Tag: Travel

News : Travel And New Devices Driving Global eSIM Adoption

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Global use of embedded SIMs is finally starting to accelerate as international travel and wider device support push the technology towards the mainstream.

What Is An eSIM And Why Does It Matter Now?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a programmable chip built directly into a phone or other device, replacing the removable plastic SIM card. Instead of inserting a new card when you change network, you download a digital “profile” from a mobile operator or travel provider. That means you can switch to a new plan, or add local data while abroad, without touching the hardware.

Not New

The technology itself is not new. In fact, eSIM has been in the market for around a decade, but actual usage has remained modest. Global adoption hovered around 3 per cent last year and is only just crossing 5 per cent this year, even though far more phones now ship with eSIM support.

Growing

However, it seems that behind those small percentages, the installed base is growing rather quickly. Research (Counterpoint) estimates that around 23 per cent of smartphones shipped in 2024 included eSIM capabilities, with the figure on track to rise sharply later in the decade. Other forecasts suggest eSIM connections across consumer and IoT devices could reach more than 4 billion by 2030, up from about 500 million in 2024.

For consumers and businesses, the appeal is simple. For example, eSIM promises easier network switching, instant activation, and one less physical component to lose or damage. The question has been how to move eSIM from a niche feature on high-end phones to something people actively use.

Travel Turns eSIM Into A Real-World Tool

The clearest reason for this recent upward trend appears to be international travel. For example, surveys indicate that around 51 per cent of eSIM users rely on the technology for travel, making it one of the most successful early use cases. For example, instead of paying high roaming charges or queuing for a local SIM at the airport, travellers can now buy a local or regional data plan in an app, scan a code and be online before the plane doors open.

Could Disrupt Roaming

Analysts say travel eSIMs are now set to disrupt roaming at scale, with adoption of third-party travel eSIM downloads expected to triple by 2030. Tourism this year has already exceeded pre-pandemic levels, boosting demand for seamless, always-on connectivity among budget-conscious and digitally savvy travellers.

A separate survey (Counterpoint Research Global Consumer eSIM Survey) across seven countries found that 87 per cent of travel eSIM users felt eSIM improved their travel experience, showing how strongly people respond once they have tried it. Forecasts now suggest retail spending on travel eSIM services will grow sharply over the next couple of years, with travel eSIMs set to take a significant share of global travel connectivity spending by 2028.

Security Attractive

Security also appears to be part of the appeal. For example, eSIM profiles are often tied to secure hardware elements within the device, making them harder to clone or tamper with than traditional SIM cards. For business travellers and remote workers, that combination of lower costs, easier setup and stronger security is a powerful incentive to move away from legacy roaming arrangements.

Device Makers Push Compatibility Into The Mainstream

The other major driver is device compatibility. For example, early support came from Google’s Pixel 2 and Apple’s iPhone XR in 2017–2018, but eSIM remained a premium feature for several years. Apple then took a decisive step in 2022 by removing the physical SIM slot from US iPhone models entirely, forcing users to rely on eSIM. Google followed with its own eSIM-only Pixel 10 handset this year.

Apple has extended the strategy this year with the launch of the eSIM-only iPhone Air and optional eSIM-only versions of the iPhone 17 series in more than 11 countries. These models gain a small but meaningful battery advantage by removing the space and power budget associated with a physical SIM tray.

Supported By Cheaper Devices

At the same time, eSIM is moving down the price ladder. Analysts note that more than 60 eSIM-enabled smartphones were launched in the first half of 2025 alone, showing that mid-range and even budget devices are starting to support the technology. In 2024, just 23 per cent of smartphones shipped with eSIM capabilities, but by 2030 over 80 per cent of smartphones are expected to be eSIM or iSIM capable, drastically reducing the “my phone does not support it” barrier.

The China Factor

It seems that China is likely to be crucial. For example, after Apple’s eSIM-only launch there, Chinese mobile network operators began offering eSIM support in October this year (2025). Analysts now expect major domestic brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo to gradually add eSIM to more models, including mid- and low-end smartphones, rather than jumping straight to eSIM-only designs. Given the influence of these brands across Asia and Africa, wider support could accelerate adoption in many price-sensitive markets.

Investors, Startups And Mobile Operators Reactions

The travel eSIM boom has already created a busy ecosystem of digital-first providers. Companies such as Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Truphone and Kolet offer app-based eSIM plans for individual countries, regions or global travel, often at prices that undercut traditional roaming and with far clearer data allowances.

