Activating the newly launched eSIM on your mobile device can seem like a daunting task, but it is actually not. In this post, we will walk you through the process to activate eSIM on three of the most popular mobile networks in Nigeria: MTN, 9mobile, and Airtel. Stick with us.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (Embedded SIM) is a type of SIM card that is built into your phone or other electronic devices, instead of being a physical card that you can take out and put into a device. This means that you don’t have to physically change SIM cards to switch between mobile networks or phone numbers.
What benefits do eSIMs have over physical SIMs?
- Convenience: With an eSIM, users can activate and switch between different mobile network operators without the need to physically swap SIM cards. This makes it much more convenient for users who frequently travel or switch between different networks.
- Flexibility: An eSIM can give you more flexibility when it comes to choosing a mobile network operator. Instead of being locked into a contract with a specific operator, users can choose from a variety of different options and switch between them as needed.
- Multiple numbers on one device: With an eSIM, users can have multiple phone numbers on one device, which can be very useful for separating personal and professional contacts, or for using different numbers in different countries.
- Durability: eSIMs are built into the device, which means they can’t be lost or damaged as easily as physical SIM cards.
- Smaller devices: eSIMs are much smaller than physical SIM cards and take up less space in devices, making them ideal for use in compact devices such as smartwatches.
How to activate eSIM on MTN, 9mobile, Airtel
As eSIMs are still limited to certain devices, to begin the process, you first must make sure that your mobile phone is supported. The below devices and their newer models all support eSim, so if you have one of them, you are good to go.
- Apple iPhone XS and newer models
- Samsung Galaxy S-series from S20
- Samsung Galaxy Note series from Note20
- Google Pixel 2 and more recent models
- Samsung Galaxy Z and Galaxy Fold devices
Activating the eSIM
The activation process for eSIM for all networks in Nigeria is similar and they all involve visiting your network provider centers.
To activate eSIM on MTN, 9mobile, and Airtel, kindly walk into your network provider’s store or service centers, meet with an agent and explain that you are there for the eSim activation. The agent will check your device for eligibility, and walk you through the registration process.
NB: When visiting the service centers, it is important that you go with some means of identification as the registration of an eSIM will follow the same process as that of normal SIM cards.
