Revolut is expanding its services to include phone plans, signalling another strategic move in its evolution towards becoming a super app.
The company announced that from this week, UK customers will be able to install a single eSIM fully digitally, making it the first financial institution in the UK to offer eSIMs and global data plans.
The eSIM, which can be topped up in the Revolut app, has been billed as an attractive option for people that travel frequently as it can be used simultaneously, alongside a physical SIM, allowing customers to switch easily between networks. Revolut has described it as a cost-effective way to access data plans without unexpected roaming charges.
Once installed, users will be able to top up data without needing a physical SIM. Users who have connected the eSIM can access the Revolut app even if they have no mobile data allowance, a feature seen as particularly useful for travellers who have just landed in a country and don’t have data access, or those who need to top up data if they have run out.
Elyas Sadou, Product Owner of eSIM at Revolut, said: “At Revolut, we harness technology to simplify our customers’ lives, and that’s precisely what our eSIM accomplishes. It offers seamless access to mobile data, eliminating the inconvenience of high prices or the need to buy and organise a physical SIM card.”
He added: “Whether you are in the US, Australia or Egypt, you can effortlessly secure a data plan with just a few taps on your phone, and then instantly share those breathtaking photos of your trip with friends and family. It’s a game-changer for people who love to travel.”
Revolut said that customers on eSIM compatible devices will have access to the eSIM, regardless of their plan. Users of its Ultra plan, however, will gain access to a new benefit as part of their plan – 3GB of mobile data to use globally, with a rolling refresh every month. UK customers who install their new eSIM by 1 May 2024 will receive an introductory offer of 100MB of global data at no cost, the firm added.
