Airalo, which describes itself as the world’s first and largest eSIM platform, is replacing its per-trip installation model with a single-install experience for its more than 30 million customers. The phased rollout began on November 9, 2026 and is expected to complete within twelve months.
Under the new system, users install one eSIM on their device and add data packages as needed from that point forward. There is no reinstallation between trips.
The company says customers will also be able to top up or buy a new package without wi-fi or a secondary active SIM, even if their existing package has already expired, and can test their connection before departure rather than waiting to arrive at their destination.
The shift is built on Airalo’s own core network, which the company built to give it direct control over connection quality and consistency. Package options are also being simplified: the new experience includes flexible 1–30 day unlimited packages for most destinations, fixed 30-day packages, and fixed 365-day global packages.
“As the first and largest eSIM platform on the market, we created early demand for app-based travel connectivity. Building our own core network was the logical next step towards borderless connectivity. This allows us to deliver an install-once experience, while maintaining control over the quality our customers have come to expect. At the end of the day, connectivity is not about data; it’s about telling your loved ones you’ve landed. We built our own network so that it is never left to chance, install once, and connection follows you across borders,” Davide Vitiello, CPO of Airalo said in a statement.
GSMA Intelligence forecasts eSIM smartphone connections will reach 4.9 billion by 2030, roughly doubling between 2025 and 2026 alone. Airalo frames the infrastructure investment as a response to that trajectory and to rising customer expectations as the category matures.
