South Africa

Say goodbye to fiddly little plastic SIM cards! An eSIM (that’s short for embedded SIM) is a new digital technology version that lives right inside your phone or device. No more old fashioned SIMs and finding a paperclip - it’s all done electronically! Just as clever, but way more convenient.

Ah, the million-megabyte question! How much data you need totally depends on how you use your phone – are you a map-checking, music-loving, TikTok-scrolling, Netflix-bingeing travel adventurer, or more of an “email and chill” kind of explorer? Let’s break it down so you’re never caught off-guard abroad.

Wondering if your phone is part of the cool
eSIM club? If your smartphone was born (aka released) in or after 2019/2020, there’s a good chance it’s already eSIM-ready. But not worth the risk - let’s do a quick check!

Read more for 4 super easy ways to find out.

Great question! Before you jet off on your next adventure—or snap up that shiny new digital SIM—it’s a good idea to check whether your phone is locked. Don’t worry, it’s super easy, and we’ll walk you through it.

Great question, globetrotter!

When you're setting up your Cedar Mobile eSIM, your phone will give you a little nudge to activate it. But let’s break it down:

Installation means downloading your eSIM onto your phone - think of it as moving in. Whether it’s automatic or manual, it’s just your phone getting cozy with your new Cedar Mobile eSIM.

Activation? Well, this is a two-step party:

1. First, your phone activates the eSIM itself - this gets everything set up and ready to roll.
2. Then, when you land in your destination, boom! It activates again - this time, our Cedar Mobile data plan connects to the local mobile network and goes live.

Pro tip:
You’ll need internet and a phone that’s eSIM compatible and unlocked. So, do yourself a favor and get all this sorted before you jet off. That way, your phone is ready to say “Bonjour” the moment you land!

Remember: your data plan only kicks in when you're actually on the ground in your destination country. Until then, it's just chillin’ and waiting patiently.

Oh, the age-old question! Don’t worry, but you do need to:

Just double-check that your phone isn’t locked and is eSIM compatible, your VPN and firewall are turned off and your phone has the latest software downloaded on it -  no surprises at the airport, please!

You've got 2 options:

1.Before you jet off

This is the best and smoothest way to go. We recommend installing and activating your eSIM the day before you fly out. That way, you’re ready to hit the ground running (or strolling, if you prefer).

2. When you arrive

Decided to leave it to last? (always the optimist). You can activate your eSIM once you land. Just make sure you’ve got Wi-Fi handy - your eSIM needs a little internet love to wake up. And trust us, you don’t want to discover your phone isn’t compatible or locked when you’re tired, jet-lagged, and Wi-Fi-hunting in a foreign country.

Want the step-by-step juicy details? Check out the next question: How to activate your eSIM QR code

Ah, the magic QR code - your golden ticket to glorious mobile data!

Once you buy a Cedar Mobile eSIM plan, you’ll get an email with your QR code (usually within a minute or two - faster than you can say “expensive roaming charges!”). Can’t find it? Poke around in your spam or junk folder just in case.

Just double-check before you start activating the QR code that your phone:

1. Isn’t locked and is eSIM compatible,
2. Your VPN and firewall are turned off, and
3. Your phone has the latest software downloaded on it - iOS or Android ... old phone software will cause you problems activating your QR code (just warning you in advance).

Tip: You can activate your eSIM before your trip (highly recommended!) or upon arrival