Their growth has attracted some substantial investment. Digital-first travel eSIM resellers now issue several thousands of eSIMs daily and are scaling rapidly, powered by strong investor confidence and rising demand. Airalo raised $220 million in a funding round that pushed it to unicorn status, while Holafly reports more than 15 million eSIMs sold and over $500 million in cumulative revenue.

Traditional Networks Too

It’s worth noting that the traditional mobile network operators are also adapting to this trend. Many are revising roaming tariffs, launching their own travel eSIM apps, and introducing regional packs aimed at popular travel corridors. The aim is to keep customers within their own ecosystem rather than losing them to third-party apps when they travel. Partnerships are emerging across the wider travel sector too, with airlines, hotels and online travel agencies integrating eSIM offers into their booking flows as an extra service and revenue line.

For UK businesses, this competition could translate into better value and more flexible connectivity options for staff who travel regularly or work across borders. It also introduces a more complex procurement landscape, with in-house teams needing to weigh direct operator offers against third-party platforms and travel-industry bundles.

Barriers That Could Slow The Curve

Despite the positive momentum, several obstacles still stand in the way of mass adoption. The first is simple awareness. Many consumers still do not know what an eSIM is or that their phone supports it. That knowledge gap makes it harder for travel apps and operators to market eSIM to first-time users.

Another key barrier is ease of use. For example, the standard process for many services involves buying a plan, receiving a QR code by email and then scanning it with the phone that will host the eSIM. This often means finding a second device to display the code, which is far from ideal when you have just landed in a new country. Analysts expect more seamless activation flows to emerge as platforms mature, but for now the experience can feel technical or awkward to first-time users.

There are structural challenges in the background as well. Low entry barriers, intensifying competition and aggressive responses from mobile network operators could push prices down and squeeze the margins of smaller providers. Some mobile operators also face legacy IT systems that make fully digital onboarding difficult, slowing their ability to support eSIM at scale or forcing customers to visit stores to complete the process.

There is also the matter of market fragmentation to consider. For example, alongside the global players, there is a rising group of regional specialists offering highly targeted packs for specific countries or corridors. That gives travellers more choice but increases the risk of confusing offers, inconsistent quality and limited brand recognition. Analysts expect that over time the sector will see consolidation, with long-term winners emerging on the strength of customer loyalty, coverage quality and strategic partnerships, not just headline price.

Education, Experience And The Next Phase Of Growth

Analysts seem to broadly agree that travel and device compatibility will continue to work together as the main accelerants for eSIM over the next five years. As more phones ship with eSIM or iSIM as standard, awareness should gradually improve, especially among travellers who encounter the technology in a practical context and then decide to adopt it at home. Repeat usage is expected to remain a key growth engine in the short term, with frequent travellers downloading multiple eSIMs each year, followed by a surge in new users as eSIM becomes the default capability for most smartphones.

For now, the picture seems to be one of a market moving beyond its niche origins. It’s true to say that eSIM still really only accounts for a minority of global mobile connections, but travel experiences, stronger device support and a more competitive provider landscape are steadily normalising the idea that connectivity can be downloaded rather than slotted in.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

eSIM is steadily moving from a niche feature to something far more consequential for consumers, network operators and the wider travel industry. The combination of rising international mobility and far broader device compatibility has created conditions where eSIM is no longer an optional extra for frequent flyers but a realistic alternative to traditional roaming for mainstream users. This matters because every positive first-time experience strengthens awareness and confidence, which in turn accelerates long-term adoption across domestic markets as well as travel.

For UK businesses, this momentum presents several opportunities alongside some practical considerations. For example, more competitive travel eSIM offerings could reduce connectivity costs for staff working overseas or moving between regions, while the security benefits of eSIM profiles tied to secure hardware elements may reassure organisations with strict data protection requirements. Businesses will also need to assess whether to procure eSIM services directly through their mobile network operators or through the growing number of digital-first providers, each offering different levels of flexibility, pricing and support. The shift towards eSIM-enabled devices across mid-range and budget segments should also simplify future planning for corporate device fleets, removing the need to manage physical SIM logistics for large numbers of users.

This transition has implications for mobile operators as well. Growing competition from app-based providers is forcing them to rework long-standing roaming models, invest in more modern digital onboarding processes and respond more flexibly to customer expectations shaped by eSIM convenience. Investors and startups are responding to this change, pursuing scale while preparing for a market that could ultimately consolidate around providers able to deliver consistent connectivity, strong partnerships and simple user journeys.

