International SIM cards: How to choose and how to stay in touch abroad

Nowadays, the question of how to stay in touch when travelling is on every tourist’s mind. Selecting a SIM card for one’s smartphone is not an easy task, but hopefully this article will help with understanding the different types available in order to find the perfect one for one’s purposes. This article is useful for anyone who wants to stay connected to the Internet without depending on a specific location 24 hours a day. 

At the moment, there are several types of SIM cards that can, for example, provide a phone number US users can contact loved ones with. International SIM cards help stay connected in any part of the world. First, some information about what an international SIM card is. 

An international SIM card is a regular travel SIM card, but with a special tariff that allows making calls from other countries in a very flexible way. Travel SIM card companies enter into contracts with cell phone carriers from different continents and afterward provide international calling services. The conditions they offer are much more favorable than those of local mobile operators.

There are currently two types of international SIM cards on the market. The first is a regular SIM card, which is a chip inserted into a smartphone, but communication is provided at cheap rates. The second international SIM card is a virtual eSim card. 

Let’s take a closer look at each type of SIM card: 

Common and well known: Using the roaming service offered by one’s local SIM card

Travellers sometimes consider purchasing a local SIM card as regular physical SIM cards only work in the country where they are purchased, and are often tied to the local cellular service for maximum speed. Buying a local SIM card is sometimes an economical option, but more often than not there are also many nuances behind buying a local SIM card. For example, one has to look for a place that sells them, on arrival in a new country there will be no connection at first, and sometimes tourists come to countries where the locals only speak their native language so there may be a communication barriers. Also, sometimes local SIM cards can only be connected if one has identification documents from the country of purchase. To avoid fraud and SIM card damage, it’s recommended that users purchase physical SIM cards only from officially retailers or from mobile operators’ shops. Most international airports have official phone provider kiosks, so if a local SIM card is needed, it is better to buy it there. To buy a local SIM card, one usually needs a passport and an unlocked cell phone.

A second option: An international SIM card

An international SIM card can cover several countries at once, such as Europe, North America and even Asian countries. International SIM cards are often purchased before travelling and mailed before one leaves. It’s also possible to install a virtual international SIM card if one’s phone supports this technology. International SIM cards will cost more than local SIM cards, but are more convenient, especially when using an eSIM as a second SIM card on a regular basis. 

International SIM cards are a more convenient way to communicate. Some advantages include:

• Better coverage areas, so they are a great choice for traveling. This is one of the main factors over local SIM cards with roaming, as roaming is connecting to towers with worse communication conditions.
• Economical compared to international roaming. The cost of an international SIM card is usually on par with cell phone costs in one’s home country.
• Can be managed through specialised applications, which simplifies the ability to change tariff or check the remaining traffic on the balance. 
• International SIM cards work similarly to prepaid plans, so all users have to do is buy a SIM card and pay for its use. 

To summarise, an international SIM card is one of the most convenient and reasonable options for keeping in touch while visiting foreign countries, especially if eSIM technology is used. This option is advantageous, as international SIM cards can be used in almost all countries of the world, and international SIM cards work in cooperation with local mobile operators, so communication will be of higher quality.

The editorial unit