What it is, who supports it
| The thing itself | Your plan written into the phone's built-in chip — no plastic |
| Handsets | Recent iPhones and Android flagships broadly supported |
| EE | One of the smoothest in-app issue flows |
| Three & O2 | Issue in minutes via app/website |
| Sky Mobile | Arrived later; support still varies by handset — confirm your exact model first |
Issue & transfer, safely
Request inside the official app or site— QR code or in-app flow; live in minutes.
New phone?— use the network's official transfer flow only.
Switching network, keeping the number— the normal free PAC text (65075); plastic and digital are identical in law.
Watch out: eSIM transfers and activations are FREE through official channels. Any 'transfer service' or 'activation fee' — however official the caller sounds — is a scam.
The travel setup
Before flying— buy a local/regional data eSIM for the destination.
On landing— enable it for DATA only; keep the UK line for calls/texts.
Check the routing— data through the travel eSIM; UK line on airplane-safe settings if needed.
Home again— delete or archive the travel profile; dual-SIM makes this reversible in seconds.