eSIM is a step into the future in Egypt
What is known is the regular SIM card, which is a physical chip that is inserted into mobile phones to make calls and for other tasks, but the electronic SIM cards (eSIM) are considered a relatively new electronic breakthrough for most people, and today we will discuss everything related to the electronic SIM cards (eSIM), and is Egypt on its way to replacing the regular SIM card with the electronic SIM cards (eSIM)?
What are eSIMs?
eSIM is a technology used in mobile phones and other smart devices for wireless communication. What makes it different is that it does not take the form of a physical SIM card and is not removable.
What is the difference between eSIM and regular SIM cards?
eSIMs are the digital version of traditional SIM cards. Instead of having a physical card inserted into your phone, an eSIM is actually built into the device. This means you don’t have to worry about losing, damaging, or even stealing your SIM card, and eSIMs also free up more space inside your phone.
Features of eSIM
There are many advantages to electronic chips:
- eSIMs are difficult to lose or steal because they are integrated into the device, and this is considered one of the strongest advantages that distinguishes them from regular SIM cards.
- When traveling abroad, you no longer need to buy new SIM cards when you arrive at your destination, because eSIM cards allow you to easily add an international plan to your device that starts working as soon as you arrive in another country.
- If you have one phone for work and one for personal use, you can use eSIMs to manage both lines on the same device, saving you the hassle of carrying two separate phones.
- It is flexible, you can easily add new phone lines or switch mobile networks remotely using a card, because you can commit to a line for life and at the same time you can try all the telecom companies to find out the best and most suitable for you, this will lead to a competitive war between all telecom companies to maintain their customers, in addition to that you can try local and international telecom companies and benefit from the many offers provided by them.
Which phones support eSIM?
To know which phones support eSIM, you can read this in our article and everything will be explained in the most accurate details:
What is eSIM and when will it be supported in Egypt?
After knowing the types of phones that support eSIM, the next question will automatically arise: What will I do if my phone does not support eSIM?
Find out if your phone supports eSIM or not
Of course, we have learned above about the phones that support eSIM electronic chips. Most of us may not have mentioned our phone in this list, and this has caused inconvenience to some, because we will likely resort to buying a new phone to be compatible with eSIM, but there are phones that were not mentioned, but they support this electronic chip. To find out if your phone is one of them, follow the following steps:
Check your phone specifications:
- Search for your phone's name online to see if it supports eSIM cards.
- Look for “eSIM” in your phone’s specifications or settings to see if it supports eSIM. If it’s listed, your phone supports eSIM.
Use USSD code:
- Dial *#06# on your phone, put the asterisk to the right to write the code correctly.
- If you see a message that says “EID” (eSIM Identification Number), your phone supports eSIM.
Check your phone settings:
- Go to “Settings”, then “Phone”, then “Phone Lines”.
- If there is an option to “Add a Cellular Line,” it means your phone supports eSIM.
Contact your carrier:
- Make sure your carrier supports eSIM .
- Ask about available eSIM plans.
- Request help activating eSIM on your phone.
Hence, we have explained the methods that help you know if your phone supports eSIM chips. With the many advantages of these chips, there are also some disadvantages that we should know about.
Disadvantages of eSIM:
- One of the notable drawbacks is that it is not as widely available as regular SIM cards.
- Its price is higher than regular SIM cards.
These are considered the most important and famous defects of eSIM, which, from my personal perspective, can be addressed with time and the rapid development currently occurring in the world, as happened with regular chips at the beginning of their emergence.
Are eSIMs available in Egypt?
The Arab Republic of Egypt is on a major transformation journey towards the future through eSIM cards, a very strong step that Egypt took in September 2023, when the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced the start of tests that will contribute to the launch of the eSIM electronic chip service.
Finally, after a long wait, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced the date for issuing electronic communication chips before the end of this year 2024.
Read also:
What is eSIM and when will it be supported in Egypt?