Airtel Nigeria launches eSIM, joins 9mobile and MTN

Telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has introduced eSIM (embedded SIM) – a digital SIM that enables customers to access the same functionality as someone using a physical SIM.

This was made known on Tuesday after the company released a statement explaining that the eSIM service is now immediately available on its network.

In his remarks, the Ag. Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Oshinlaja, said that the company remains committed to championing digital inclusiveness as well as being at the forefront of making the lives of their customers easier.

“Airtel Nigeria is always at the forefront in championing technological advancement and creating innovative platforms and opportunities that will make life better, more exciting, and more enjoyable for all those in our stakeholder value chain.”

“It is therefore our commitment to continue to create offerings that will expand and deepen our digital footprints in line with our positioning as the network of first choice in Nigeria for everything mobile Internet, digital, and home broadband.”

With the introduction, the telecom operator becomes the latest to launch embedded sims, joining the likes of MTN and 9mobile who launched the service last year.

Customers who want to convert from their current physical SIM cards to eSIMs must make sure they have a suitable device, get the necessary QR code, and follow instructions from Airtel support representatives during a SIM Swap process.

The digital SIM, according to Airtel, would considerably increase Nigerians’ productivity and aid its stakeholders in achieving their personal and professional objectives. Airtel claims to have devised a straightforward and error-free process to activate the eSIM service for all of its customers.

What the eSIM offers
eSIM is a software-based digital chip, a product of advanced technology, embedded by the manufacturer directly into the device without a physical sim.

It replaces the conventional physical plastic SIM card and offers a number of advantages over the limited single-device use of the traditional SIM card, including multiple usage and adaptation of one subscriber profile across a wide range of mobile communication devices, internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) apps, including smart commuting, metering, tracking, and surveillance.

The eSIM also offers several benefits over the traditional SIM cards as it is quick and straightforward to set up online, planet-friendly, plastic-free/zero carbon emission, and provides an easy extra line as you can use two numbers without needing two phones/handsets.

With eSIM, tourists, businesspeople, and people moving to other countries can quickly switch networks without having to buy a new phone, get a different SIM card, or roam their lines.

Local users can also benefit from switching mobile providers if they find a better offer or better local network coverage. This saves time since ordering and waiting for a new SIM can all be done from your phone’s settings using the eSIM app, as well as communicating with carriers.

The eSIM journey in Nigeria started in 2020 with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approving MTN and 9mobile to commence a trial of the technology. The trial was to run for one year and it involved testing 5,000 e-SIMs by the two networks, subject to compliance with some regulatory conditions. Technext