Also, it’s worth noting here that the challenges highlighted by analysts are likely to define how quickly eSIM becomes the default option. For example, awareness gaps, fragmented offers and cumbersome setup are still slowing the curve, and overcoming these barriers will require coordinated effort from device makers, operators and digital-first players. Even so, the trajectory points towards a world where downloading connectivity becomes as normal as downloading an app, with clear benefits for travellers, consumers and the businesses that depend on reliable mobile access.

Tech News : Flying Cars and Hypersonic Jets

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Two startups on opposite sides of the Atlantic have just unveiled breakthrough prototypes that could bring flying cars and hypersonic jets into everyday travel.

Hypersonic Air Travel and Flying Cars

Venus Aerospace has just tested a rocket engine it believes could make hypersonic passenger flights a reality, while Klein Vision has unveiled the production-ready version of the world’s first certified flying car.

Venus Aerospace Eyes Hypersonic Jet Travel

Houston-based Venus Aerospace made headlines last week with the first successful test flight of its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE), a propulsion system long theorised by engineers but unproven in flight – until now. The test, conducted at Spaceport America in New Mexico, marks a milestone in the company’s effort to develop Stargazer, a Mach 9-capable hypersonic aircraft that could one day fly from London to New York in under an hour.

The engine, described by Venus co-founder and CEO Sarah “Sassie” Duggleby as “the holy grail” of propulsion, works differently to traditional jet or rocket engines. Instead of burning fuel in a steady stream, the RDRE generates a series of controlled shockwave detonations that spiral around a circular chamber at supersonic speeds. This compact design produces more power, uses 20 per cent less fuel, and crucially, has no moving parts, thereby making it cheaper to build, operate, and maintain.

“We’ve proven that this technology works—not just in simulations or the lab, but in the air,” said Duggleby, who co-founded the company with her husband Andrew in 2020.

The recent test flight launched a small rocket to 4,400 feet, reaching 383 mph in just seven seconds, before descending safely by parachute. While that’s only about half the speed of sound, the company insists the trial was all about demonstrating scalability and real-world performance, not speed.

What Makes RDRE So Different?

Venus says the RDRE has the potential to revolutionise aerospace by enabling ultra-fast, cost-effective hypersonic travel across defence, commercial aviation, and space launch sectors. Traditional systems often rely on complex multi-engine configurations to operate across different speed regimes. Venus’s breakthrough is a single-engine solution that handles take-off, acceleration, and sustained hypersonic cruise.

In practical terms, the RDRE could, for example:

– Enable Mach 9 flight speeds (up to 6,900 mph)

– Carry passengers from San Francisco to Tokyo in only two hours!

– Reduce launch costs for satellites and cargo

– Deliver military-grade speed and agility in compact vehicles.

Funding and Support

With £66 million ($84m) in venture funding and support from NASA and the US Department of Defense, Venus is pushing forward with plans to flight-test a 20-foot drone at Mach 5 later this year. This will be followed by the development of Stargazer, a 150-foot-long, 150,000-lb aircraft designed to cruise at 170,000 feet, which is close enough to see the blackness of space and the curvature of Earth.

As Andrew Duggleby, the company’s CTO says: “This is just the beginning of what can be achieved with Venus propulsion technology”.

Challenges

However, despite the ambition and the confidence, it should be noted that there are some considerable challenges ahead. For example, engineers must solve the problem of extreme heat in the detonation chamber. This is what Sassie Duggleby likens to “lighting a fire in a wax fireplace without melting the wax.” The firm is also still years away from a full-scale passenger aircraft. This means that commercial readiness isn’t likely until the early 2030s.

Klein Vision Unveils Its AirCar 2 Flying Car

Meanwhile in Europe, Slovakia’s Klein Vision has taken a different route to next-gen travel. At this year’s Living Legends of Aviation Gala Dinner in Beverly Hills, the company revealed the production-ready prototype of the AirCar 2, a sleek vehicle that can transform from a car to an aircraft in just 80 seconds.

Unlike Venus, Klein Vision’s breakthrough is grounded (literally) in existing certification. The original AirCar, first flown in 2021, was awarded its Certificate of Airworthiness in 2022 after completing 170 flight hours and more than 500 takeoffs and landings.

“The AirCar fulfils a lifelong dream to bring the freedom of flight into the hands of everyday people,” said founder and designer Stefan Klein, who received the gala’s Special Recognition Award for Engineering Excellence.

The AirCar 2 is a major upgrade:

– 280-horsepower engine (replacing the previous 1.6-litre BMW engine)

– Cruising speed up to 250 km/h in flight

– 1,000 km range

– Full monocoque (single shell) body for improved safety and strength

– Compact enough to park in a standard garage.

