79 countries

Staying connected in 79 countries

The 79 countries plan suits itineraries that stretch across continents: most of Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus, plus the United States and Canada, Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Laos. It tends to appeal to business travellers connecting through Dubai or Doha on the way to Europe, families combining Umrah with a few European cities, and students based in Europe who also fly to North America.

One thing to keep in mind: Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand and Singapore are not on the list. If your trip includes a stop in East Asia or South-East Asia (other than Laos), check the country table below before you book.

Coverage and networks

This plan covers the destinations listed below, as published in the plan information (78 in total). Check every stop on your route against the table before buying.

Please note: the plan name mentions 79 countries, while the published list has 78. If a destination you need is missing, ask Simtel before paying.

If your trip is Europe only, the 45 countries or 49 countries plans are leaner; adding Latin America or East Africa, look at the 123 countries plan.

Signal and speed depend on where you are, your device and network conditions, and can differ between plans.

Choosing a data allowance

eSIM plans for 79 countries currently last 1 to 30 days and come in these types:

• Daily data (500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 3GB per day): suits a steady routine. Check when the daily allowance resets and what happens once it is used.
• Total data (3GB to 50GB): one allowance for the whole trip, handy when some days are heavier than others.
• Unlimited: always read the fair-use policy; after a set amount, speed may be reduced.

Suggestions for this trip

• Match your itinerary: List every country you will set foot in, including layovers where you leave the airport, and compare it with the table; pick a validity that spans the whole trip, such as 15 or 20 days for a two-leg Europe and North America journey.
• Split data by leg: With daily data, 1GB a day usually covers travel days, maps and messaging; go for 2GB or 3GB a day if you make video calls or work remotely. With total data, budget for each leg: city stops use more than beach stays with hotel Wi-Fi, so 20GB or 30GB suits a fortnight and 50GB a month-long trip.
• Long trips, heavy use: There is an unlimited option with a fair-use policy; read the conditions of the exact plan before you buy.

Count your arrival and departure days. Before paying, check the exact plan for when validity starts, how days are counted, and whether hotspot, calls or SMS are included; these differ between plans.

Before you go

• Ride-hailing: Uber works in many European, US and Canadian cities; in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia Careem is also widely used, and Bolt is common across much of Europe.
• App calls in the UAE: Voice and video calls through most international messaging apps usually do not connect, although text messages work normally, so agree with family in advance how you will keep in touch while in Dubai.
• Crossing borders: If your phone has not picked up a network after landing in a new country, toggle airplane mode or select a network manually in the eSIM settings.
• Payments: International cards are widely accepted in Europe, North America and the Gulf; in Egypt, Morocco, Bangladesh or Laos keep some cash for markets, taxis and small eateries.
• eSIM setup: Before buying, make sure your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked. Install the eSIM before you fly, on a stable Wi-Fi connection, following the instructions sent with your plan.
• On arrival: Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line and follow its roaming instructions. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid unexpected charges.