- Turkey’s Telekarelegulator, BTK, has blocked access to sites and apps from larger eSIM providers
- Holalfy advises users to install and enable eSIMs before traveling
- Lack of activation of eSIM before could leave thousands without Internet access
BTK, Turkey’s telekarelegulator, has prohibited access to sites and apps from larger eSIM providers.
As summer holidays begin, about 13 million Britons fly away on vacation for the next two months, with Turkey one of the top tourist destinations.
The ban includes Top ESIM providers for international journeys, including Holafly, Airalo, Ubigi and Saily.
How can travelers still access the Internet in Turkey?
With these recent changes, British travelers are strongly advised to install and activate their ESIM before they start, which means that users need to ensure that ESIM is fully downloaded and activated on their device before departure.
“To avoid being caught out, British travelers should ensure that their ESIM is fully downloaded and activated before they leave Britain. This means you create your digital SIM while still on British networks and confirm that it is working properly before departure,” said Pablo Gomez, CEO of Holafly.
Most ESIM providers to Turkey allow you to install and activate your plan in advance and the process is typically fast and simple.
However, it could not do to give users without internet access on arrival. In this case, users need to rely on public Wi-Fi or try to find a physical SIM, not ideal when free Wi-Fi is not always available and many people are understandably aware of the security risks that come with using public networks.
“Otherwise, you could be back without internet access the moment you land, which can be a serious problem if you trust your phone to card, transport or bookings,” Gomez added.
