Apple's Embrace of eSIM Will Hit Carriers' Roaming Revenue: Analyst
Apple's increased adoption of eSIM marks a new challenge for mobile operators worldwide, GlobalData telecommunications analyst Emma Mohr-McClune said Wednesday. Apple unveiled several generations of its iPhone line this week, including the eSIM-supported Air, which won't have a physical SIM…
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slot, and the iPhone 17 series, which will also be eSIM-only in a variety of markets, including the U.S., Mohr-McClune said. That means mobile operators everywhere must set up retail and online support channels for new eSIM onboarding customer issues and publish clear eSIM usage guidelines and FAQ for users, she said. They also will need to ready themselves for the loss of national and international roaming service revenue in the midterm, as owners of these eSIM-only devices see how convenient it is to switch using mobile number portability and how affordable alternative, eSIM-activated roaming plans are, she added. Mohr-McClune said original equipment operators likely will take the same eSIM exclusivity steps.