Vodafone UK Launches New 5G Mobile Data Travel eSIM Service
Mobile network operator Vodafone has today launched a new 4G and 5G-ready mobile data (broadband) Travel eSIM service, which now extends to 206 destinations on 700 networks – supported by its GenAI system for customer service. But they’re still just one option in a growing sea of similar services, where standing out is difficult.
The new service – travel.vodafone.com (also available via the iOS and Android app stores) – typically offers a choice of mobile data packages ranging from 1 to 150GB (GigaBytes), with up to 90 days of runtime and mobile hotspot function for multiple devices. But the prices and offers do vary a bit between countries, much as you’d expect.
A variety of data packages are available to choose from, including data top-ups and build-your-own-bundle options, along with the ability to create mobile hotspots. Standard voice calls and text messages are not included, and customers can continue to use these services via their existing or roaming mobile price plans as normal.
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Vodafone are also aiming to complement their Travel eSIMs with corresponding services, including travel insurance, and making it widely available through strategic partnerships with other organisations. The first of these is Uber One, which is offering Travel eSIMs in 44 European countries as part of its new member promotion.
Travel eSIM – How it works
There are four steps to use Vodafone’s Travel eSIM:
1. Select a data package on travel.vodafone.com
2. Receive QR code by email
3. Activate eSIM when you arrive abroad
4. Surf, stream and navigate directly
In terms of customer support, Vodafone said they’ll cover this in various languages using their GenAI virtual assistant, SuperTOBI, which can apparently “understand and respond to complex customer enquiries faster and better than traditional chatbots“. But the use of AI support tends to be a bit of a marmite topic for consumers.
Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone, said:
“With our new digital platform, we are offering users of all networks across the world a worry-free, easy-to-use travel experience in more than 200 countries. The Vodafone Travel eSIM service is set to be the ideal international data service for any mobile user.”
The usual caveats with eSIM do apply here, which means that it acts as a complement (not a replacement) to your existing mobile SIM/plan – this tends to require a bit of extra end-user management in order to avoid bill shocks when abroad (i.e. make sure to disable data on your main SIM/plan, so that the eSIM becomes primary when roaming abroad). You’ll also need an eSIM compatible Smartphone/device.
Prices start at €4/£3.50/$4 for European packages, €6/£5.50/$6 for North America, €8/£7/$8 for the Middle East and €10/£8.50/$11 for data in Africa. But Vodafone doesn’t currently offer ANY “unlimited data” plans, which puts it behind some eSIM travel providers like Holafly. But it’s rates for data capped packages do seem reasonably competitive (e.g. 50GB over 30 days in the USA for £30.50).
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Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Is there any detail on which network(s) are used in each country?
Any they have an agreement with, usually the cheapest with worst service if local Telefonica/O2 is not present. But it is possible to switch manually.
Funnily enough, we were looking at this the other day. Prices aren’t too bad to be fair, still trying to find a roaming SIM for a trip away soon (I have data on BNE from a friend), but I don’t know whether we’d have enough.
tbh it’s a shame that you can’t just request to have these data packages added to your existing SIM card
A perfect example of how to turn a simple thing into something complicated. I am in O2 so every time I am crossing the border I don’t care.
Brits being ripped off again with sterling price being more than than the euro or us dollar pricing.
I wonder if Vodafone will be routing traffic through another country – some of the popular eSIM providers do this. I learned the hard way when I tried to hire an e-scooter in Spain and it thought I was in the Netherlands and wouldn’t let me use it!
I didn’t realise this was new, I used them a couple of weeks ago for a holiday to Turkey & not long been back. Our Vodafone UK plans didn’t include roaming & couldn’t apply an add on for going there. We just needed data for when we might not have hotel WiFi (tickets, emails etc).
I looked around (never done it before – wasn’t sure of all the other sites), and found the pricing to be fairly reasonable. Ordering, installing and activating really straightforward, I didn’t have any issues when out there. We tethered my partner and daughters’s phones to mine when needed. Maybe I was lucky 😉
“Activate eSIM when you arrive abroad”
I’m pretty sure you need an existing working data connection to activate an ESIM so these instructions sound like they’re designed to cause a catch-22 situation where you still have to pay your existing network for roaming in order to activate the new SIM! Surely it would be more logical to activate the ESIM before you leave your home country?
Get Vodafone Travel Plan through Esim.net. You get 25 get in the USA and 500 at home for 30 days for £23.50. Plus unlimited calling in country plus to and from the Uk
They did just block my Sim card for calling a Bermudian number whilst in Bermuda which they say they offer.
They blocked my sim for overages and when I contacted them, they said I called a Bermudian number from Canada.
I’ve never been to Canada. My following email has been ignored.
Frustrating, ended up getting a Digicel Sim for $120 instead.
easysim global is cheaper
3 offered the best one before I could find.
I only went with them because of it and most of my travel in over Asia.
holafly is the bestest travel esims.