- Local Travel-Tech Company Redefines Global Roaming with Industry-First Features, Including Two-Year Data Validity, Rollover, And Data Transfer
What began as a simple desire to improve travel connectivity has grown into one of the world’s fastest-adopted global eSIM services. Singapore-owned Eskimo.Travel today announces a major milestone of 1.5 million installations worldwide, underscoring growing demand for simpler, more affordable mobile data access for travelers.
Eskimo.Travel is widely recognized for introducing a suite of industry-first features, including the longest data validity in the market (two years), single universal eSIM for global connectivity, unused data rollover, and instant data transfer between users, all designed to make mobile data as seamless and accessible as “running water” while traveling.
From a Personal Travel Moment to a Global Travel-Tech Brand
The idea behind Eskimo.Travel can be traced back to 2017, when founder Dennis Lee, then a cabin crew member with Singapore Airlines, traveled to Japan with his extended family of 11. During the trip, the family was provided a complimentary pocket Wi-Fi device with their Airbnb stay, a small detail that transformed how they navigated, explored, and enjoyed the destination independently.
“That experience showed me how powerful access to data could be for travelers. It wasn’t a luxury. It was an enabler,” Lee recalls.
Inspired to bring that level of convenience to Singapore, Lee pitched his idea to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). His startup, Datapro Technologies, subsequently received grant support to develop Singapore’s first complimentary pocket Wi-Fi service for inbound travelers arriving on Singapore Airlines flights at Changi Airport. The service launched in late 2019.
Just months later, global travel came to a halt as the COVID-19 pandemic shut borders worldwide. While devastating for tourism, the pause proved transformative for the company.
“Instead of hardware kiosks and devices, we asked ourselves how we could reimagine roaming entirely,” says Lee. “That led us to eSIM.”
With eSIM-enabled smartphones gaining traction globally, the team pivoted fully to a digital model, opening access to a global customer base almost overnight. Eskimo.Travel officially launched in February 2023.
Commoditizing Roaming Data for the Common Man Through Industry-First Value-Adds
Eskimo.Travel was built around a simple mission, to commoditize roaming data for everyday travelers by removing complexity, waste, and inflated pricing.
The company’s offering stands apart through four key differentiators:
1. Longest Data Validity in the Market
Eskimo.Travel data plans are valid for two years, far exceeding the industry norm of one to 30 days. Travelers simply toggle off the eSIM after a trip and use the remaining balance on their next journey with the same eSIM.
2. Unused Data Rollover
Beyond the two-year validity period, Eskimo.Travel allows users to preserve remaining data further. Users who top up before expiry automatically extend any remaining balance for another two years, effectively allowing data to last indefinitely at no additional cost.
3. Instant Data Transfer
Through the Eskimo app, users can transfer data directly to another Eskimo account. Unlike mobile hotspot tethering, which requires proximity, the data is fully transferred, allowing the recipient to connect independently on their own device – anytime, anywhere, without distance limits; designed for how people travel today.
4. Seamless, One-Touch Connectivity
Once installed, Eskimo.Travel’s eSIM requires no reinstallation. Users simply toggle it on at their destination to connect automatically to local networks, and toggle it off when they return, accessing data as easily as tap water.
1.5 Million Installs and Counting: One Man’s Mission to Revolutionize Data Access for Travelers
In under 30 months, Eskimo.Travel has recorded 1.5 million installs, with users across AsiaPacific, Europe, and North America, including South Korea, China, Indonesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, the United States, and Singapore.
With the global e-SIM market expected to reach USD 17 billion by 20301, Eskimo.Travel is focused on long-term growth through value-driven differentiation rather than short-term promotions.
“The pandemic nearly ended our journey before it began,” Lee reflects. “But it also forced us to rethink everything. Today, we’re no longer limited by hardware or geography, and we can finally deliver on our vision of making data access as essential and effortless as running water.”
For more information on Eskimo.Travel, visit www.eskimo.travel.
Connect with Eskimo Travel on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.
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