A British traveller walks through passport control at Antalya Airport with a smartphone in hand. It holds a boarding pass, a bank card, a hotel reservation, and directions to the apartment. Every one of these online services was chosen personally after carefully comparing prices and terms. Mobile connectivity, however, remains far less predictable.

Abroad, the phone continues to operate under the roaming terms set by the home carrier, with its coverage zones, daily charges, and speed limits. Regaining control over mobile connectivity while reducing costs is now possible thanks to a new generation of travel eSIM providers, such as the Swiss company Yesim, one of the pioneers of this market.

Why roaming can limit digital independence

Roaming was introduced long before smartphones existed, and in many ways it still follows the rules of that era. If you’re wondering why more travellers are looking for digital alternatives, keep reading to find out more about how the roaming model works.

From a technical feature to a commercial model

Roaming was originally designed not as a travel service but as a technical feature that allowed users to connect to a partner network outside their home carrier’s coverage area. During the 1990s and 2000s, operators transformed this feature into a significant source of revenue by applying substantial markups. This was not a major concern when travellers only needed to make the occasional phone call home.

As smartphones became widespread, mobile data took centre stage, powering navigation, banking apps, and messaging services. The pricing model, however, remained unchanged. The only thing that increased was the amount travellers ended up paying extra for.

Travellers cannot choose their own roaming tariff

With roaming, travellers remain locked into their home carrier’s system. Each destination is assigned to a predefined zone, prices are fixed in advance, and available networks depend on the carrier’s partnership agreements. Users have little choice but to accept standard daily roaming packages with their own terms and limitations. This runs counter to the way people now use digital services.

Travellers compare airlines, accommodation, and insurance providers before making a purchase, yet mobile connectivity abroad is still determined by the company they originally signed up with at home.

The cost is tied to activation, not to how much data is used

A roaming package charges a fixed daily fee for the mere fact of connection, regardless of how much data is actually used. The charge is triggered by any contact with the network, down to background app activity. A traveller can send a single message in the morning, put the phone away in a bag until evening, and still pay the full daily rate.

The paid package still comes with limitations

The biggest drawback of roaming, however, is not just the price. Travellers gain internet access, but they do not get to choose the conditions under which they use it. This model does not fit well with the concept of digital independence, where users decide for themselves which services to use and how much they want to spend. As a result, more travellers are looking for alternatives to roaming and are switching to dedicated mobile internet for their trips.

Mobile internet that travellers choose themselves

What a travel eSIM offers beyond lower prices

Travellers can choose a plan that matches their itinerary, whether it covers a single country, an entire region, or multiple destinations, instead of being limited by the roaming zone assigned by their home carrier. Everything can be set up in advance, with the app installed and the eSIM profile downloaded before leaving home. Upon arrival, all that is required is to enable the eSIM as the mobile data source.

The coverage area, validity period, data allowance, and total cost are all displayed before purchase, making connectivity expenses a predictable part of the travel budget. Additional data can be purchased only when the traveller chooses to do so.

Meanwhile, the primary UK phone number remains active on the smartphone for banking text messages and two-factor authentication, while mobile data during the trip is provided through the separate eSIM profile.

Yesim: Swiss infrastructure for digital independence

Founded in Switzerland in 2019, Yesim provides connectivity for more than 3.5 million travellers across 200+ destinations. The company is also the official partner of the World Players Super League (WPSL), the world's largest golf tour, which hosts more than 1,800 tournaments every year in over 50 countries.

Yesim's range of plans is designed to suit different types of travel. The Global Package, available in 80+ countries, offers prepaid plans ranging from 10GB to 80GB, as well as unlimited options for seven, 15, and 30 days for travellers with a planned itinerary. The Global Plus Package extends coverage to 140+ countries, with plans from 5GB to 40GB and unlimited options for seven and 15 days.

For greater flexibility, the Pay & Fly plan uses a pay-as-you-go model across 170+ countries through a single eSIM profile, charging customers only for the data they actually use. This makes it particularly suitable for short trips and unpredictable travel schedules.

Several technical features can make a noticeable difference while travelling. Yesim works with a network of more than 800 partner operators and automatically switches to the strongest available signal. The Multiple eSIMs feature also allows users to manage several eSIM profiles from a single account, making it convenient for families and groups. In addition, only the primary account holder needs to install the app.

For travellers who prefer to test the service before purchasing a full plan, Yesim offers a 500MB trial package at a nominal price. Users can check the quality of the connection without having to understand the technical details, as the app automatically selects the best available network.

The freedom to stay connected

Travellers are moving away from roaming for the same reason they stopped buying paper tickets or waiting for printed bank statements to arrive by post. They value digital independence and expect to choose the services they use. Modern travel eSIM providers are a clear example of this approach, offering a more flexible and cost-effective way to stay connected while travelling.

“For Yesim, the freedom to stay connected is a fundamental human right that helps people remain close, communicate, and share meaningful moments regardless of distance,” says Dmitri Verbovski, founder and CEO of Yesim. “We are proud to help millions of travellers around the world stay connected, and we are delighted to be part of their journeys.”