are usually more expensive than local SIM cards. For example, in a country like Thailand, it is possible to get an unlimited data plan with a local SIM card at a very reasonable price, while getting the same data with an eSIM can lead to higher costs. However, the convenience offered by an eSIM can sometimes make up for this difference.
- Affordable Alternative? Getting a local SIM card can often be cheaper than using an eSIM, but an eSIM saves you from having to get a different SIM card for each country you visit when traveling, and can be more affordable than local plans in many countries.
eSIM and Personal Hotspot
eSIM also offers personal hotspot support, but this may not always be the case. For example, some eSIM providers do not allow personal hotspots in certain countries. This can be a problem, especially for business travelers, who often need to connect their phone to their computer.
eSIM Security: Privacy and Protection
There can be some privacy concerns when using an eSIM. eSIM providers require you to use specific apps to activate the service. This can allow your device to be tracked. However, there are security measures in place on Apple and Android devices to prevent this from happening. Users can increase their privacy by turning off app tracking settings. eSIMs can also be more secure because if your phone is stolen, you can easily turn off the service to prevent your number from being stolen.
eSIM technology provides great convenience for international travel. Offering a perfect solution for those traveling to more than one country, eSIM may be ahead of local SIM cards in terms of practicality and flexibility. However, since it does not work everywhere and is more expensive in some countries, it may not be the best option for every trip. If you are going to stay in one area for a long time, it may be more economical to get a local SIM card.
In any case, the advantages offered by eSIM are too attractive to ignore, especially for frequent travelers. To make your travels more practical, using eSIM is definitely an option you should consider!