e-SIMs have become an affordable, easier way for consumers to remain connected while traveling – no more expensive and tricky-to-provision international roaming! – and to more quickly add multiple phone numbers to their device, for personal and work use.

All new devices from device manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung and Google include e-SIM capability, while telcos offer pre- and post-paid price plans for e-SIMs – these dynamics drive e-SIM penetration and usage.

Globally, over a third of consumers, 34%, spend between £20-£40 annually buying e-SIMs, according to MEF’s 11th Annual Consumer Survey. Almost a third, 30%, spend over £40 per year; 16% spend over £50 a year. The data suggests most consumers primarily use e-SIMs as a one-off while traveling, since pre- and post-paid price plans for e-SIMs are comparable to those for SIMs, meaning a higher proportion of users would otherwise be spending more. In Egypt however, 42% of consumers spend between £40-£50 per year – three times the global average!

The full report, and all survey data from over 11,000 respondents across 17 countries, is now available to download from MEF Data.