Sydney-based eSIM provider Simify is seeing a notable shift in how Australians prepare for overseas travel, with more people adding eSIMs to their pre-flight checklists alongside passports and travel insurance. The uptick comes as travellers look to sidestep both expensive roaming charges and the growing security risks associated with public WiFi networks.
December and January represent peak travel season for Australians heading overseas, taking advantage of school holidays and end-of-year breaks, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. With smartphones now as essential as passports for most travellers, summer has naturally become the busiest period for eSIM adoption.
eSIM technology sits embedded directly inside modern smartphones and tablets, letting users switch between mobile networks without fumbling with physical SIM cards or changing phone numbers. For international travellers, this means accessing affordable high-speed mobile data becomes straightforward, particularly useful for families trying to keep everyone connected during overseas trips.
It’s surprising how many people don’t know the existence of eSims (including my family members like my Mum and elder sister) or comfortable in dealing with one even though the convenience factor extends beyond just ease of use.
Beyond cost savings, security concerns are driving eSIM adoption in a big way. Public WiFi networks, once seen as a convenient travel resource, now carry significant risks. Even hotel WiFi isn’t immune to problems, with 58 per cent of hotel cybersecurity leaders reporting five or more cyberattacks during the 2024 peak travel season, according to Hospitality Net’s 2024 Cybersecurity in Hotels Report.
Modern unlimited eSIM travel plans offer another practical advantage for Australian travellers. You can maintain your Australian mobile number active for receiving important messages like bank verification codes, all while using secure mobile data for everything else. This dual-number capability removes the anxiety of missing critical communications while travelling.
Simify provides mobile coverage across more than 150 countries, offering unlimited data plans for up to 90 days without the hassle of top-ups or unexpected roaming charges. For more information about Simify’s eSIM unlimited roaming data plans, visit simify.com. I’ve also been using their eSims for around half a year now (just to test and use) – and had no issues when I was travelling to Singapore with my South East Asie eSim.
For details on all of Simify’s eSIM unlimited roaming data plans go to: https://simify.com
