A move by digital bank Revolut to offer eSIMs for its UK customers could ignite the eSIM market, according to Luc Vidal, head of M2M and IoT business at BICS.

Revolut, a global financial app with over 35 million customers worldwide and more than eight million in the UK, has become the first financial institution to offer eSIMs and global data plans to its UK customers. Revolut eSIM lets customers roam like a local, and stay connected without unexpected roaming charges and interruptions.

“ESIMs put customers in the driving seat of their connectivity,” said Vidal. “It makes it easier to change providers, allowing customers to digitally activate or change service plans in a matter of minutes, without having to receive a physical SIM card or visit a store in person. This will create healthy competition to improve network performance and customer service.”

Revolut customers on eSIM compatible devices will have access to the eSIM, regardless of their plan. Once installed, they will be able to top up data wherever they go, without any need for a physical SIM. Connecting the eSIM lets them use the Revolut app without using up their mobile data allowance, so if a Revolut customer lands in a country and doesn’t have data access, they can still access their Revolut app and use all the products and features, including topping up their data if they run out.

“At Revolut, we harness technology to simplify our customers’ lives, and that’s precisely what our eSIM accomplishes,” said Elyas Sadou, product owner of eSIM at Revolut (www.revolut.com). “It offers seamless access to mobile data, eliminating the inconvenience of high prices or the need to buy and organise a physical SIM card. Whether you are in the USA, Australia or Egypt, you can effortlessly secure a data plan with just a few taps on your phone, and then instantly share those breath-taking photos of your trip with friends and family. It’s a game-changer for people who love to travel.”

Vidal from BICS (www.bics.com) described this as an “interesting move from Revolut and one that could ignite the eSIM market with more digital-first businesses looking at including eSIMs as part of their offering”.

He added: “It may not be long before it is commonplace for consumers to have multiple numbers linked to their device using eSIMs, which can be from different operators and serve different purposes. For example, one for personal use, one for travel abroad, one for business and even one for their favourite sports content provider.”