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Advice needed for UK ESIM number with wifi calling

Spiritos

Casual Member
Hi, I'm from The Netherlands but have been living and working in the UK for close to five years now and am in need of a UK phonenumber. I've been postponing getting tnhis sorted due to not wanting a second phone plus until now I managed just fine without but I need one now asap so it's time to bite the bullet. This is all new territory for me so I am in desperate need of some advice.

I have an iPhone 11 and a Dutch provider (Odido, former Tele2). I work and live as a hotel manager in an area with no phonesignal so I can only call VoiP. It would be great for more formal channels if I can obtain a UK mobile number through ESIM which allows me to call over the WiFi network but would also work on regular 4G/5G. Also text messaging would be great to have.

Preferably I would like to have a fixed proper UK mobile number with pay-as-you-go as I don't need to use it that much so if I could avoid a contract and just buy a data bundle which carries over into a new month and I could top up whenever I need, that would great but if this is not an option a monthly contract of £10 or so would be fine.

I've looked at various options and providers but I find it very hard to see the woods through the trees.

Would someone be so kind to suggest a plan for me and maybe a link or short explanation how this would work? As in, would I need to switch settings in my phone or can In just install ESIM once and can be contacted on this UK number while also being able to receive phonecalls on my Dutch number?

I almost always have my roaming and phone network settings disabled as I can't receive anything anyway in the 'dead zone' where I work and live (The Lakes). Also, technically I'm no longer allowed to maintain my current Dutch contract as I've been abroad for too long but since I've had this number for 30 years I want to keep it and for that I need to travel to The Netherlands and have it transferred to a prepaid SIM. This will be in a couple of months and I don't want to wake sleeping dogs (essentialy I pay about £15 a month just to keep my Dutch number intact) but for now I really need a UK number asap. In this context however, will an ESIM UK number and it's use require me to have these roaming settings set to 'on' (even when 99% of the time I wouldn't use it but only need it to be able to being called)?

I'm unsure if I provided enough information. As said, I'm a bit out of touch with this technology. I downloaded an app from Ubigi that seems to tick all boxes but then again I'm just not sure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Wifi calling is available on the following networks according to this site:


Note that only certain phones support it and it seems to depend on the network as well.

As for eSim availability, only EE, O2, 3, and Vodafone offer eSim but you need a contract unfortunately. Lyca and Spusu offer eSim but no wifi calling.
 
Update - contrary to the list above, my tests show that 3, ID and Lebara wifi calling do not work. 1p Mobile does wifi calling.
 
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Update - contrary to the list above, my tests show that 3, ID and Lebara wifi calling do not work. 1p Mobile does wifi calling.
But do 1p have esim?
 
Thanks. So to boil it down, as 1p indeed doesn't offer EE SIM, in the UK only EE, O2 and Vodaphone offer both ESIM and WIFI-CALLING but require a contract?

That does narrow down the choices. One other option I wonder about is Skype? I find it hard to come across objective reviews with all these providers but would anyone know if there's a benefit in using Skype? It does allow for WiFi calling, incoming and outgoing, texting, pay-as-you-go and the only thing I'm unsure about is if it provides you with a UK mobile rather than a land line number (I have no use for the latter as some UK services I need to register to only accept a mobile number in the application.

PS. I just tried ordering an EE SIM but for that I need to order a physical SIM card first (and so I can't use my Dutch SIM/phonenumber anymore) so that's not an option.
 
Thanks. So to boil it down, as 1p indeed doesn't offer EE SIM, in the UK only EE, O2 and Vodaphone offer both ESIM and WIFI-CALLING but require a contract?

That does narrow down the choices. One other option I wonder about is Skype? I find it hard to come across objective reviews with all these providers but would anyone know if there's a benefit in using Skype? It does allow for WiFi calling, incoming and outgoing, texting, pay-as-you-go and the only thing I'm unsure about is if it provides you with a UK mobile rather than a land line number (I have no use for the latter as some UK services I need to register to only accept a mobile number in the application.

