Buying an eSIM to use in the USA

[Gareth2020]

Hi,

Am heading ot the USA in a few months time and have looked at getting an eSIM from Saily which will give me 20GB of data to use over there whilst keeping the current EE physical SIM used for calls/text etc.

Does the phone need to be unlocked to use an eSIM or is that not the case?

Thanks for any help.

[XRaySpeX]

Yes, if it's so old, bought new before Dec. '21, that it needs unlocking.

[bristolian · Accepted solution]

There's 2 angles here..

1: Phones purchased before Dec 2021 are sold locked - whether you use an off-net physical SIM or electronic one is irrelevant, it needs unlocking. Since Dec 2021 they are sold unlocked.

2: The Roam Abroad pass enables use of your pay-monthly UK allowances, upto a 50GB data allowance, for £25/billing month. Voice, data & text allowances are all covered - and may be more cost-effective overall.

[Gareth2020]

Thanks both.

@bristolian I didn't realise that was an option. I have a plan which includes unlim text/calls and 125gb data a month.  So for an extra £25 I will be able to use it in the US with up to 50GB data for that month? That sounds really promising, I might have to look into that!

[XRaySpeX]

@Gareth2020 : The Roam Abroad Pass costs £25 per billing month from the billing month you order it (text ROAMING PASS to 150) until the billing month you cancel it (text STOP ROAMING PASS to 150). For all billing months during which you have the Pass it is charged at the full £25. However if the Pass is carried over from the 1st billing month to the next it will be charged pro-rata for that 1st month alone.

[bristolian]

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@Gareth2020 wrote:

I didn't realise that was an option.

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https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roam-abroad-pass