eSIMs reshape business of international mobile connectivity
DAR ES SALAAM: THE shift from traditional international roaming and physical SIM cards towards digital connectivity is opening new opportunities in the travel-data market, as consumers increasingly seek cheaper and more convenient ways to stay connected across borders.
Kwetu Company is positioning its eSIM platform to tap into this market, offering travellers access to mobile data in more than 190 countries without replacing their regular mobile lines. The service allows users to select their destination, purchase a data package and activate it through a QR or activation code once they arrive.
The model eliminates the need to search for a local SIM card and provides an alternative to conventional roaming services.
Beyond connectivity, the platform integrates international data purchases with local payment systems, allowing users to pay through bank cards and mobile money services, including Airtel Money and Mixx, through the DPO system. Users can also fund an in-app wallet for future purchases.
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The service targets business travellers, tourists, students, families and companies managing international travel for employees. Users can top up packages remotely and purchase data packages for other people. ICT expert Clayton Chalamanda of GSMA said eSIM technology is changing how consumers access mobile services abroad by allowing compatible devices to store multiple SIM profiles.
“An eSIM can store multiple SIM profiles, allowing compatible smartphones to switch between different network services more easily without the need to physically replace a SIM card,” he said.
The development points to a broader telecommunications shift in which connectivity is increasingly becoming a digital, on-demand service rather than one tied to physical SIM cards or individual operators.
Kwetu said the service is available through the Apple App Store, Google Play and its website. However, usage depends on eSIM-compatible devices and network availability in destination countries.
