How to set up a Simunye Mobile eSIM for your trip

If you are travelling abroad and have never used an eSIM before, the whole process of setting one up can seem a little complicated at first. But once you know what to do, setting up a Simunye Mobile eSIM is actually quite straightforward. And definitely easier than installing a physical SIM card in every country.

You also only need to install a single Simunye Mobile eSIM which uses the same APN, for all our destinations. You then just buy data plans as needed which will be added to the same eSIM profile.

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An eSIM is a digital SIM embedded or built into your phone. Many eSIM capable phones can store up to 20 eSIM profiles, with any 2 active at the same time. Instead of buying a physical SIM, searching for a paperclip and swapping it with your home SIM when you arrive, you can just download an eSIM profile and mobile data plan directly to your phone. And the best part is that you can do this at home before you leave, in the comfort of your own couch, rather than trying to figure it all out when you've just arrived at your destination.

There are just a few quick steps to follow before you leave and a few settings to check when you arrive at your destination:

1. Check if your phone supports eSIM

Before purchasing an eSIM you first need to make sure your phone is eSIM compatible.

A quick way to check is to dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID, this means that your phone supports eSIM.

It's still worth checking your exact phone mobile before buying as eSIM compatibility can depend on the model and the country where the phone was purchased.

It's also worth checking if your phone is locked to a particular network. A network-locked phone can only be used with a SIM or eSIM from that provider, which means you will not be able to use a Simunye Mobile eSIM. Your phone needs to be network-unlocked before you can use an eSIM or SIM card from any other provider. If your device is network locked you will only be able to use whatever roaming plans your home provider offers.

2. Find your destination

Once you know your phone is eSIM compatible, you can look for the destination you'll be travelling to on the Simunye Mobile store or with the search bar at the top of this page.

Depending on where you are travelling to, you may see country, regional or global eSIM plans:

• Country: A country plan is designed for one specific country, such as Spain, Italy, South Africa etc.
• Region: A regional plan covers several countries within the same region, such as Africa, Europe or Caribbean. You can check the individual data plan to see which countries are covered.
• Global: A global or world plan covers multiple countries across different regions. We currently have two global plans: World, covering 178 countries, and World Extended, covering 201 countries.

If you are visiting more than one country, a regional or global plan will be more useful as you can keep using the same data plan while travelling between destinations.

3. Choose a data plan

Choosing the right data plan mainly comes down to three simple things:

• Where you will be going.
• How long you will need data.
• How much data you will need.

First, make sure the plan covers the countries you are visiting. Then consider how long you will be away and how much mobile data you are likely to use.

If you mainly use your phone for Google Maps, WhatsApp and checking travel information, you won't need the same amount of data as someone who spends a lot of time watching videos, live broadcasting or endlessly scrolling through social media.

If you're not sure how much data you need, it's better to have a little extra than to find yourself without data halfway through your trip.

Good to know: With Simunye Mobile, you only need to install one eSIM. If you run out of data during your trip, you can easily top up your existing eSIM through your customer account. There is no need to buy or install a new eSIM in every country. Some providers require you to install a new eSIM even if you're still in the same country.

So before completing your purchase, confirm the plan details; Check where the eSIM data plan works, how much data is included and how long it's valid for.

4. Create your account and complete your purchase

Once you've found a plan that suits your trip, you can continue to checkout.

Enter the details needed to set up your Simunye Mobile account, choose your payment method and complete your purchase.

After your purchase, you will receive your eSIM QR code by email, but you'll also be able to access the QR directly through your Simunye Mobile account.

5. Install your eSIM before you leave

We recommend installing your eSIM before travelling, while you still have a good internet connection for the initial installation.

Use either the QR code that was sent to you by email or you can find it directly in your My Simunye account. Installation instructions are in both the email and your user account.

Good to know: The QR code can either be scanned with your phone's camera or, if you are viewing it on your phone in your account you can simply tap on it. Remember, you only need to do this once, for all our destinations. Feel free to re-name your eSIM to something more memorable, like 'Simunye Mobile'. At installation you will see 'Transatel', which is our upstream provider.

You can install your Simunye Mobile eSIM at home and have it ready on your phone the moment you arrive at your destination. You have up to 6 months after purchase to use a data plan while the eSIM itself remains active for up to 18 months after last use.

6. Activate your eSIM when you arrive

When you arrive in the country or region you purchased your eSIM data plan for, simply toggle on your Simunye Mobile (Transatel) eSIM and select it as the line for mobile data, if you leave your home SIM on.

Your Simunye Mobile data plan will auto-activate in any covered destination, but only if your Simunye eSIM is on and connected to a local partner network.

To avoid unexpected roaming charges from your home provider, we recommend switching off your home SIM or turning off data roaming on it.

If you want to keep your normal number active to receive calls or SMS/Text messages, you can leave your home SIM switched on. Just keep in mind that your home provider may charge you for roaming calls, SMS or other services, depending on your plan.

So again: Make sure that Simunye Mobile (Transatel) is selected for mobile data, if your home provider is still toggled on.

7. Check your connection

It is always a good idea to test your connection before heading off for a day of sightseeing.

Disconnect from the hotel Wi-Fi then open any webpage or app and check that you can access the internet using your mobile data.

If it doesn't work straight away, check that your Simunye eSIM is switched on and selected for mobile data. It should have been set automatically, but also confirm the APN is set to 'mbb', which is the same for all our covered destinations.

Also check that you are connected to a local network. With your Simunye eSIM on, your phone should display 'eSIM' at the top for network ID along with some signal bars and LTE or 5G. Also check that you are somewhere covered by the plan you purchased.

A Simunye Mobile eSIM does not require data roaming to be enabled, because our eSIMs operate as local in every destination. It's technical, but if you want to know more, just Google '901 MCC'.

However, if toggling on 'data roaming' is what makes your Simunye Mobile eSIM work, please let us know, and in which country. To date we have used our own eSIM plans in more countries than we can count, with 'data roaming' off. With that said, turning it on at any time will make no difference in how it works or in the price you pay.

But oftentimes a simple restart of your phone is all it takes, as is the case with most computers when they're having a 'bad hair' day.

8. Now you're ready to stay connected

Once your eSIM is installed and connected, you can use your phone as you normally would while travelling. Use it to find your way with Google Maps, contact your accommodation with WhatsApp, keep in touch with family and friends or just to stay connected while working and travelling.

And the best part? You don't have to spend time looking for a local SIM card in every destination. You only need to install a single Simunye Mobile eSIM, and your mobile data is ready to use the moment you arrive.