Best eSIM for Asia: Which tariff to choose

It’s no secret that we are making fewer and fewer calls via regular voice communication, the minutes of which are included in the tariffs by operators and allocated to us in data roaming. According to analysts of the mobile communications market, every year, the volume of “normal” voice conversations (voice traffic) is reduced by about 2.5% -3%. More and more people within and outside the country prefer to communicate by text and voice messages and talk directly in various instant messengers.

Roaming in Asia

For tourists, this trend is much more pronounced: the Internet in international roaming is important for them now. This is not only viewing work mail, social networks, videos, and listening to music but also direct communication with family and friends through voice messengers – so as not to think about the cost of a “minute of international calls.”

However, everything is not very rosy in roaming packages in travel SIM cards abroad, just with the Internet in general. Most of the offered roaming packages include voice communication, SMS as the main ones, and the Internet as an additional option, which costs decent money.

In Asia, you can find quite a wide range of mobile operators:

• AIS;
• TrueMove H;
• DTAC;
• Smart Axiata;
• Singtel;
• Starhub.

One group of operators will have access to the Internet for $4.5-$5.5 per day but with restrictions on the speed of the Internet. For example, several hundred Mb of fast internet may be provided. After exceeding the threshold, the speed drops to 128 Kbps until the end of the current day. Often, operators do not allow sharing of the Internet (distributing it) or restrict distribution.

As a result, if you fly together for 10 days with this option, you need to put about $100 per trip on roaming charges. Note that there are separate tariffs and the option of $6 per day with 1 GB of Internet per day. But for 10 days, it is still at least $60 for one.

Another group of players in the mobile communications market also offers unlimited Internet in roaming. This service costs from $10 to $20 per day depending on the country. As a result, payments for the Internet for two for 10 days can reach up to $200-$400 per trip.

Internet packages not from local SIM cards are also offered beyond the normal roaming traffic limit. Unfortunately, prices are high: this is due to the fact that there is no differentiation by country; the average is derived. A number of operators can be purchased from 1GB for a week for $10 to 10GB for a month for $36. More is possible – 30GB for almost $100 per month.

Where to get the internet abroad beyond roaming?

You could theoretically bring a local SIM card. However, many people find this to be inconvenient: changing the number, unprofitable packages. As a result, more and more travelers in recent years have turned to adopting e-SIM services in order to stay connected online while traveling.

E-SIM technology is an electronic SIM card, a chip built into the phone that allows you to overwrite data.

The simplest and easiest way to get mobile Internet abroad on e-SIM is to use the services of Asia e-SIM providers of such services. One of the most famous options is esimway.com. In this case, the Internet abroad is much cheaper than classic roaming, practically at the prices of local telecom operators.

On the company’s website, you can now check your smartphone model for e-SIM compatible devices, and then in a few clicks, connect and pay for available Internet packages in 150 countries using e-SIM technology.

Technically, everything is simple: you need to go to the site (no passports or other personal data are needed, authorization is just a matter of an email address in a couple of clicks), select a country, and an Internet package, and immediately install an electronic SIM card with prepaid Internet for a trip. There is also an application with the same functions.

The best thing about the e-SIM story is that the Internet is not only not “cut” in speed and has no daily limits but can be shared with friends and family. It is convenient and profitable: you can take a 5GB Internet package in Asia for $16 and distribute it from your smartphone to your wife, husband, and children.

Virtual SIM card removes restrictions on the phone model of your companions (it doesn’t matter what model of smartphone the person with whom you are relaxing), and secondly, will allow you to save additional money.