As an avid traveller, I no longer rack up hefty roaming fees when I explore overseas. In fact, I’ve forgotten what life was like before I could walk off a cruise ship and find that 14th-century landmark or off-the-beaten-path beach café using my phone in no time flat. And I can do it without needing to track down a shop that sells SIM cards in every country I enter.
I’ve discovered eSIMs.
An eSIM (embedded subscriber identity module) is not a physical card. It’s digital, and likely already embedded into your smartphone’s hardware. It’s a rewritable chip that connects to a local network within a destination, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card. Most phones built after 2018 are compatible with eSIMs.
The biggest benefit is that you can install an eSIM company’s app and activate an overseas plan for a few dollars – about $6 for one gigabyte of data, which is enough for a week of moderate internet browsing, such as using Google Maps or making a few social-media posts. Up to $14 usually nets three gigabytes of data that last for 30 days. Prices vary between countries, but all are likely cheaper than your home provider’s international data roaming fees.
I’ve used a few different eSIM suppliers in recent travels. Airalo is a popular choice, as is Toronto-based Textr. Most providers offer data-only plans – no phone voice minutes – so calls must be made using internet-based programs such as WhatsApp and Messenger. A few eSIM providers, such as Airhub, Orange Travel and OneSimCard, offer voice minutes and text messages, but this can cost up to 10 times more.
To buy an eSIM, I find a provider and a plan that fits my data needs and number of days, then download its app. After purchasing, I get an e-mail with instructions along with a QR code. I open the e-mail on my laptop to make the code easy to scan. I recommend doing this all at home, because a safe and stable internet connection is essential – and something you may not find at a hotel.
On the plane, right before I switch my phone to airplane mode, I toggle off my regular cellular network and turn on the eSIM in my phone’s settings. When I land, the eSIM finds its carrier and the data is ready to go.
While planning a recent cruise through Spain’s Canary Islands, I used GigSky, one of the only companies that offers single land-and-cruise eSIM data plans for port-to-port service. Rather than having to get an eSIM for each country I visited – Germany for my flight connection, the Spanish islands, plus Portugal (for Madeira and Lisbon) – I only had one. The company offers service on more than 200 ships and in more than 190 countries and regions. This costs about $45 for the one gigabyte, but it’s good for a week of port-hopping. I used the ship’s WiFi while on board, and my data clicked in when I stepped ashore.
GigSky is different from most other providers, because it doesn’t require you to download a new eSIM each time you visit a different country – just one will do. Its app is also what’s called a captive portal, which means it is accessible at all times, even if you run out of data.
As with anything involving connectivity, eSIMs can be vulnerable to maleficence such as malware and phishing attacks.
Anyone downloading an eSIM should exercise caution, says Gary Miller, a research fellow with Toronto-based Citizen Lab, a group focused on making the internet more secure.
He suggests using a SIM PIN to place calls and use data, and adding multifactor authentication. “This would help to mitigate attempts by someone trying to access your online account,” he added.
All eSIM providers, he adds, should be implementing strict security procedures when sending an eSIM QR code by e-mail, too, such as requiring the same authentication code.
It’s a lot to consider, but I’m sold on eSIMs. With an eSIM, my phone is ready to work the minute I land. I’m ready to explore – or amuse myself with a cat video or two.
Special to The Globe and Mail
The writer was provided with a complimentary eSIM data plan from GigSky. The company did not review or approve the story before publication.
