1p Mobile UK Finally Spotted Starting to Deploy eSIM Support UPDATE
Mobile network operator 1p Mobile appears as if it may finally be introducing eSIM (Embedded SIM) support to their service, which follows months of waiting after previous promises evaporated (example). Several customers spotted the feature today, but the launch currently appears to be suffering from a few teething issues.
Just to recap. The eSIM standard is an alternative to physical SIM cards, which works by essentially embedding a digital SIM into your device (Smartphone) that could – once fully implemented – make it easier and quicker to switch between operators (e.g. not having to wait for a SIM card to arrive) and to use additional networks alongside your main mobile service (e.g. eSIMs for travel when abroad).
Officially, the provider’s website currently still states that they only support physical SIM cards. But the first solid sign of a change came on Thursday last week, after one of 1p’s support agents said that eSIM “should be introduced within the next week” and “existing customers will be able to switch with a replacement SIM” (here).
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Fast-forward to today and a number of ISPreview’s community members started to report that eSIM support had finally become available to them on 1p Mobile’s website (here and here), albeit seemingly attached to a £2.50 charge for those wanting to swap from their existing physical SIM.
But no sooner than the feature had appeared, and it promptly vanished again. One of our forum members, Sprogletto, claims to have been told by 1P’s support department that this was because the operator had suffered from a few “coding” issues and temporarily took eSIM off the website until they could be resolved (hopefully by later today). We’ll keep an eye out for further updates and report back.
UPDATE 3:59pm
After the earlier issues, eSIM support now appears to have been reintroduced to their website.
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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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About time! I’m a bit scared to transfer my existing sim at the moment until so I decided to buy one of the £1 sims and try it out that way instead. Worked absolutely fine, took a few minutes for the eSIM to appear in my account and then a further 15 minutes or so to activate once I instructed the system to do so. All seems to be working as expected at the moment! Maybe I will be a dare devil and convert my main sim tonight
I got sick of waiting for this so i went over to EE – Got the same price as the Unlimited sim with Apple one in it too
Also worth noting that at the time of writing (1429) eSIMs can be ordered again.
Yup – Just a screenshot Mark nothing more
https://ibb.co/JRXSxqnF
And about time too!
I really don’t see the problem with a physical sim to be honest, you use a different network just stick another in.
How often do most people change their Sim, unless they are forever changing their network.
I am fine with the physical sim, if I buy a new phone, I just stick it in, no mucking around online telling my provider I changed to another phone.
@Ad47uk
Unfortunately I suspect more phones will start ditching physical sims altogether much like the headphone jack.
Playing devil’s advocate, I suspect the main response to your post though will be ‘how often are you changing phones you need a physical sim, it only take a few minutes, etc. etc.’.
Although personally I do prefer having physical Sims to just keep things simple and something that works offline, has come in handy every now and then even if it is once in a blue moon. There are times when I’ve had to put a dead sim in phones just to use the thing for non-cellular stuff.
> I really don’t see the problem with a physical sim to be honest,
I grow *so tired* of hearing this. You want a physical SIM? Fine – good for you. My phones don’t have a sim tray. I *need* an eSIM.
Ad47uk, and that fine… for as long as phones still have somewhere to put a SIM card. With Apple launching the iPhone Air, other manufacturers will most likely follow with eSIM-only devices.
Much the same as removable batteries….
I am guessing people are frequently still changing phones in 2025. For me I only have one phone that supports esim’s and it still has physical sim as well.
I see the merits of both options, and 1p should have got to this earlier. My preference will remain esim, unless of course esim becomes my only option.
Not really a problem with plastic sims, it’s just that if you need two sims, one has to be an esim with most phones.
Wait…. has 1p Mobile deployed eSIM before Plusnet has fully deployed IPv6?
I don’t believe it!
Where do I swap my regular sim for an esim? It doesn’t seem clear to me. Thanks
Unfortunately for existing customers it seems they charge £2.50 to issue a ‘replacement’ eSIM. Although, if happt to do so from what I can gather you need to log into your online account and navigate to ‘SIM & network settings’ page and under the SIM details there is part called ‘Replacement SIM’ and a Order button next to that where you can get one.
£2.50 chargeable fee for eSims, they can bugger off. No thanks.
Great to see 1p mobile have launched eSIM but I’ve been doing some testing no network provider should not be charging customers £2.50 each time if the customer generates a new eSIM maybe to re-install or install on a new device their no section on the 1p mobile dashboard to reveal your current eSIM information all the other main networks keeps the customers eSIM information securely stored on their account. But 1p mobile are choosing not to and forcing customers to pay £2.50 to order a replacement eSIM which is not needed if you are re-installing or to
Install on a new device. Needs to be reported to ofcom.