The travel eSIM market is booming. We thought the market was well and truly redefined between the sim cards of traditional operators and the newcomers, the travel e-sim. But new developments are becoming apparent. This is what the latest report Spotlight by consultant CCS Insight. It examines future developments.
Le roamingA long-standing and lucrative source of revenue for operators, it is also a source of dissatisfaction for customers. Particularly with bills that can quickly explode.
An explosion in travel eSIM cards
Admittedly, European Union regulations, in force since 2017, have limited abuse within the EU but also in a few countries that follow the same rules, such as Switzerland and the UK. But for the rest of the world, roaming charges are still high.
The first catalyst for change? The introduction of eSIM in smartphones. This technology opened the door to a wave of specialists, offering connectivity packages for travellers. These are generally much cheaper than those from traditional operators. Airalo, Holafly, Kolet, Nomad or Ubigi are among the best known. But there are more than fifty service providers on the market.
CCS Insight predicts spectacular growth: by 2030, more than 280 million eSIM journeys should be activated worldwide. That's four times more than in 2024. Worldwide sales are expected to jump by almost 250 %, from $1.3 billion to over $4.4 billion.
Traditional operators have not said their last word
But now CCS Insight predicts that traditional operators will join the eSIM battle. Admittedly, according to CCS's analysis, the arrival of traditional operators in the eSIM offer will dismantle the financial advantage that roaming brought them. But the reaction is not purely defensive. Travel eSIM also offers new opportunities for generating revenue and strengthening customer relations, as the report points out.
To succeed, traditional operators will have to adopt a global vision. They will move from a regional or national status to a purely international dimension. By integrating eSIM, traditional operators will in fact have major advantages: established customer relationships, extensive roaming partnerships and the know-how of recognised brands. This is the case, for example, of SingTel in Singapore. The national telecommunications company is now offering travellers the opportunity to choose online between an eSIM and a traditional sim card.
Some networks, such as Vodafone and Orange, have also launched their own eSIM travel services. Others are planning to follow suit. So while it is more than likely that operators will lose revenue from roaming, they will consolidate customer loyalty through eSIM.
The CCS Insight report also points out that travel eSIM specialists will gradually lose their advantage as the market becomes saturated by traditional operators. CCS therefore predicts a phase of consolidation and diversification.
