Why travel eSIMs are making traditional roaming obsolete

Many of us plan our trips from our smartphones. In a few taps, we find flight deals, book accommodation, and reserve tables.

Everything is transparent until the plane lands abroad - then suddenly, that seamless digital experience meets the outdated reality of traditional roaming, where you only discover the true cost of staying connected after the trip.

Mobile connectivity shouldn’t be the only unpredictable travel expense. It makes more sense to buy mobile internet abroad the same way you buy flights or travel insurance: in advance, at a fixed price, without any unpleasant surprises on your final bill.

That is exactly how global travel eSIM providers work. Swiss company Yesim shows that the era of excessive roaming charges is becoming a thing of the past.

Why roaming no longer fits modern travel

Traditional roaming connects travellers to foreign networks on preset terms. Instead of choosing a plan designed for a specific trip, users can be limited to zones, daily charges, and restrictions.

With smartphones now powering navigation, banking verification, transport apps, electronic tickets, and communication with accommodation hosts, they become the control centre for the entire trip - requiring a stable mobile internet connection throughout the day and therefore subjecting users to unpredictable costs via roaming, especially when background app activity is also counted as data usage.

Though introduced as an alternative, daily roaming passes also often fail to solve the problem. Many offer only a few hundred megabytes per day, quickly exhausted by navigation and video calls. Roaming provides access, but it takes away what travellers value most: the freedom to choose a plan that matches their itinerary, with transparent pricing and clearly defined conditions.

Internet you can buy before you fly

The alternative is already built into most modern smartphones. An eSIM is a built‑in microchip that allows mobile operator profiles to be downloaded and activated remotely.

Thanks to this technology, mobile internet becomes just another digital travel product that can be selected, purchased, and set up before leaving home.

The biggest advantage is the price. Yesim’s unlimited seven‑day plan for Japan costs just £18.90 after the available discount, with no daily data limits and a single allowance valid for the entire duration.

What travellers gain beyond lower prices

The purchasing process is also transparent. Your destination, plan duration, data allowance, and total cost are clearly displayed before payment.

Choose a plan for a single country, a region, or a multi‑country itinerary, and if plans change, a new package can be activated in the app within minutes.

Your phone number also remains active throughout the trip. It continues to receive banking verification codes, two‑factor authentication messages, and important calls, while mobile data is provided through the travel eSIM. Once you return home, you simply switch mobile data back to your regular SIM profile.

Plans designed for every type of journey

Operating since 2019, Yesim combines extensive experience, flexible plans, and innovative technology.

The company has provided reliable connectivity to millions of users and is the official eSIM partner of the World Players Super League (WPSL), which hosts more than 1,800 tournaments every year across more than 50 countries.

Yesim’s Global Package, available in more than 80 destinations, offers prepaid plans from 10 GB to 80 GB, plus unlimited options valid for 7, 15, or 30 days, whilst the Global Plus Package covers more than 140 destinations with plans from 5 GB to 40 GB and unlimited options for 7 or 15 days.

For flexible itineraries, Pay & Fly uses a pay‑as‑you‑go model in more than 170 destinations. A single eSIM provides worldwide coverage, and you pay only for the data you use.

Technology that keeps you connected on the move

Behind every Yesim plan is a network of more than 800 partner mobile operators, with automatic switching to the strongest available signal. There is no need to manage network settings yourself, as the app selects the best connection, especially valuable in destinations with inconsistent coverage, such as remote beaches and mountain regions.

Plus, the Multiple eSIMs feature lets several profiles be managed from a single account, and everyone except the primary user can use their profile without installing the app.

Getting started without the risk

A £0.45 trial package * lets you test the connection for your destination at minimal cost. Installation is done through the Yesim app, with no paperwork or queues. Checking whether your smartphone is compatible takes a minute on the Yesim website.

New customers can also receive a 15% discount on their first purchase with the promo code GETYESIM15**.

Dmitri Verbovski, founder and CEO of Yesim, said: “At Yesim, we believe that the freedom to stay connected is a fundamental human right that helps people remain close, communicate, and share meaningful moments regardless of distance. We are proud to help millions of travellers around the world stay connected and are delighted to be part of their journeys."

To find out more about Yesim, click here.

*This plan is available exclusively for first-time Yesim users. Each new user can redeem one trial eSIM only.

**Terms and conditions apply. 15% discount valid on first Yesim data plan purchase made via the Yesim app or website. Subject to availability and change. See yesim.app for details.