South African tourists are ditching traditional roaming for eSIM services, which offer better prices, flexibility, and predictability. But why has roaming become so outdated?

The traditional roaming model has been around since the 1990s, but it's no longer suitable for modern travel. With smartphones constantly exchanging data, paying per megabyte in roaming has become an anachronism. The standard roaming data rate for certain destinations starts at R0.75 per MB and reaches as much as R5.05 per MB in some countries. This amounts to more than R5,000 per gigabyte, which an active traveler can easily consume in half a day of using navigation, maps, and messaging apps.

Package options appear more predictable, but they are still limited by data caps, and in some cases, out-of-bundle charging is automatically activated once those limits are exceeded. For example, the Travel Data 1 GB package for seven days costs R99, but if the limit is exceeded, the standard rate of R0.75 per MB is applied within an hour, or approximately R768 for each additional gigabyte.

However, the issue is not limited to high prices and strict data limits. The real problem is that, with roaming, travellers often do not understand exactly what charges will apply in their specific case: a daily option, a per-megabyte rate, a separate package, or a combination of conditions. Connectivity expenses become a constant source of concern, which stands in sharp contrast to other travel services, where people can easily compare prices, choose the amount of service they need, and pay for it in advance through an app.

Manage your mobile data plans on-the-go with the user-friendly Yesim app, designed for modern travellers.

Travel eSIM emerged as a response to these shortcomings and is built on a technology that is already integrated into most modern smartphones. eSIM is an embedded microchip that performs the functions of a traditional SIM card and allows mobile operator profiles to be downloaded and activated remotely. It is available in all iPhones starting with the XS series, in Google Pixel devices, and in recent Samsung, Motorola, and other mid-range and higher Android smartphones.

The main advantage here is price. According to Juniper Research, in 2024 travellers using travel eSIM saved an average of 35% per gigabyte of data compared to traditional roaming. On some routes, the gap is even larger. A clear example can be seen in South African tariffs. With the eSIM provider Yesim, 5 GB for 30 days in the United States costs about R174 with a discount, compared to R349 for a 5 GB, 7-day Data Bundle from Vodacom.

Another key advantage of eSIM is predictability. An eSIM package is purchased in advance: the user sees the count of data available for their specific country and time period. This is in contrast to roaming, where the data used is charged according to the roaming rate of the operator.

Yesim, a Swiss company, is one of the pioneers of the Travel eSIM market and is a benchmark for travel connectivity among South African tourists. The company offers genuine convenience, savings, and comfort while abroad.

South African tourists are expected to save thousands of Rands by switching to eSIM services.