Want An eSIM With Your Flight? Kayak And Celitech Have A Plan

12.11.2023 - 14:13 / forbes.com

When Edward Tsien booked a trip to Bucharest, Romania, through Kayak, he noticed something he'd never seen on a travel site: an offer to buy an eSIM to stay connected when he was in Europe.

"I've seen hotels, car rentals, all sorts of insurance, and even a tour package in my booking path," says Tsien, a computer research scientist from Boston. "But not an eSIM offer."

He'd better get used to it.

Selling eSIMs through a travel site is a fast moving trend. Kayak's partnership with Celitech, a business-to-business creator of eSIM products, is only the first in a series of agreements that could revolutionize the way you get connected when you're abroad — and maybe even, at home.

The latest phones have the ability to download an eSIM (short for embedded SIM) which allows you to activate a cellular data plan without having to use a physical SIM card. In the short term, that renders all of those little airport shops that sell physical SIM cards obsolete. But down the road, it could disrupt the telecommunications industry, making the need for cellular plans as dated as a rotary phone.

More than 1.5 billion smartphones globally will have eSIMs for cellular connectivity by next year, and that number is projected to grow to 3.5 billion by 2027.

"eSIM technology is a game-changer," says Al Fares, the CEO of Celitech. "It is a new way of consumer communication services — and right now, the low-hanging fruit is travel."

That's how the meta-search engine Kayak sees it, too. International travel has been trending upwards for the last year, with flight and hotel searches up between 13% and 28% for 2024, according to the company.

"As international travel continues to rise, the significance of eSIM cards has become increasingly relevant," says Alex Hlivka, director of commercial partnerships at Kayak. “Recognizing the necessity, particularly among budget-conscious travelers, we’ve partnered with Celitech so staying connected and informed when on the road is as easy and seamless as possible.”

But why are international travelers getting these eSIM offers when they book travel? What are the benefits of eSIM technology, and what will it do in the future? The answer is: Much more than you would think.

If you travel internationally, chances are you'll see an eSIM offer at some point.

"No matter where your travels take you, keeping your phone connected is a must," explains Abe Burak, co-founder of Airalo, a business-to-consumer provider of eSIMs. "But the traditional methods of connectivity when traveling — roaming fees, the hassle of finding a physical SIM card, navigating provider international data packages, or staying offline altogether — can be hugely frustrating and unsafe."

Also, travel companies are keen to get their