After some delays, Telenet plans to launch eSIM for compatible iPhones and Android smartphones in the first quarter of this year. Basic customers also receive an eSIM.

Telenet will bring eSIM support to iPhones and Android phones in the first quarter of this year. Spokesman Bart Boone tells ITdaily. Telenet sub-brand Base customers will gain access to eSIM around the same time.

Proximus and Orange have supported eSIM on smartphones since 2020. Telenet introduced support for wearables in the same year, but compatibility with smartphones was shelved. At the end of 2022, the provider announced that eSIM would be launched in 2023, but this year passed without an announcement from Mechelen headquarters.

First, wearables

Telenet states that it was a conscious decision to prioritize smartwatches. There the provider saw greater practical use in the technology. However, longer delays will be difficult. In Europe there is still room for a physical SIM card in all smartphones, but it won’t always stay that way. In the USA, for example, Apple has already launched the iPhone 14 exclusively with eSIM.

The late introduction of Telenet compared to its competitors Orange and Proximus does not seem to be that problematic. Despite the availability of eSIM, its penetration is still limited to a modest niche, according to a survey of providers.

Telenet expects a lot from the technology in the long term. “We see many benefits in introducing E-SIM,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation for the customer, for us, but also from a sustainability perspective. The ability to digitally activate a SIM card allows us to serve our customers even more smoothly and easily.”