Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- AT&T is launching new short-term eSIM plans aimed at international travelers visiting the US, Mexico and Canada this summer.
- Plans include unlimited data, 5GB of hotspot access, and unlimited talk and text support coming soon.
- Travelers using AT&T eSIM also get access to Turbo Live, which prioritizes data speeds in crowded places for smoother streaming and faster rideshare access.
Going to the United States, Mexico or Canada usually means paying a lot for international roaming or try to find a physical SIM card at the airport. Just in time for the huge wave of football fans arriving next month, AT&T is revolutionizing that outdated process.
In a new announcement Monday, AT&T launched “eSIM by AT&T,” a new short-term wireless offering aimed at tourists visiting the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
I don’t want to miss the best of Android Authority?
AT&T is framing the service around major soccer events taking place this summer in North America, where packed stadiums and overloaded networks can make uploading videos or requesting rideshares a frustrating experience. Travelers using AT&T eSIM will also get access to AT&T Turbo Live, a feature that prioritizes data traffic in crowded locations for smoother streaming and faster connectivity, according to the carrier.
While this isn’t AT&T’s first foray into travel-focused eSIM plans, it’s now streamlining offerings with more flexible pass options. You’ll get unlimited data, 5GB of hotspot access, and unlimited talk and text when that feature rolls out.
Travelers can purchase 1, 7, 15, or 30-day passes. Prices vary depending on whether travelers want coverage in just the US or all of North America. The US one-day pass starts at $3.99, and the most expensive 30-day North American pass costs $59.99, including taxes and fees.
AT&T’s new eSIM offerings arrive a few days after T-Mobile introduced its own prepaid day passes for international travelers visit the US, with prices starting at $25 for seven days and maxing out at $50 for 30 days. Unlike T-Mobile’s offering, AT&T’s current eSIM plans do not yet include unlimited talk and text out of the box. The company says that feature is “coming soon.”
To get started, download the AT&T Connect on Demand app on your Android or iPhone, activate a e.g when you land and choose a plan directly from the app. But there are some drawbacks. For example, you need an unlocked dual-SIM 5G phone and an international phone number.
Whether travelers will actually switch to AT&T instead of cheaper local eSIM alternatives remains to be seen, but the company clearly wants to get soccer fans and international tourists stuck on its network before the crowds arrive this summer.
Thank you for being part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before publishing.
