South Africa moves toward eSIMs: What it means for travellers and locals
As mobile operators push toward more sustainable tech, electronic SIMs, better known as eSIMs, are quickly gaining traction. According to a recent report by MyBroadband, Vodacom, MTN, and Cell C are actively investing in the transition, with growing support for eSIM-ready devices and digital onboarding processes.
In simple terms, eSIMs allow you to activate mobile service by scanning a QR code. No physical SIM card is needed. This is especially useful for travellers flying into Cape Town: you can install an eSIM on your phone before you leave home, land with instant mobile access, and skip the SIM kiosk altogether.
The push for eSIMs isn't just about convenience. South Africa's mobile industry has long struggled with making the switch, in addition to the environmental implications, and operators say they're now taking it seriously.
Vodacom has started enforcing stricter rules on inactive SIMs, while Cell C's CEO Jorge Mendes points out that the high turnover of SIM cards results in waste and inflated subscriber metrics.
"In one month, you suddenly connected 100,000 eSIMs instead of issuing four million plastic SIMs. There will be a negative 3.9 million subscribers reported," he told MyBroadband.
Adoption is being driven by both international visitors and South African travellers going abroad.
MTN notes steady growth in eSIM usage, particularly among users with dual-SIM phones who seek flexibility without the need to juggle multiple cards.
Vodacom now supports over 1.5 million eSIM-enabled devices on its network.
For locals and tourists alike, this shift means better security (since there's no removable SIM to lose or clone), potential savings on roaming, and one less piece of plastic to worry about.
Providers like Airalo, Saily, Nomad, AloSIM, and Gigago offer easy eSIM packages tailored for use by locals, regionally across Africa, or for international travel - many of which can be managed directly from your phone.
Before switching, make sure your device supports eSIMs (most iPhones from 2018 onward and many Android devices do). Then, pick a plan that fits your data needs and travel route.
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