eSIM Glossary: APN, EID, SM-DP+, Roaming and More

eSIM instructions fit read like say na network engineers dem write am for. But most of di big big grammar dey come down to few simple ideas, and you go only need each word for one particular moment for your trip. Dis glossary dey arranged for dat order: wetin you go see when you dey check your phone, when you dey choose plan, when you dey install am, when you land, and sometimes when you dey fix sometin.

Words wey you go see when you dey check your phone

eSIM

Short for embedded SIM. Na SIM chip wey dem build inside di phone wey fit hold profiles wey you fit download, so you fit add mobile plan without say you put plastic card. If your phone dey show "Add eSIM" option for im mobile or SIM settings, e get one.

eSIM profile

Di package wey you download wey dey turn di chip into line wey dey work: di plan identity plus di settings wey e need to connect. Phone fit keep plenty profiles, and each one dey show as im own line for Settings wey you fit on or off.

EID

Di eSIM chip own identification number. If you see EID, na good sign say your phone dey support eSIM. For iPhone, e dey listed under Settings → General → About; for plenty Android phones e dey di About phone section, and if you dial *#06# e go show am for plenty models. You no too dey need am for travel eSIM.

IMEI

Your phone serial number for mobile networks. E dey identify di device, no be di plan, and if you dial *#06# e go show am. Phones wey get two lines dey often show two IMEI numbers, one for each.

Unlocked

Phone wey no dey locked to one network dey accept SIMs and eSIMs from any provider. Phones wey dem sell with some contracts dey locked to one network provider until dat provider unlock dem, and locked phone no go usually work with travel eSIM. For iPhone, Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock suppose talk "No SIM restrictions"; if e no talk am, ask your network provider.

Dual SIM

Two lines wey dey active for one phone: physical SIM plus eSIM, or two eSIMs, depending on di model. For travel, e mean say your home number go stay on for calls and texts while di travel eSIM dey handle data. Na you go choose which line go dey used for mobile data.

Words wey you go see when you dey choose plan

Data-only

Plan wey get mobile data but no phone number for regular calls or SMS. HelloSIM eSIMs na data-only: calls and messages dey go through apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Telegram, and your usual number go remain for your home SIM.

Validity

Di number of days wey plan go last. With HelloSIM, validity dey start when di eSIM first connect to network for your destination, no be when you buy or install am, so you fit set am up well before you travel.

Kontri, regional and Global plans

Kontri plan dey cover one destination. Regional plan dey cover group of kontri, like Europe, Asia Pacific or Latin America. Global plan dey cover plenty destinations across plenty regions. Plans dey different by di amount of data and di number of days.

Top-up

Extra data wey you add to eSIM wey you get already. With HelloSIM, top-up dey land on di same eSIM through di Check / Top up page, your account or di app, so nothing new dey to install.

Words wey you go see when you dey install

QR code

Di square barcode wey dey your order email. If you scan am from di Add eSIM screen, or with di camera for some phones, e go point di phone to your profile and start di download. Na for one installation, so keep am private, like key.

SM-DP+ address

Di address of di server where your eSIM profile dey wait make you download am. Di name mean Subscription Manager Data Preparation. You go only type am when you dey install by hand instead of scanning; e dey your installation email together with di activation code.

Activation code

Di special code wey dey identify your own particular profile for dat server. When you enter am together with di SM-DP+ address, e go allow you install di eSIM by hand, and dat one dey useful if you dey read di email for di same phone and you no fit scan di QR code.

Words wey you go see when you land

Network operator

Di local mobile company wey get di masts wey your phone dey connect to. Travel eSIM dey use partner operators for your destination, and di operator name go show near di line for Settings once you don connect. Di plan page for each destination dey list di networks wey e dey use.

Roaming

To use network wey no be your provider own. Your home SIM dey roam when you travel go abroad, and your home network provider dey bill am under your tariff, often by day or by how much you use. Travel eSIM dey also connect through partner networks, and na why your phone dey see am as roaming too.

Data roaming

Di phone setting wey dey allow mobile data on roaming network. On am for di travel eSIM line, becos di eSIM need am to connect; with prepaid HelloSIM data, e no dey add extra cost. Keep am off for your home line to avoid roaming charges from your home network provider.

4G / LTE

Di mobile data standard wey dey behind most connections today. LTE na di technology name, and phones dey show am as 4G or LTE. HelloSIM plans dey run on 4G/LTE for every destination wey dem dey sell, and na am most travel work, from maps reach video calls, dey depend on.

5G

Di newer generation of mobile networks. You go only see am where di networks wey dem list for one destination get 5G mark and your phone support 5G. For every oda place, di phone go just use 4G, and you no need do anything.

Words wey you go see when sometin need fixing

APN

Access Point Name: di setting wey dey tell your phone how to reach di internet through di network. eSIM profiles dey normally set am automatically. Only change am if your installation instructions or di support team tell you make you change am.

ICCID

Di serial number of SIM or eSIM profile. Each eSIM get im own, so e be one way to identify one particular line, and support fit ask you for am. For iPhone, you go find am under Settings → General → About, listed for each line.

Network selection

Phones dey normally choose network automatically. If your travel line dey show no service, to off automatic selection and pick one of di networks wey dem list for di destination by hand fit help. For iPhone, e dey under Settings → Mobile Data → your travel line → Network Selection.

How all di words take join together

If you arrange dem for order, di whole journey go be like dis. You go check say your phone get EID and e don unlock. You go choose data-only kontri, regional or Global plan with di data and validity wey you need. Di QR code, wey carry di SM-DP+ address and activation code, go install di eSIM profile. When you land, you go on data roaming for dat line, e go connect to local network operator on 4G or 5G, and di validity go start. If anything hang, network selection, di APN or di ICCID fit come up for chat with support for [email protected] or for di HelloSIM app.