NAIROBI,Kenya Aug 4 – A Kenyan travel technology firm has launched a digital SIM (eSIM) platform targeting international travellers, as demand grows for cheaper and more convenient mobile connectivity across borders.
Kwetu eSIM said its platform enables users to purchase and activate mobile data plans before travelling, allowing them to connect to local networks in more than 190 countries without using a physical SIM card or incurring traditional international roaming charges.
The company said the platform was designed to eliminate one of the biggest challenges faced by international travellers staying connected immediately upon arrival.
“We wanted to eliminate one of the biggest frustrations travellers face — arriving in a new country without connectivity. With Kwetu eSIM, customers can activate their data before they travel and connect immediately after landing, without changing their SIM card or paying expensive roaming charges,” the company said.
The firm is seeking to tap into rising outbound travel by business executives, students and holidaymakers, a market that has increasingly shifted towards eSIM technology as compatible smartphones become more common.
Unlike conventional SIM cards, eSIMs are embedded in compatible devices and can be activated digitally, eliminating the need for travellers to purchase local SIM cards upon arrival or swap their existing SIMs.
Kwetu said one of its key differentiators is support for local payment options, including M-Pesa through STK Push, alongside bank cards and other mobile money services, a move aimed at making international travel connectivity more accessible to African consumers.
The platform also allows customers to purchase data plans before departure, top up while abroad without reinstalling the service, and buy eSIM packages for other travellers through a gifting feature.
“By integrating M-Pesa alongside global payment options, we are making travel connectivity more accessible for African travellers while giving them the flexibility to top up instantly or even purchase eSIMs for family and friends from anywhere in the world,” the company said.
The service is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices that support eSIM technology and offers multilingual support for international users.
The launch comes as global adoption of eSIM technology accelerates, driven by smartphone manufacturers and mobile operators seeking to simplify device connectivity while reducing reliance on physical SIM cards. For travellers, the technology has increasingly emerged as an alternative to high roaming charges and the inconvenience of sourcing local SIM cards in foreign destinations.
Kwetu eSIM is available through Apple’s App Store, Google Play and the company’s website, where customers can purchase destination-specific data plans before travelling.
