eSIMs in Switzerland: Questions and Answers

SIM cards have been in use for around 30 years now. Over that time, they have consistently shed unneeded plastic and become smaller. The eSIM is the next generation of SIM, and will gradually replace SIM cards.

1. What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a rewritable electronic component capable of storing the same information found on SIM cards. The term eSIM stands for embedded SIM. It is permanently embedded directly in the hardware of your phone, smartwatch, tablet, laptop or other device. SIM information can be loaded directly to the eSIM. This means you no longer need to insert a separate SIM card.

You can load new SIM data to an eSIM using any Internet connection. You do not have to change out the SIM card.

A SIM card could be illustrated as a passport: It provides a unique ID which identifies you on a mobile network. An eSIM, on the other hand, is more like a wallet which can store multiple passports.

2. What are the requirements for using an eSIM?

There are three main requirements for using an eSIM:

• Firstly, your phone or other device must have an eSIM component.
• Second, your mobile service provider has to support eSIM services.
• Thirdly, eSIMs from your mobile service provider cannot be blocked by the maker of your phone or other device.

3. Which mobile service providers support eSIMs?

Apart from the three main Swiss telecom network operators Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt, eSIMs were previously only offered by a handful of Swiss mobile service providers.

That has changed in recent years, and eSIMs are now offered by nearly all Swiss mobile service providers including Coop Mobile, Digital Republic, Galaxus Mobile, Lebara, M-Budget Mobile, Swype, Wingo, and Yallo.

But there are some, like Go Mo, Lidl Connect, and Mucho Mobile, that do not currently offer eSIMs.

Generally, eSIMs are offered for both mobile plans and prepaid mobile offers. Aldi Suisse Mobile is an exception in this regard because only its mobile plans have the option of using an eSIM.

The unbiased mobile plan comparison on moneyland.ch lets you filter offers based on whether they have the option of using an eSIM. Just select the eSIM filter to find all eSIM-compatible offers.

4. Which devices support eSIMs?

Each phone manufacturer has its own strategy. Apple and Google have had a strong focus on eSIM functionality since 2018. Nearly all iPhones and Pixel phones sold in recent years support eSIMs.

The eSIM function is less common on phones from other manufacturers.

• Apple iPhone: All iPhone models released since 2018 support eSIMs. In concrete terms, that means the iPhone 11 on up, and the iPhone XS and iPhone XR.
• Samsung: More expensive models like the Galax S and Galaxy Z series, in particular, are likely to support eSIMs. The Galaxy S20 was the first Samsung phone with eSIM functionality. Cheaper Samsung phones generally do not support eSIMs.
• Huawei: Only a few Huawei devices support eSIMs. Models that can be used with eSIMs include the Mate 40 and some versions of the P 40.
• Xiaomi: Xiaomi was later in bringing eSIM-compatible phones to the market. The Xiaomi 12T Pro and several versions of the Xiaomi 13 support eSIMs.
• Nokia: Only a few Nokia models can be used with eSIMs. The first devices to include this function were the Nokia X30 and the Nokia G60.
• Google Pixel: Google was a forerunner of the new SIM technology. All Pixel phones released since 2017 come with eSIM functionality.

Other phone makers like Motorola, Oppo, and Sony also offer some models that are compatible with eSIMs. A good first step is to get informed about whether or not a device can be used with eSIMs before you buy it.

Important: If you use a newer Apple iPhone, it can take some time for an eSIM from a Swiss telecom service provider to be activated.

Some tablets have eSIM capabilities. Be aware that there are often several versions of the same tablet, and not all versions can connect to mobile networks. The cheaper version of a tablet often will not have eSIM functionality. In the case of tablets from Apple, there are versions of each model that support eSIMs. With other brands, like Samsung and Huawei, eSIM-compatible versions are only available for specific models.

eSIMs are widely built into recent smart watches. Both the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch can be used with eSIMs.

5. How do I activate an eSIM?

eSIM data is only available in digital form, which means you cannot change mobile plans or service providers by simply replacing the physical SIM card.

