When travelling overseas, one of the biggest challenges travellers face is regarding SIM card usage. Activating international roaming on SIM cards can be incredibly expensive, making it an unsuitable option for most budget-conscious travellers. But if you replace your standard SIM card with a local SIM card upon landing, you lose access to all the messages and calls received on your primary SIM card.
Holaflysolves this conundrum by offering eSIMs that allow you to connect to the internet in any country without trouble. If you’re travelling to the USA, you have to simply scan a QR code in your iPhone to activate the virtual SIM, giving you access to fast internet at an affordable rate. But how do you activate and use Holafly eSIM on your iPhone in the USA?
In this article, we describe what eSIMs are, how they work, and howHolafly eSIMscan help you while travelling in the USA.
What is an eSIM, and how does it work?
An eSIM, short for an embedded SIM, is basically a virtual SIM card that allows you to add a data plan to your iPhone or smartphone. You have to scan a QR code on your iPhone to activate the eSIM and access the data plan. The eSIM is already located inside most of the advanced, premium smartphones, so you don’t have to insert a physical SIM card.
Setting up an eSIM is extremely simple. Once you purchase the Holafly SIM for the chosen country, you receive a QR code. You have to scan the QR code using your camera, and the plan will automatically get transferred to your phone. After scanning the QR code, you have to follow a few simple steps to choose whether the SIM will be used for calls and data or only data.
The following is an overview of the eSIM activation steps:
Holafly, an international eSIM shop
Holafly is a Spain and Colombia-based start-up that offers eSIMs to travellers who want to stay connected while travelling overseas. The Holafly eSIM store offers SIM and eSIM cards for 100+ destinations in 4 languages, including the USA. TheUSA international travel eSIMoffers up to 30GB of extremely fast internet and reliable connection, so you can stay connected without activating international roaming or purchasing a local SIM in the USA.
Benefits of using an eSIM in the USA:
Requirements for using the iPhone with an eSIM:
Other alternatives for using your iPhone in the USA
If you don’t have a compatible iOS or iPhone, you have two other alternatives for using your iPhone in the USA - activate international roaming or buy a local SIM card in the USA.
Activate international roaming
International roaming is one of the most convenient (and expensive) ways to remain connected while travelling. If you’re in the UK, you can activate international roaming for a specific period or indefinitely for your travels to the USA, giving you access to international data and minutes. But the charges for international roaming are fairly high.
For example, the following is a rough estimate of the international roaming charges for the USA from the UK on some of the most popular networks - Vodafone, EE, and Three.
Buying a local SIM card in the USA
If international roaming seems too expensive, you can also purchase a local SIM card once you land in the USA. Some of the best network providers in the USA are T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. You can purchase prepaid SIM cards from airports, Walmart stores, shopping malls, or the operators’ local stores. When purchasing SIM cards in stores, you will need your passport with a valid VISA and a passport photograph.
The following are the primary challenges associated with buying local SIM cards in the USA:
Which operators are eSIM-enabled?
In the USA, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon are the primary eSIM-enabled operators. Please note that eSIM is mainly meant for contract customers or for SIM to eSIM switchovers.
Which mobile network frequencies work in the USA?
In the USA, most of the network providers work at 3G or 4G frequencies, i.e., frequencies up to 2.5Gigahertz. The 5G network, which has a frequency of up to 95 Gigahertz, started rolling out in the USA in 2018, but network providers are consistently increasing coverage to additional cities around the country.
