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The future of travel connectivity: eSIM, iSIM, satellites and 5G

Phones without a SIM tray, buying data in a messaging app, plans covering dozens of countries and SIMs built into the processor: what’s already changing for travelers.

Published August 21, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · 10 min read · MoreSim editorial team

Travel connectivity is shifting from a plastic SIM bought at an airport counter to an eSIM you buy online and install at home a couple of days before the flight. More phones ship without a SIM tray, regional plans cover a multi-country route with one install, and the industry’s next step is iSIM, a SIM built into the processor. Satellite messaging and 5G roaming add to mobile data for now rather than replace it.

Why are phones losing the SIM tray?

The most visible shift has happened in the devices themselves. iPhone 14 and newer models sold in the United States are eSIM-only, with no physical SIM tray. According to Apple, the iPhone Air is eSIM-only in every country.

The logic is easy to follow. A built-in eUICC chip never has to come out, you can’t lose it during a layover, and the freed-up space inside the phone can go to other components. The carrier profile downloads from a QR code or activation code, and you can switch it without a trip to a carrier store.

Some markets still work differently, though. iPhone models for mainland China usually come with two physical SIM slots, although according to Apple the iPhone Air, 17e and 18 Pro have eSIM there too. On Android, the picture is mixed: many flagships from Samsung, Google Pixel and other brands support eSIM, but regional versions of the same model can differ. There’s no single standard for a “travel phone” yet, so choose with an eye on the market the phone was made for.

Switching to a new phone is changing too. Many manufacturers have added eSIM transfer between devices right in the settings, and according to Apple, iOS 26 can also move an eSIM between Android and iPhone. It doesn’t yet work with every carrier or every type of profile, so before you change phones, check what to do with each line.

Buying mobile data in a minute, no airport counter needed

The second shift is about where people buy connectivity. A digital profile doesn’t need to be printed, shipped to stores or handed over a counter. So sales have moved to where travelers already spend their time: websites, apps and messaging apps.

MoreSim, for example, sells eSIMs on its website and in the Telegram bot @moresim_bot, which speaks 40 languages. You can pay with Telegram Stars from any country, right in the bot (bank card and SBP payments currently work with cards issued in Russia), and the QR code and profile arrive in the chat in about 30 seconds. That changes the habit itself: people buy connectivity in advance, along with flights, insurance and accommodation.

Topping up is changing as well. When a local SIM ran out of data, it used to mean hunting for a shop, a payment kiosk or a scratch card. With MoreSim, you just open the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app, tap “Top up data” and pick a plan, if top-ups are available for that plan. The data is added to your current profile with no reinstall, and you can see what’s left in the bot and in your account on the website.

Help has moved into the chat along with the purchase. When connectivity is sold online, people expect support to move at the same pace as checkout. MoreSim support is reachable via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email, and the bot checks phone compatibility automatically by model.

The new routine has a flip side: installing the profile, choosing the data line and turning on data roaming are now your job. It takes a couple of minutes in Settings, and good instructions become part of the service itself.

Regional plans instead of one plan per country

Travel routes are getting more complex: two countries in a week, a layover in a third, a cruise with several port calls. Buying a separate SIM for each stop is a hassle and eats time. That’s why regional and global plans now sit alongside single-country plans, covering a whole group of countries with one eSIM.

In the European Union, a similar idea has long worked for local subscribers under the “roam like at home” rule. For visitors from elsewhere, regional eSIMs are becoming the equivalent. The MoreSim catalog covers 200+ destinations, including regional ones such as “Europe”, and each plan’s card lists the countries it covers.

• Several European countries: the “Europe” regional plan, if every country on your route is on its list.
• One country: a plan for that country.
• Other routes: a plan for each country, installed in advance; besides “Europe”, as of October 2026 the catalog has the “Caribbean Islands” and “Australia & Asia” (Australia and New Zealand only) regional plans, and no worldwide ones.

Short transit plans are a niche of their own: a day on the road, when you need to book a taxi and message whoever is picking you up during a layover.