You have to add a new eSIM to your devices eSIM component using the device settings. On the iPhone you can add a new eSIM by going to settings and selecting Cellular (Add Cellular Plan). You can then scan the QR code provided by your mobile service provider to load your eSIM information to your phone.

The way in which you receive the QR code necessary for adding new eSIM data varies between telecom service providers.

If you use Swisscom, Sunrise or Wingo, you have to get the QR code via your service provider’s online customer support center. If you buy your device from Sunrise, Sunrise can load its eSIM data directly to your device. Galaxus Mobile and Digital Republic send you the QR code by email. An advantage which these service providers have in common is that the eSIM is activated immediately.

If you use Swype, the eSIM data is loaded directly to your phone via the app.

Salt customers can get eSIM QR codes printed on physical vouchers at Salt dealers. Salt states that it does not deliver the QR code over the Internet for security reasons.

Like physical SIM cards, the individual SIMs which you load to eSIMs also have PIN codes and PUK codes. However, you normally do not need to enter the PIN.

6. What do eSIMs cost?

Many Swiss mobile service providers charge new customers the same fee for an eSIM that they charge for a SIM card. All service providers that give you the option of using an eSIM for prepaid mobile charge the exact same price that they charge for a SIM card.

Fees vary broadly between service providers. Two Swiss mobile service providers do not charge any fee at all. Others charge fees of up to 60 francs. Some service providers call this fee an activation fee.

The fees shown in the table below apply to customers who get a new mobile plan.

Wingo, M-Budget, and Coop Mobile always give you a physical SIM card. But you have the option of changing to an eSIM at no additional charge.

Many mobile service providers let you migrate from a SIM card to an eSIM free of charge, but some charge a fee for this service. These currently include Aldi Suisse Mobile (39 francs), Lebara and Yallo (40 francs), and Salt (59 francs, or free of charge if your SIM card is faulty).

7. What happens when you change devices?

With eSIMs offered by Swiss mobile service providers, you can only use a specific SIM on the specific device which you load it onto. If you get a new device, you have to request a new QR code from your mobile service provider.

For many years, some Swiss telecom companies – including Salt and Sunrise – charged fees to transfer an eSIM from one device to another. Today, all Swiss mobile service providers let you transfer an eSIM from one device to another free of charge. Previously, that was only the case with Swisscom, Galaxus Mobile, and Digital Republic.

8. Can eSIMs be used for mobile roaming?

You can practice mobile roaming using an eSIM. However, not all devices support roaming with eSIMs. For example, roaming is blocked on the Apple Watch.

There are special eSIM cards for tourists offered by international service providers like Airalo, Airhub, Better Roaming, Gigsky, Go Mo World, Holafly, Maya Mobile, Redtea Go, Sim2fly, Truphone, and Ubigi which attract customers with low rates. It is important to study the exact terms and conditions before you buy one of these eSIMs. In practice, data roaming bundles from Swiss telecom service providers often work out cheaper. But there are also offers from international eSIM providers that are indeed very affordable.

9. What are the advantages of using an eSIM?

eSIMs offer many advantages over conventional SIM cards.

• Firstly, you no longer have to insert or replace SIM cards manually.
• Secondly, you can use multiple plans and prepaid mobile services on the same device.
• Thirdly, you can activate new SIMs directly online. You do not need to order a SIM card or visit your mobile service provider’s store or customer care center.
• Fourth, international travelers like tourists and businesspeople can very quickly and easily purchase suitable SIMs for the countries they travel to. However, it will likely take some time before this benefit establishes itself. Currently, only a limited portion of service providers have relevant eSIM offers.
• Fifth, eSIMs give users of phones with just one SIM card slot (like the iPhone) the option of using two phone numbers simultaneously (dual SIM). A physical SIM card can be used for one number, while the eSIM can be used for the second number.

10. What are the disadvantages of using an eSIM?

The biggest disadvantages are the fees you pay to migrate your number from a SIM card to an eSIM, and the limited selection of phones that support eSIMs. Most Android-powered phones cannot be used with eSIMs. That means approximately half of the phones used in Switzerland are not eSIM-compatible.

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