Klein Vision claims the AirCar 2 can reach 200 km/h on the road, and take off from a conventional airport runway before cruising to its destination and driving off again, which means there’s no need for an entirely new transport infrastructure. A button in the cockpit unfolds the wings and tail, transforming the vehicle from road mode to air mode in less than 90 seconds.

A Car. A Plane. A Market Disruptor?

The company, which has been bootstrapped from the start, is now gearing up for production. According to co-founder Anton Zajac, the first models will retail for between $800,000 and $1 million starting in early 2026, with the ability to produce 100 units per year once certification is complete. It’s understood that pre-orders are already in progress.

Klein Vision’s ambitions are underpinned by bold market predictions. With global air mobility forecast to reach $162 billion by 2034, the company believes its vehicle has a first-mover advantage.

“We’re not just witnessing the future of transportation—we’re engineering it,” said Zajac.

Scepticism

However, some commentators are (understandably) sceptical about Klein Vision’s claims. For example, the flying car market has been promised for decades, and critics often point to limitations in infrastructure, regulation, cost, and public adoption. There’s also the challenge of power. While the current model runs on petrol, Klein Vision admits they plan to go electric “as soon as battery energy density allows.”

Also, with just seven people on staff, Klein Vision appears to be unusually lean for such a capital-intensive industry. The company spent $5 million developing the first AirCar, most of it funded by Zajac himself, though it is now “open to external investment.”

Different Paths, Same Sky

What makes this moment significant is not just the individual accomplishments of Venus Aerospace and Klein Vision, but the fact that two very different approaches (i.e. rocket-driven hypersonic flight and road-to-air transformation) are simultaneously reaching new levels of feasibility.

For example, one is reimagining how fast we can travel, while the other is changing how flexibly we move between ground and sky.

Although each faces enormous technical, regulatory, and financial obstacles, both appear to be making some credible progress, backed by data and test flights. It seems there’s now a growing sense that the next leap in mobility may come not from giant aerospace primes, but from agile, focused startups willing to bet on bold ideas and reinvent the rules.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

These two announcements feel like a genuine turning point in aviation’s long evolution from commercial airliners to something altogether more ambitious, and more personal. Whether it’s Venus Aerospace’s promise of New York to Tokyo in under an hour, or Klein Vision’s vision of driving to the airport and flying yourself to your next meeting, both represent a dramatic departure from the limits of traditional air travel. Also, for a sector that hasn’t seen many transformative passenger-facing breakthroughs since Concorde, this sudden surge in innovation feels both overdue and quite exciting.

For UK businesses, hypersonic travel, if it becomes commercially viable, could create a new level of global agility for finance, tech, and trade sectors, shrinking long-haul logistics and giving British firms the ability to meet clients or partners halfway across the world in the space of a lunch break. Also, a certified flying car like the AirCar 2 could, in time, reshape regional mobility by unlocking point-to-point travel for executives, engineers, or consultants who currently rely on slower rail or road connections. The early costs may be high, but as production scales and competition grows, accessibility may follow.

Of course, there are still some big questions, especially around safety, certification, regulation, and infrastructure. In both cases, it’s not yet clear how existing aviation authorities will adapt to technologies that blur the lines between car and aircraft, or jet and rocket. Also, public acceptance and use will also hinge on reliability, insurance frameworks, pilot licensing, and in the case of hypersonic flight, whether everyday passengers can truly stomach the physics involved.

Then there’s the competitive landscape to consider. For example, as Venus pushes to commercialise RDRE-powered jets, it enters a growing field of rivals including Hermeus, Sierra Space, and Virgin Galactic, all with overlapping ambitions. Similarly, Klein Vision must prove it can scale manufacturing, meet regulatory expectations, and fend off future entrants with better-funded teams or deeper aviation experience.

However, even with these challenges, the pace and credibility of recent progress seems to suggest that this may no longer be a question of if, but when. The fact that two very different technologies, i.e., one focused on blistering speed, the other on personal freedom, are both edging closer to commercial reality shows that the sky is no longer the limit. The travel industry may be on the cusp of a transformation that doesn’t just shrink time and distance, but redefines how we connect with the world. And that’s a future well worth watching.

Tech News : Booking.com Becomes “Gatekeeper”

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Online travel marketplace, Booking.com, has been designated a ‘gatekeeper’ company by the EU under its new Digital Markets Act (DMA) competition law, meaning that Booking.com now has six months to comply.

Gatekeepers? 

