Choosing Internet for Overseas Travel: eSIM vs. Carrier Roaming Explained

(Central News Agency reporter Jiang Mingyan, Taipei, 6th) As the overseas travel boom intensifies, many people are faced with a choice between eSIM and "carrier roaming" for their internet needs abroad. eSIM is cheaper and easier to activate, but has also raised some security concerns. Telecom carrier roaming, on the other hand, emphasizes stability, security, and customer support. How should one choose?

With the explosion in overseas travel, eSIM internet access has become popular due to its low price and convenience. However, because the network source and routing of some plans are opaque, it has also sparked discussions about information security. Below is a summary of perspectives from telecom operators and 3C experts.

1. Why is eSIM popular?

eSIM services are favored by many for their advantages such as instant purchase and use, no need to replace a physical SIM card, and low price. In recent years, they have gradually become a choice for people traveling abroad. 3C expert "Yi Ge" told CNA reporters that the advantage of using eSIM roaming is the flexibility and diversity of plan options, and because it uses the local native network, it can offer strong network performance in some areas.

2. What are the risks of eSIM?

A research report indicated that for plans from major travel eSIM providers, the IP address assigned to the device comes from a Chinese telecom operator, raising security concerns among users. Chunghwa Telecom Chairman Chih-Cheng Chien stated that some providers do not properly implement identity verification (KYC), and the network source and data transmission routing are opaque. Since internet traffic must pass through the registered location of the phone number, this raises security concerns.

Yi Ge said that when using eSIM, the network source in some areas is uncertain, and there is a risk of data theft during transmission. Using a profile from an unknown source could lead to excessive permission requests, malicious DNS settings, or the risk of data interception.

Furthermore, some low-cost plans may adopt an international roaming resale model, which could lead to account verification anomalies, being flagged as a login from a different location, and even affecting communication functions like FaceTime.

3. What are the advantages of carrier roaming?

Chien stated that while carrier roaming is relatively more expensive, it buys safety and quality, and "if there's a problem, you can call customer service." As a telecom operator, they naturally want to provide good quality and affordable services, but they have cost considerations, unlike eSIM providers who may engage in bulk wholesale or have special subsidies.

Chunghwa Telecom added that carrier roaming provides services through a formal telecom network architecture. Data transmission only passes through the local partner telecom operator and Chunghwa Telecom's network, helping to reduce the risk of data eavesdropping or leakage.

Yi Ge also mentioned that the most recommended aspect of carrier roaming is that the phone retains its original number, which is particularly important for receiving OTP verification codes and bank SMS messages—a benefit that eSIM finds difficult to replace.

4. Debunking the myth that carrier roaming is slower

Regarding whether carrier roaming is slower than eSIM's native network, Chien explained that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, the quality of carrier roaming is absolutely better because the telecom operator signs contracts directly with local partners, ensuring connection quality and stability. However, for eSIM, the routing path is completely uncontrollable, and quality may be more unstable.

5. Key points for choosing eSIM

Yi Ge advises prioritizing official eSIM services that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Confirming the partner telecom operator and network source is more important than "how many GB for how much money." Additionally, check if there is proper customer service and company information. If the eSIM activation process requests access to sensitive permissions like contacts, photos, Bluetooth, or location, one should be vigilant. (Editor: Zhang Liangzhi) 1150606