PS. I just tried ordering an EE SIM but for that I need to order a physical SIM card first (and so I can't use my Dutch SIM/phonenumber anymore) so that's not an option.
Three offer esim and wifi calling
 
There is a cheap Vodafone Plan that can be bought on Ebay which includes 40GB unlimited calls and texts each month for 6 months for £15 one time payment

Despite Vodafone not officially supporting it there is a way to convert Pay as you go to esim it includes 4G/WiFi Calling as well this also includes normal Vodafone Sim Cards from shops
 
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Thanks. So to boil it down, as 1p indeed doesn't offer EE SIM, in the UK only EE, O2 and Vodaphone offer both ESIM and WIFI-CALLING but require a contract?

That does narrow down the choices. One other option I wonder about is Skype? I find it hard to come across objective reviews with all these providers but would anyone know if there's a benefit in using Skype? It does allow for WiFi calling, incoming and outgoing, texting, pay-as-you-go and the only thing I'm unsure about is if it provides you with a UK mobile rather than a land line number (I have no use for the latter as some UK services I need to register to only accept a mobile number in the application.

PS. I just tried ordering an EE SIM but for that I need to order a physical SIM card first (and so I can't use my Dutch SIM/phonenumber anymore) so that's not an option.

Just get a second phone and put a 1pmobile sim in it. It will probably be your cheapest option.
 
I've considered a second phone which would seem like the simplest solution but it is because of the whole ESIM concept I stumbled upon (never heard of it or knew this was possible) I want to explore-implement this option. Still I find it impossible to navigate.

I now tried to get a Three ESIM only online, £5 p/m for 12 months but (like with EE) I need to get a physical card first and then change it to an ESIM. The part that worries me is the menu where I need to choose to keep my number or ask for a new one. Since I need a UK number this is my only option but it then further tells me I can (should?) transfer my number later. I just want to be 100% sure I can keep both my Dutch and new UK number once I activated the ESIM. Is this correct?
 
I just want to be 100% sure I can keep both my Dutch and new UK number once I activated the ESIM. Is this correct?
Is the Dutch SIM already an eSIM?

I'm not so sure about the iPhone 11 but with my 14 I can have multiple eSIMs stored, and one of these can be active. While I was travelling in the EU earlier this year, I had a Belgian physical SIM alongside my EE ESIM.

If the Dutch SIM is physical SIM then it's no problem, you can have either SIM active or have them both active if you prefer. The new number thing has no relevance to your Dutch SIM, it's about whether you want a new UK number or if you want to port your existing UK number to them (which I assume you don't have anyway)

I'm surprised you got away without a UK SIM for so long. Even under EU rules, the Dutch network operator could have stopped you from doing this.
 
Thanks for the answer. In the meantime I contacted Three and it is indeed possible as you say to have a UK ESIM next to my Dutch physical SIM.

You're right about your surprise. I've been getting notifications I exceed the limits of use abroad but I think the main reason they let me be is that it's easy money. I reside in areas without a phonesignal so I think in the last five years I've been travelling I made no more than a dozen phonecalls via 4G. The rest is all WiFi. WhatsApp. So I pay €16 a month just to keep my Dutch number alive while my provider has zero costs. I've been meaning to transfer the number to a pre-paid card but I haven't been home in a while and last time was too busy an agenda to find the time to have it changed🙄. I will do so end of this year though when I go home for a couple of weeks as it is a completely ridiculous and unnecessary utility bill indeed.
 
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No problem.

The iPhone has a very good dual SIM functionality - you can turn either SIM on/off and you can set which SIM is the default for phone calls and is used for data. You can also change which SIM to use when dialing a phone number and also you can set the default SIM for each contact (so you could set the Dutch/EU numbers to the Dutch SIM and avoid accidentally paying UK prices)

I didn't read your other posts about networks. I think the only network which requires a contract for wifi calling is O2 (plus Giffgaff, Virgin Mobile, Tesco Mobile, etc). The others don't.

You could go to a supermarket and buy a pay as you go SIM for £1 and try out a network before you commit to a contract, but you will have to use a physical SIM as I don't believe any of them support eSIM on PAYG. Unlike other countries (as I found out in Belgium!) you don't need to validate ID or any other stuff.
 
Thanks for the follow up info. I guess I just have to call the providers as even here (like everywhere on the Web) there is so much conflicting information.

