eSIM use for international travel surges this summer, overtaking traditional roaming

eSIM continues to gain momentum among travellers and has become the fastest-growing connectivity technology this summer. According to the Holafly 2026 Summer Travel & eSIM Report, 30% of travellers plan to use an eSIM during their holidays, representing an increase of 9.1 percentage points compared with last summer.

The growth comes alongside a stronger desire to travel. Eighty-two percent of respondents say they intend to travel this summer, up from 73% a year ago. In addition, 46.4% will travel to international destinations, driving demand for connectivity solutions tailored to overseas trips.

For these journeys, eSIM has become the preferred option, accounting for 38.7% of users and overtaking traditional roaming, which has fallen to 32.6%. Local SIM cards account for 22.4%, while exclusive reliance on Wi-Fi has dropped to 12.3%.

The report attributes this growth to lower costs, greater convenience, flexibility and instant activation, features that have been particularly attractive to business travellers.

Adoption also varies by age. Among travellers aged 25 to 34, 46.5% will use an eSIM this summer, while the figure reaches 42.7% among those aged 18 to 24.

However, from the age of 35 onwards, roaming once again becomes the most widely used option, with a 29.2% share, rising to 40.5% among travellers aged over 55. According to the study, this preference is mainly driven by established habits, despite more than 90% of users reporting problems when relying on their home operator's network abroad.

Regulation also plays a key role. Within Europe, roaming remains the leading option with a 40.9% preference rate, thanks to the 'Roam Like at Home' regulation, while eSIM accounts for 21.9%.

Business travellers favour eSIM

The report also highlights significant differences between business and leisure travellers. Among business travellers, eSIM is the most popular choice, with 31.4%, ahead of local SIM cards (26.4%) and roaming (25.9%).

Among leisure travellers, the picture is slightly different. Roaming remains the most popular option, with 30%, followed by eSIM (26.3%) and local SIM cards (25.2%).

This preference is especially evident for travel within Europe, where the 'Roam Like at Home' framework makes roaming the easiest option for many travellers. In this context, roaming reaches 40.9% usage, while eSIM accounts for 21.9% of traveller connections.