A regional plan isn’t always the better deal, though. If you spend a week in Italy only, a single-country plan may well suit you better than a regional one — compare both in the catalog. If you squeeze several neighboring countries into the same trip, a plan covering dozens of countries saves you buying a separate eSIM at every border. Compare for your specific route: add up the single-country plans from their plan cards, count how many installs you’d need, and put the regional plan with its data and validity next to them.

On the travel eSIM market, unlimited plans now sit alongside data-capped ones: they take away the “will it last the week?” worry, but usually cost more. As of October 2026, the MoreSim catalog has no full-speed unlimited plans: plans for the whole trip have a fixed data allowance, and you top up with “Top up data” on the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app when it runs low, if top-ups are available for that plan. Rule of thumb: if your daily usage is small and predictable, a data plan covers it with room to spare; if you work on the road with video calls and uploads, get plenty of headroom and keep an eye on your balance.

What’s next: iSIM and connectivity in every device

eSIM got rid of the plastic but kept a separate chip on the board. The next stage, which the industry calls iSIM, moves the SIM function right into the device’s main processor. The separate component disappears, and even more space is freed up inside the case.

On a smartphone the difference is barely noticeable, but on compact devices it matters. Smartwatches, tablets, laptops and cars already have built-in connectivity, and the smaller the module, the easier it is to add a mobile network to more of them.

For travelers, this means a gradual shift from “a SIM in your phone” to connectivity across several devices. For now it depends heavily on the manufacturer, model and country, so check compatibility for a tablet or watch as carefully as for a phone.

When a profile loads onto any compatible device in a couple of minutes, connectivity depends less on the nearest carrier store, and the choice shifts toward how easy it is to buy, track your balance and get help.

Satellites, 5G and internet calling: what changes for travelers?

Another direction is connectivity where there are no cell towers. Some smartphones can already send emergency calls and text messages via satellite, but only in certain countries, on supported models and with certain carriers. For regular mobile data on a trip, it’s not a replacement yet, more of a safety net for hikes, mountains and remote coastlines.

5G is a similar story: networks keep growing, but when roaming, access to 5G depends on agreements between carriers and the terms of your specific plan. So even with a new phone, you may see a 4G icon abroad. For maps, messaging apps and navigation, that’s rarely a problem.

The phone call itself is changing in parallel. On many 4G and 5G networks, voice is carried as data too, and for most people messaging apps have long been the main way to keep in touch. That’s why data-only plans no longer feel like a compromise: calls, photos and maps all run on the same bundle of gigabytes.

Wi-Fi calling is another bridge between old and new. Some carriers let you make and receive calls on your regular number over any Wi-Fi network. Support depends on the carrier, the phone model and the country you’re in, so check it in advance.

Your phone number hasn’t gone anywhere, though. It’s still the key to your bank, government services and online accounts. Hence a handy setup: your home SIM stays in the phone for texts, while data on your trip goes through an eSIM as a second line. MoreSim plans are data-only, with no phone number: you call over messaging apps where the country doesn’t restrict them, and if you need a local number, a local SIM provides one.

How to get ready for these changes now

You can get ready for these changes now: check your phone, install eSIMs in advance and set up your lines properly. Most of the changes work in the traveler’s favor, as long as your phone and your habits are ready for them.

1. Check whether your phone supports eSIM. The MoreSim bot has an automatic check by model.
2. When choosing a new smartphone, look at the regional version and make sure it isn’t carrier-locked.
3. For routes through several countries, compare single-country plans with a regional one; as of October 2026, the MoreSim catalog has no worldwide plans.
4. Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi: the plan only starts counting on first connection in your destination.
5. Keep your home SIM as a second line for bank texts, but turn off mobile data on it so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier.
6. Keep support within reach: MoreSim support is available via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email.

No need to chase every new gadget: satellite features and iSIM matter to few people for now, while a compatible phone, an eSIM installed in advance and properly set-up lines already work on any trip.