@Mobyle states only EE, O2, Three and Vodaphone offer both ESIM and wifi-calling according to that list but then tested and found Three did not support it. Yet when speaking to two members of their helpdesk they assured me they did. Also they did require a contract and because I use Wise (an online 'bank' much like Revolut and Monzo) they couldn't check my credentials and advised me to either get a 'real' bankaccount or Monzo -which apparently they do accept.

It seems utterly bizar to me all former UK employers, the HMRC, DVLA, AA, Amazon Prime, EBAY etc. all seem to have no problem with Wise but Three (for a 12 month £7p/m contract) does. But this is ofcourse another topic. But a dead end solutionwise for now.

Then EE needs me to use a physical card -which defies the ESIM concept while ESIM.NET says otherwise and then you have all the smaller 'hop-a-long' providers which are too much for me to dissect.

Essentialy I don't need 4/5G as 95% of my time is spent around the hotel I work and live in (with no signal) so the quality of a network is redundant to me. Being able to register online for services and simply having a UK number is no.1 priority now. Contract or not. I just am overwhelmed by the lack of transparity in this market. I'm sure no longer being tuned in to all developments and technology has its degrading effect but I remember 25 years ago I found it a lot easier to shop à la carte.
 
@Spiritos it's a good idea to get a "real" bank account, build some credit history. I'd avoid Monzo, they are total clowns who don't know what they are doing. In fact Wise (I also use them) seem much more competent, but don't have much credibility in UK it seems - perhaps because they left UK after the Brexit thing and moved to native Estonia.

Anyway, I am divagating, having just read that EE is extending their range in the Lake District perhaps it'd just be easier to get a phone which can do dual-sim and get 1pmobile while also having that extra sim slot for your Dutch one. This way you may hopefully get some range while at the same time not have to muck about with new bank accounts etc.
 
I’d recommend Starling if we’re talking newer banks, you can apply through their app and you’ll get a debit card in a couple of days. A real bank in every sense so no one should have problems with it. Monzo are also fully licenced so should be fine as well, though I personally don’t like them because they insist on the app for everything. Starling can also offer Euro accounts that are linked to your GBP account so this may or may not be useful for you.

As for eSIMs - as a general rule, the UK networks seem to limit new features to contract customers first. 4G and wifi calling has made it to pay as you go (except on O2 and its sub brands) but eSIM has yet to jump. Some people have got lucky by going to a network-owned store and asking to be switched over to eSIM, so it’s not like there’s a technical restriction, more a business one. This may be where the confusion lies, this esim.net site might not know the difference.
 
Thanks again. Also for providing a chronological context of the innovations. That does indeed make things a bit more clear.

I know I should open a real bank account. It's mostly been lack of time (working six days a week and the nearest bank an hour's drive away) and to a certain extent laziness or prioritizing. Point taken.

A dedicated phone was something I've been trying to avoid as I'm pretty much tied to IOS architecture for life with dozens of paid apps etc. but one of the issues I also need to resolve is the Dutch vs. UK appstore. No access to my AA app, no parking apps etc. so all things considered it might save me a headache by just buying another phone with a prepaid UK SIM. The ESIM seems a brilliant concept but it seems in my situation it proofs to be too much of a hassle while still leaving some other issues unresolved

Thanks again for the feedback though!
 
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@Spiritos

As an alternative view, is there a Dutch VoIP supplier you could port your Dutch number to?

You could then have a VoIP app on the phone (which would be perfectly happy with any connectivity available) and you then have the choice of UK SIM providers.
 
@Spiritos

As an alternative view, is there a Dutch VoIP supplier you could port your Dutch number to?

You could then have a VoIP app on the phone (which would be perfectly happy with any connectivity available) and you then have the choice of UK SIM providers.
I've found voip is essentially broken on an EE connection, something to watch out for.
 
Thanks for the VoiP suggestion. I do however need a UK number. In this context I looked into Skype as well (which always has good and clear connection and seem to do exactly that) but it seems Skype only provides UK landline numbers and for many online services or when registring with a company they ask specifically for a mobile number.
 
If you could move the Dutch number to VoIP (or ESIM) it would let you use a physical UK SIM with a number.

Alternatively Lyca (use EE) can do you an ESIM on PAYG.


I slightly hesitate to recommend Lyca but now they use EE my primary concern has gone.
 
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