topic Re: eSIM for pay-as-you-go in Account and services

eSIM for pay-as-you-go

NFH — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:18:15 GMT

Three made a number of public statements on Twitter about its support for eSIM:

At https://twitter.com/ThreeUKSupport/status/1070417499529859074 on 5th December 2018 that “we’re working with Apple on supporting eSIM and plan to introduce soon as we can”;
At https://twitter.com/ThreeUKSupport/status/1144611540382957568 on 28th June 2019 that “we’re currently testing eSIMs for various phones to make sure you guys get the best possible experience we expect to be able to support these in autumn 2019”;
At https://twitter.com/ThreeUKSupport/status/1222586575290355712 on 29th January 2020 that “we're planning on launching eSIM for phones in spring 2020”;
At https://twitter.com/ThreeUKSupport/status/1254757951786692608 on 27th April 2020 that “in regards to esim, unfortunately, due to coronavirus, we’ve had to delay our trials, which were due to take place in march. this is now likely to move out to june/july with launch in september";
At https://twitter.com/ThreeUKSupport/status/1300096161118932992 on 30th August 2020 that “We'll be launching the eSIM this September!”; and
At https://twitter.com/ThreeUKSupport/status/1309531585037955073 on 25th September 2020 that “eSIM is finally here”, followed by multiple similar tweets over subsequent days and weeks.

It's almost 3 years since Three announced eSIM had been launched on 25th September 2020, which turned out to be a botched launch that was withdrawn during subsequent weeks. Three later referred to the botched eSIM launch as a "trial", even though the trial had already taken place in June and July 2020.

Although eSIM was relaunched for new tariffs in January 2023 and for existing pay monthly tariffs in August 2023, it remains unavailable for pay-as-you-go customers. Will this omission be rectified before the 3-year anniversary of Three's public announcement of support for eSIM?

What is causing this ongoing 3-year delay? How much longer do we need to wait? Another 3 years?

Re: eSIM for pay-as-you-go

Clever-Trevor — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:35:23 GMT

I guess you will be long gone before we see a pay-Go e-sim - I use, Ubigi as easy to install & works great.

Re: eSIM for pay-as-you-go

NFH — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:32:25 GMT

I want my everyday Three UK number on an eSIM so that I can always receive phone calls, as well as two-factor authentication SMSs from organisations, while I am using another physical SIM card in my iPhone. At the moment, I have to remove my Three UK SIM card whenever I am using another physical SIM card, for example when travelling, with the result that I miss incoming calls and I can't receive two-factor authentication SMSs from organisations. I don't see how Ubigi solves this.

Re: eSIM for pay-as-you-go

Clever-Trevor — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:36:46 GMT

Ubigi ( or an e-sim ) solves exactly that for me.

As iPhone & others allow 2 sims to run simultaneously- (one physical -Three SIM & one -Ubigi e-sim ) so I set Ubigi to run data ( Three SIM data off ) & then Three sim still runs for receiving calls but for roaming incoming & any (MFA) sms

Hope this helps

Re: eSIM for pay-as-you-go

NFH — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:11:00 GMT

No, this doens't help at all. How does Ubigi help me to operate my Three UK number and my Three Ireland number simultaneously in my iPhone? Three UK doesn't support eSIM on prepaid, and Three Ireland still doesn't support eSIM at all. At least one of the two numbers needs to be on an eSIM.