- 1,300 million people already have smartphones that support Esim worldwide
- It is expected that the supply of Esim of travel will increase from 70 million to 280 million by 2030, the report states
- Specialized suppliers are aimed at international travelers, which offer lower cost to traditional roaming
The Global ESIM market shows signs of dramatic expansion, with current forecasts that suggest that 1,300 million people already have a compatible smartphone, a figure that is expected to exceed 3 billion by 2030.
The new figures of the CCS Insight analysts say that Esims travel in particular are promoting growth, with the number supplied throughout the world that is projected to increase from 70 million by 2024 to 280 million for the end of the decade.
The market value is expected to exceed $ 4.4 billion, fed by the increase in international trips and the greatest familiarity with ESIM technology.
Interruption for traditional operators
Specialized suppliers such as Airalo and Holfly aggressively attack international travelers, offering lower cost alternatives to traditional Roaming plans.
In April 2025, Airalo reported 20 million customers, effectively doubling its base in less than a year.
Meanwhile, some airlines and other travel -centered companies have begun to offer their own ESIM services, further challenging Roaming income from mobile operators from mobile operators.
Only a handful, including Vodafone and Orange, have responded with comparable ESIM options, with analysts that suggest that operators must carefully balance defensive strategies with opportunities to involve new or failed customers, expand to additional countries and diversify offers.
CCS Insight discovered that North America is leading adoption, with almost a fifth of international trips that already use travel esims.
The forecasts indicate that this will increase to 41% by 2030, which reflects the widespread use of devices with ESIM capacity, including iPhones only ESIM introduced from 2022.
As the use extends, the best ESIM options for Europe and Asia, which are very large markets, will probably also influence global purchase decisions.
In addition, with the proliferation of ESIMS, the initial advantage in the hands of Travel Esim specialists can decrease, which leads to commercialization.
Analysts anticipate consolidation and diversification within the sector, since saturation reduces interruption opportunities.
For global mobile operators, the decrease in roaming rates represent a clear threat to income; However, it is also an opportunity to rethink commercial models and explore new services in a panorama that changes rapidly.
“The travel esim are returning the traditional roaming market. The influx of new players, a strong drop in prices and the movement towards remote supply is changing the way people think about connecting when they leave,” said Kester Mann, consumer director and connectivity in CCS Insight.
