eSIM - what is this technology and how to activate it in Belarus?

Technology does not stand still. Smartphones are improving every day. Even 10 years ago, you had a huge SIM card in your phone. And now a very tiny nano-SIM. This is the kind of technological evolution.

Today we will tell you about an even more advanced technology - eSIM. In the vastness of Belarus, this is still "exotic", although it is already supported by many foreign operators. If you think about what phones were like 50 years ago, then you immediately understand that there were no smartphones at all. There was only a telephone with a disk and a tube.

It was connected by wire to the only state operator. Now everything has become easier - I bought a smartphone and went to connect to the operator that you like. Upon conclusion of the contract, the client receives a SIM card.

SIM-cards are the very chips that are issued by the cellular operator in order to identify the subscriber. The evolution of SIM cards has come a long way, which is almost 30 years old.

At first they were the size of a bank card: type of engineers and salaries

Then they got smaller - with the arrival of the mini-SIM (2FF) format. It lasted 7 years and was replaced first by micro-SIM (3FF), and then in 2012 nano-SIM (4FF):

The new eSIM format eliminates the need to insert chips into a smartphone. "SIMka" becomes virtual. The "e" symbol stands for "embedded". eSIM is a separate chip in a smartphone that can be programmed to work with a specific operator's network.

eSIM is widely used in Apple smartphones. However, Samsung is the first company to launch it into mass production. The Korean company introduced the Gear S2 Classic 3G smartwatch with eSIM in 2016.

Today, eSim is available in the following Apple models:

iPhone Xs, Xs Max, Xr;

iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max;

iPad 2019, iPad Pro 11 and 12.9, iPad Air 2019, iPad Mini 5;

Apple Watch

Google is also promoting eSIM. Its smartphones Pixel 2 and 2 XL, 3, 3A XL, 3 XL, 4, 4 XL support this technology.

Samsung smartphones - Galaxy S20, S20 +, S20 Ultra eSIM are present.

What are the advantages of eSIM?

Saving space: the built-in SIM-card is almost half the size of the usual nano-SIM, thanks to which manufacturers can more efficiently use the space inside the device;

You don't need to go to the company's office to change the operator;

In the event of a theft, the thief cannot disable the SIM card by removing it.

One eSIM can store up to 5 numbers;

By reducing the number of holes in a smartphone, it is easier to make it waterproof;

It is fashionable and technological.

What are the disadvantages? They are, but they are few:

Inability to insert an eSIM card into any phone. Even if you transfer eSIM from one iPhone to another, it will take time for the operator to apply all the settings.

So far, eSim is rarely used and is supported by a limited number of smartphones.

eSIM and regular SIM can work in one smartphone?

Yes. All tablets and smartphones that support eSIM also have at least one regular SIM slot. In fact, these are devices that have the advantage of supporting two SIM cards at once (while the eSIM takes up less space).

Why are major mobile carriers switching to eSIM?

The main reason is that widespread adoption of eSIM is not very profitable for operators. It will be easy for subscribers to change the operator - because of this, cellular companies may lose customers.

How to connect eSIM in Belarus

At the moment, the advanced eSIM technology is supported by the Belarusian mobile operator A1. To connect it, you need to contact the A1 office. There you will receive a QR code, scan it and then you can safely throw away your old nano-SIM.

If you have an iPhone, then to scan and switch to eSIM, you need to go to: Settings -> Cellular -> Add cellular tariff . Then it is recommended to restart the smartphone.

If you want to switch from a regular SIM card to an eSIM, you will need to pay 4.68 BYN (as for replacing a SIM card). An office visit is required.

eSIM will work in Belarus if your smartphone is listed below:

    iPhone XS

    iPhone XS max

    iPhone XR

    iPad Pro 11-inch

    iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)

    iPad Air (3rd generation)

    iPad mini (5th generation)

    iPhone 11

    iPhone 11 Pro

    iPhone 11 Pro Max

    Samsung Galaxy Fold

    Samsung Galaxy S20

    Samsung Galaxy S20 +

    Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Unfortunately, there is no information on eSIM support in Belarus in Google Pixel smartphones yet.