Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- AT&T is launching new short-term eSIM plans for international travelers to the US, Mexico and Canada this summer.
- Plans include unlimited data, 5GB hotspot access, and upcoming unlimited talk and text support.
- Passengers using an eSIM by AT&T also get access to Turbo Live, which prioritizes data speeds in crowded places for smooth streaming and faster rideshare access.
Going to the US, Mexico or Canada usually means either paying a lot for international roaming or trying to find a physical SIM card at the airport. Just in time for the massive wave of football fans arriving next month, AT&T is changing that old process.
In a new announcement Monday, AT&T launched “eSIM by AT&T,” a new short-term wireless offering for tourists visiting the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
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AT&T is modeling the service around major soccer events this summer in North America, where packed stadiums and overloaded networks can make uploading a fast video or hailing a rideshare a frustrating experience. According to the carrier, travelers using an eSIM by AT&T will also get access to Turbo Live by AT&T, a feature that prioritizes data traffic in crowded places for smooth streaming and faster connectivity.
While this isn’t AT&T’s first foray into travel-focused eSIM plans, it’s now streamlining the offerings with more flexible pass options. When that feature kicks in, you get unlimited data, 5GB hotspot access, and unlimited talk and text.
Travelers can purchase a 1-day, 7-day, 15-day, or 30-day pass. Prices vary depending on whether travelers want coverage only in the US or all of North America. The US one-day pass starts at $3.99, and the most expensive North America 30-day pass is $59.99, including taxes and fees.
AT&T’s new eSIM offering comes just days after T-Mobile introduced its prepaid day pass for international travelers visiting the US, with prices starting at $25 for seven days and as high as $50 for 30 days. Unlike T-Mobile’s offering, AT&T’s current eSIM plans don’t yet include unlimited talk out of the box. The company says the feature is “coming soon.”
To get started, download the AT&T Connect On Demand app on your Android or iPhone, activate an eSIM when you land, and choose a plan directly from the app. But there are some obstacles. For example, you need an unlocked dual-SIM 5G phone and an international phone number.
Whether travelers actually switch to AT&T instead of cheaper local eSIM options has yet to be seen, but the company clearly wants football fans and international tourists locked into its network before the crowds arrive this summer.
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