Travel eSIM & UK Business

YouGov surveyed more than 6,500 adults across the US, UK, and China and found that only 23% of people had ever used an eSIM.

Adding to the unique finding, only 33% knew what it meant and why anyone would use an eSIM. In the UK, only 20% knew if their phone supported travel eSIMs, whereas globally, 42% of people were unsure about their phone’s eSIM compatibility. This simple set of findings highlight an awareness gap. 

Interestingly, even with this lack of awareness, 56% of UK respondents suggested they would consider using an eSIM when travelling, suggesting there is a curiosity and an appetite for convenience.

We think the gap in knowledge of eSIMs is a fantastic opportunity for UK mobile network carriers and UK telecommunications resellers to build businesses focussing on the travel market place where cost saving and convenience are huge drivers for impactful products and services.

eSIMs Explained

Travel eSIMs enable smartphones to connect instantly to a local mobile network abroad. You don't need a physical SIM card or traditional roaming. Many mobile handsets from Apple, Samsung, Google, and Huawei are already compatible with eSIMs, but users are simply unaware of the inbuilt benefits of using them, often stuck in the traditional model of physical SIMs.

YouGov Study Suggests Interest

Once the potential of eSIM was explained to respondents in the UK and China, 56% and 60% respectively suggested they would be interested in buying one in time for their next holiday. These respondents further suggested that they were open to purchasing eSIM connectivity from non traditional mobile telephony outlets, and would consider buying from places like airlines, supermarkets, or travel websites, not just telecom providers. This again opens the door to new UK businesses that can fill this potential new marketplace and sell eSIMs to eager new consumers.

What This Means for Business Leaders in the UK

Global travel is projected to accelerate to 1.8 billion by 2030. The travel eSIM market alone is expected to grow beyond $3 billion by 2033, offering a meaningful revenue stream for early movers. A clear, concise explanation of how travel eSIMs work and their benefits can shift consumer sentiment quickly. 

For UK businesses operating in travel, retail, fintech, or the airlines sector, the message is clear. Educate your customers, build eSIM offerings, and you could unlock new revenue and engagement. 

What UK Businesses Should Do Now

UK businesses investing in user-friendly educational content could convert huge awareness gaps into interest. Short videos or explainer pages that show how travel eSIMs work and also device compatibility would be a fantastic way to educate consumers. 

The study showed consumers are ready to buy travel eSIMs from non traditional outlets, so existing UK businesses could take this as an opportunity to bundle and promote eSIM to existing and new customers. UK MVNO players like Lyca Mobile already offer eSIM as do their underlying MNO, EE.

This opportunity could extend way beyond the traditional, imagine airlines bundling eSIMs into flight bookings. Travel agencies upselling eSIM as a travel add-on. Supermarkets or mobile sales platforms bundling with loyalty apps and travel points. The opportunities are endless. 

What Success Looks Like in the UK Market

A UK travel or retail brand that educates customers and offers travel eSIMs stands to:

• Generate incremental revenue through connectivity services,
• Increase customer engagement and differentiation from competitors,
• Attract travellers who value convenience and flexible connectivity,
• Extend customer loyalty by bundling eSIMs into other product lines.

As the travel industry rebounds and business/travel patterns resume fully, offering travel eSIMs can help brands capture a new digital revenue stream. Doing this will also establish leadership through innovation. A combination of consumer education, partnership, and convenient access can unlock the travel eSIM market.

We utilise eSIM to help customers seamlessly change contracts between providers, deploy to field based IOT deployments and many other use cases. If you are a business that is considering eSIM for your next deployment, or wondering how eSIM might benefit your business, talk to our friendly team today.