When traveling to any destination, you want to stay connected to use navigation apps and keep in touch with friends back home. However, traveling to a new destination means your mobile phone is outside your carrier’s network coverage.
You can rely on Wi-Fi hotspots, but they limit you to a particular space. An eSIM can allow you to access the internet without the limitation of Wi-Fi network coverage. It ensures you avoid expensive roaming charges, thereby reducing your overall traveling expenses.
This article will explore how you can continue staying connected abroad with an eSIM and some of the apps to use on your journey, among many more!
Why mobile data still matters even in WiFi cafés
You may not rely on your home carrier’s SIM to make calls abroad due to expensive roaming charges, but you can always depend on mobile data to play PUBG MOBILE UC Recharge online and connect with friends on social media.
An eSIM allows you to download a local carrier or international profile and receive mobile data plans for browsing. The eSIM profile identifies your smartphone to a particular mobile network, allowing you to enjoy connectivity away from Wi-Fi cafes. eSIM has the following benefits over Wi-Fi internet:
- Enhanced security: An eSIM data plan gives you access to a private network, which enhances your safety online. Additionally, smartphones use eSIMs to connect to 4G/5G cellular networks, which use advanced encryption protocols to shield data in transit.
- Wider network coverage: Your eSIM connects your smartphone to cell towers across the destination country. This means you can stay connected anywhere in the country as long as your eSIM plan is active, unlike Wi-Fi, which limits the coverage area.
- Consistent internet speed: Public Wi-Fi can experience reduced internet speed if many users connect to it. On the other hand, an eSIM boasts a consistent internet speed since you’re the only user.
eSIM vs physical SIM: what’s the difference and why it matters
A smartphone with an eSIM still has a SIM tray for a physical SIM. It allows you to keep the physical SIM as your primary phone number while downloading the Holafly eSIM plan for Turkey and using it for data connectivity.
You can expect to use both SIMs while traveling abroad, which means you want to keep them. However, they differ in the following aspects:
- Format: An eSIM is a small chip soldered onto the motherboard of your smartphone. A physical SIM is a plastic insert into your phone. The eSIM is irremovable, while your physical SIM can be swapped out and inserted into a new device.
- Activation: You will visit a SIM card kiosk to buy the physical SIM. The carrier will also need a copy of your passport to register and activate a new number for you to make calls. All you need to do with an eSIM is scan a QR code in your email to activate your plan, which takes less time.
- Profile storage: A physical SIM can only contain one profile, limiting the phone numbers you can have. An eSIM can store multiple profiles, allowing you to have multiple numbers on one SIM.
Switching networks abroad: common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Your mobile device will connect to a foreign network abroad for you to stay connected. However, switching to mobile networks abroad can have some pitfalls that you should diagnose and resolve to continue connecting with friends back home.
You may experience these pitfalls abroad as you depend on foreign mobile networks for connectivity:
- Roaming charges: You will experience this pitfall if you don’t have an eSIM plan and use your home carrier for connectivity abroad. Carriers have roaming agreements allowing you to connect to a foreign network. Having an eSIM allows you to buy a local carrier plan to avoid your home carrier’s SIM roaming, which often has expensive charges attached.
- Locked phones: Buying a smartphone from a particular carrier may mean your device is locked from use with other mobile networks. Check that your mobile device allows you to add any eSIM carrier profile for efficient connectivity abroad.
- Limited support: As you choose an eSIM carrier, ensure it offers support in the destination country. A local eSIM carrier will always have customer support. It’s the international eSIM companies you want to pay close attention to when selecting the best one for your travel.
Best apps to use when you’re travelling and need connectivity
Exploring a new destination is easier with essential travel apps. Your eSIM data gives you internet access that each of the following apps needs to function:
- Google Maps: Whether you’re exploring your destination city by walking, cycling, or driving, you’ll need to know directions turn by turn. This app has a real-time transit feature to ensure you arrive at your destination, and is powered by an eSIM data plan.
- Google Translate: You can interact with the locals even if you don’t speak Japanese if you have this mobile app. It translates typed and spoken input into your preferred language. You can also scan traffic signs and know what they say in English.
- Messaging Apps: Calling friends over the internet via apps like Messenger and WhatsApp can be a necessity if you’re in a foreign country. Consider installing these apps and connecting to the internet via eSIM data to message or call contacts.
How to monitor your data usage on the go and avoid surprise charges
eSIM carriers like Holafly have a fair usage policy for all their data plans to ensure all users enjoy reliable internet speeds. Each data plan comes with a given data volume that determines the policy threshold. You can use the following apps to keep track of data and ensure you don’t exceed the threshold:
- My Data Manager: This app can monitor data consumption from your Wi-Fi and eSIM data plans. It can send you alerts if you exceed a set data limit.
- GlassWire: Boasting an excellent user interface, this mobile app gives data usage in an easy-to-read format.
- DataMan: You can also download this app on an iOS device and monitor your data consumption. You can even predict if your current online activity will deplete your subscription fast if you use this app.
Having an eSIM can help you stay connected abroad despite exploring a region outside your home carrier’s network coverage. Therefore, consider an eSIM plan for your travel abroad.
