eSIM technology offers a more reliable and cost-effective solution for staying connected abroad.
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South Africans are becoming more and more adventurous in their travels Dubai, London, Bangkok, Nairobi — travel routes are becoming longer, more diverse, and the frequency of trips is steadily rising. Along with this growth comes rising mobile internet costs.
After returning home, bills from providers such as Vodacom or MTN often turn into an unpleasant surprise. Sometimes even to the tune of several thousand rand. The problem is not new, but a solution has appeared relatively recently.
A new generation of eSIM providers — such as Swiss industry leader Yesim — allows travellers to set up mobile internet before leaving home, whether in Cape Town or Johannesburg, and connect to the best available network immediately after landing. No waiting in line at operator kiosks and no unexpected bills arriving a month later.
At first glance, roaming seems like the obvious choice, because you use the same SIM card, the same number, and there are no extra steps. But it is this very feeling of simplicity that hides the main problem — unpredictable costs.
Price per megabyte instead of budget control.
With Vodacom, the standard roaming data cost for certain destinations starts from R0.75 per MB, and in some countries reaches R5.05 per MB. This is over R5,000 per gigabyte — an amount that an active tourist can burn through in half a day of navigation, messaging, and online bookings.
MTN, without special packages, operates on a similar logic: the tariff depends on the destination country and partner network, and destinations with a price above R15 per MB are automatically blocked — unless the user explicitly allows such charges.
Travel packages: strict limits and overage penalties.
The package option looks more predictable, but the limitations do not disappear. Vodacom offers 1 GB for seven days at R99 or 5 GB for seven days for R349 — and R768 for each additional gigabyte when the limit is exceeded. MTN, with the Hello World Data package, offers 100 MB for three days for R79 or 500 MB for seven days for R179.
It sounds reasonable until it turns out that for some destinations this package is not available at all — and then standard rates apply, which depend on the specific country and partner network. A tourist has to check the country in advance, the operator, the availability of the required package, and the conditions for exceeding limits, hidden in the fine print.
The main risk is uncertainty.
The more complex the route, the higher the chance of making a mistake. A single trip may include several countries, layovers, different roaming zones, and different billing conditions. As a result, travellers often simply don't understand what they're being charged for: a daily fee, a per-megabyte rate, a separate package, or a combination.
Roaming is poorly suited for the new reality of travel.
Modern trips are digital by nature: tourists book transportation on the go, use e-wallets, track flight changes, navigate via Google Maps, and stay in touch with accommodation hosts through messaging apps. Roaming with a limited package forces travellers to constantly count megabytes instead of freely using all these services.
The conclusion is crystal clear — roaming is inconvenient and expensive. Large mobile operators retain customers through force of habit, extensive advertising, and ready-made infrastructure — but not through the quality of their offering for travellers. A rational alternative is travel eSIM operators, as they are cheaper, more flexible, and more reliable.
A new generation of eSIM providers — such as Swiss industry leader Yesim — allows travellers to set up mobile internet before leaving home.
Image: Supplied
eSIM is a chip embedded in a device that replaces the traditional SIM card and allows users to connect to any mobile operator without physically swapping cards. It is enough to choose a plan in an app, install a profile, and activate it after arrival.
This technology has become the main competitor to traditional roaming thanks to four key advantages:
At the same time, the main SIM card or home eSIM does not disappear. During the trip, you can use it just for incoming calls or disable it entirely, and reactivate it as your primary line after returning.
Yesim offers local packages for specific countries, regional ones for multiple destinations within a single trip.
Image: Supplied
Among next-generation eSIM providers, Yesim occupies a special place. The Swiss company, founded in 2019 by a team of experts in technology and telecommunications, today serves more than 3 million users worldwide — and offers something that neither traditional roaming nor most competitors in the eSIM market provide.
A tariff lineup for every travel style
Yesim offers local packages for specific countries, regional ones for multiple destinations within a single trip, as well as two flagship products: the Global Package (80+ countries) and the Global Plus Package (140+ countries) with a fixed budget. For those who prefer maximum flexibility, there is the Pay & Fly tariff based on a pay-as-you-go model — one eSIM for 170+ countries with payment only for the traffic used. You pay only for what you use.
Automatic selection of the best network.
Yesim works with a network of more than 800 partner operators worldwide. In regions with unstable coverage, the app automatically switches to the strongest available signal — without any action required from the user. Most competitors do not offer this feature.
Simple installation and management.
The setup process takes only a few minutes — check device compatibility on the website, download the app, choose a plan, and install the eSIM profile. There is no need to deal with technical details once you arrive — the app automatically selects the best network. After the trip, no unexpected bill will arrive.
Multiple eSIMs feature.
Yesim allows users to share eSIM profiles with others — even if they do not have the app installed — and manage all profiles from a single account. This is convenient for family trips or small groups.
Hotspot support.
The internet connection can be shared with a tablet or laptop — without any additional setup.
Your main number stays with you.
The South African operator’s SIM card continues to receive important SMS messages or incoming calls — from your bank, your airline, or loved ones.
Risk-free trial package.
For those who want to test the connection quality before purchasing a full plan, Yesim offers a trial package of 500 MB for only R9.85. New users also receive a 15% discount with the promo code GETYESIM15.
Roaming was convenient in the era of simple trips, where there was one country, one hotel, and minimal digital needs. Today, travel is structured differently and includes layovers, multi-country routes, the use of online tickets, ride-hailing apps, banking services, and constant navigation.
Travellers don't need an incidental add-on from their home operator — they need connectivity that works flexibly and seamlessly across the entire route, from the first airport to the final destination.
Services such as Yesim allow South African travellers to solve the issue of mobile internet availability even before departure. After landing, there is no need to search for a local SIM card, check roaming conditions, or save every megabyte — they can immediately open maps, call a taxi, send a message in a messenger, and focus on the trip itself.
This is what the new standard of connectivity looks like — a pre-planned part of the journey, rather than a source of anxiety during travel and after returning home.