Under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), ‘gatekeepers’ are large digital platforms that play a pivotal role in the digital economy. They are judged as acting as intermediaries between businesses and users, i.e. controlling key ‘gateways’ through which businesses reach consumers. The DMA, which is aimed at tackling monopolising practices and ensuring fair and open digital markets, sets specific criteria to identify these gatekeepers and imposes obligations and prohibitions on them to prevent anti-competitive practices.

Why Booking.com? 

According to the DMA rules, ‘gatekeepers’ are companies within the EU with more than 45 million monthly end users, more than 10,000 business users per year, and a market cap of at least €75bn.

It seems, therefore, that following a self-assessment (submitted on March 1), the EC has decided that the Booking.com travel platform meets the DMA thresholds and, therefore, is now considered to be an “important gateway between businesses and consumers.” 

Thierry Bretton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market, has been reported as saying: “Booking is an important player in the European tourism ecosystem and is now also a designated gatekeeper.” 

What Does This Mean For Booking.com? 

As a gatekeeper, Booking.com now faces specific obligations under the DMA to ensure fair competition and prevent anti-competitive practices. These include:

– Data usage restrictions. Booking.com cannot, for example, use data from business users (e.g. hotels) to compete against them.

– Interoperability. It must allow third parties to interoperate with its services, providing necessary technical access.

– Advertising transparency. Booking.com must offer advertisers and publishers access to performance measurement tools for independent ad verification.

– An anti-tying and bundling obligation means no additional services as a condition for accessing its platform.

– Access to data. Booking.com must provide business users with access to the data they generate on the platform.

– Fair treatment. The company can’t favour its own services or products in search rankings over third-party offerings.

Practical Implications 

There are also some practical implications for Booking.com, including:

– Operational adjustments which include significant changes to internal operations, data management, and platform functionalities.

– Increased transparency, e.g. enhanced transparency in ranking, data usage, and advertising charges.

– Additional legal, administrative, and technological expenses to ensure compliance.

– A change to its competitive landscape as the restrictions under the DMA may reduce competitive advantages, levelling the playing field for smaller competitors.

– Increased regulatory scrutiny such as monitoring plus potential penalties from the European Commission for non-compliance.

What Happens If It Doesn’t Comply? 

Booking.com now has 6 months to comply but if it doesn’t, it could be facing eye-watering fines of up to 10 per cent of its total worldwide annual turnover, increasing to 20 per cent for repeat offences. Also, it could face periodic penalties up to 5 per cent of its average daily turnover for specific non-compliance issues. To put this in perspective, Booking.com (as part of Booking Holdings) reported a total worldwide turnover of $21.3 billion in 2023.

It’s understood that Booking.com and other gatekeepers have already started implementing measures to comply with their gatekeeper obligations under the DMA and are required to submit detailed compliance reports to the European Commission. However, other companies, like ByteDance (TikTok’s owner) and Meta, have contested their gatekeeper designations

Who Are The Other Gatekeepers? 

In addition to the aforementioned ByteDance, Meta, and now Booking.com, other well-known gatekeepers include (not surprisingly) Alphabet (Google), Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft.

Following X’s claim (submitted on 1 March 2024) that, despite meeting the thresholds, it doesn’t qualify as an important gateway between businesses and consumers, it’s understood that the European Commission has opened a market investigation to further assess X’s rebuttal.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The designation of Booking.com as a gatekeeper under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) represents another significant shift in the regulatory landscape for large digital platforms. For Booking.com, this means it must adhere to stringent new rules aimed at ensuring fair competition and preventing the misuse of its market power. This could, however, involve substantial operational adjustments.

For competitors and markets, the DMA’s enforcement may lead to a more balanced competitive environment. Smaller businesses/competitors and new entrants may, for example, find it easier to compete if the ‘gatekeepers’ like Booking.com are restricted from engaging in the many possible anti-competitive practices, e.g. data misuse and unfair bundling of services. This could, of course, foster greater innovation and diversity in the market, as barriers to entry are lowered and smaller companies gain more opportunities to attract customers.

Consumers are also likely to benefit from the DMA’s regulations. For example, with increased transparency in how services are ranked and advertised, they may be able to make more informed choices. The DMA’s requirement for fair treatment and data access may mean that consumers see a wider variety of options and potentially lower prices as competition increases. Also, enhanced data protection measures could help safeguard consumer information, addressing privacy concerns that have become increasingly prominent in the digital age.

Overall, the implementation of the DMA and the compliance efforts by gatekeepers like Booking.com may signal a transformative period for digital markets. UK businesses operating within these markets should prepare for changes in competitive dynamics and be ready to leverage new opportunities that arise from a potentially more equitable digital ecosystem.