- eSIM enables travelers to purchase a prepaid connectivity plan before they leave, based on their needs and destination. Simply download the eSIM via an app or QR code and activate it on arrival.
- It offers an alternative to traditional roaming and is opening the connectivity market to new global players.
- Drawing on its telecom expertise, Orange is carving out its place in this fast-growing segment to meet the needs of travelers around the world.
- Orange Travel builds on the trust associated with the Orange brand, as well as the quality, coverage, and reliability of Orange networks and those of its partners.
How is eSIM changing the travel experience?
Frédéric Bléhaut: “We tend to see two main types of travelers. The first already have a monthly mobile plan at home. They’re used to roaming, but they don’t always know exactly what’s included when they travel abroad, whether that’s data, calls, texts, or even which countries are covered. To avoid unpleasant surprises, some switch off mobile data, stick to hotel Wi-Fi, or buy a local SIM card when they arrive.
Then there are travelers from countries where prepaid plans are more common. For them, buying a local SIM card abroad is already a familiar habit.
In both cases, eSIM addresses the same needs: simplicity, transparency, and the ability to get connected before the trip even begins.”
An eSIM is simply a fully digital SIM card that you download directly to your phone. No store visit required.
Dixit
Frédéric Bléhaut
Why is eSIM transforming roaming?
F. B: “Traditionally, telecom markets have been organized at a national level. Operators sell plans to customers in their own countries, and roaming agreements allow those customers to stay connected when they travel abroad. eSIM changes the rules of the game.
An eSIM issued by an operator relies on the same roaming agreements used for its domestic customers. What changes is who can benefit from them. Until now, that international connectivity was reserved for an operator’s own subscribers.
ecause distribution is now entirely digital, operators can reach travelers anywhere in the world.
That means Orange Travel can sell an eSIM to someone from a country where Orange doesn’t operate, for example a traveler from the United States, who can then benefit from Orange’s international network agreements.
As demand for fully digital travel services continues to grow, it’s important for Orange Travel to establish itself as a trusted name in this market.
At the same time, eSIM has attracted a growing number of non-operator companies selling connectivity directly to travelers, including in France. Competition is definitely heating up.”
How can an established telecom operator stand out?
Being a telecom operator gives us a level of credibility and trust that many new entrants simply don’t have.
F. B: “Orange Travel can rely on the Group’s key strengths. Trust is a big part of it.
Orange is a well-known telecom operator with high standards when it comes to reliability and customer service. We also benefit from decades of roaming expertise and from the quality of Orange networks and those of our operator partners around the world. The Group has more than 700 roaming agreements globally.
What does that mean for travelers? Straightforward plans, easy activation, competitive pricing, and dependable service.
And while Orange Travel is a fully digital service, we still believe in human support. Our customer service teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in 14 languages.
In a market that’s growing rapidly as travelers increasingly look for fully digital services, we believe Orange Travel has all the ingredients needed to become one of the sector’s leading players.”
What is Orange Travel’s strategy for carving out its position in this new market?
F. B: “Orange Travel mainly targets travelers whose everyday operator isn’t Orange, particularly North Americans traveling in Europe.
For those travelers, buying an eSIM from a trusted European operator provides extra peace of mind. The next step is building a long-term relationship, so they’ll come back to Orange Travel for future trips, wherever they happen to be going.
Partnerships are also helping us grow faster. We’ve recently teamed up with companies such as Accor, Selectour, and Trip.com.
Accor helps us reach an international customer base and better understand how people travel. Selectour’s advisors can support customers who want guidance or reassurance. And Trip.com helps us connect with travelers across Asia.”
Is eSIM just for roaming?
F. B: “Today, our focus is still very much on travel connectivity, but eSIM will quickly go beyond that. The real advantage is flexibility and discretion. People can have multiple SIM profiles on the same phone and access different plans, often without any long-term commitment. It's like having work and personal lines combined into a single phone. That’s where things start to get really interesting.”
- eSIM: A fully digital SIM card that can be purchased and activated online. Not all smartphones currently support eSIM technology, although adoption is growing quickly.
- Roaming: The ability to use your mobile plan abroad through agreements between telecom operators.
