{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "description": "Rumours about an eSIM-only iPhone trigger a little rant on eSIM fees.",
  "path": "/2025-08-15-esims-as-a-profit-centre/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-08-15T14:44:20.000Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:ex23caczr45rodrfcxrwps6h/site.standard.publication/self",
  "tags": [
    "technology"
  ],
  "textContent": "The rumours surrounding the upcoming *iPhone Air *suggest it will not have a physical SIM tray and will rely entirely on eSIM technology. Fine. I like eSIMs. My primary line uses an eSIM and when I'm travelling outside of Southeast Asia I use Airalo to get a local eSIM for data purposes.\n\nMy problem with the eSIM-only model is the behaviour of the networks. A few of the networks in Singapore treat eSIMs as a profit centre (and I'm sure they're not the only ones):\n\nM1: *You will be able to retain your 5G eSIM number however you will need to remove your eSIM profile from the current device and re-download into the new intended device (a fee of **$5.45 *applies for the re-download).\n\nSingtel: Chat with us to get another eSIM. Each replacement costs $10.90.\n\n$10.90 for a *physical *sim is expensive, but for eSIM it is downright outrageous. If an eSIM is roughly 50 kilobytes and a new/replacement is $10.90, that's ~22 cents per kilobyte (or, inflation adjusted, 20x more expensive per KB than initial AOL dial up). Luckily, $5.45 is exactly half the price — bargain!\n\nHere are just a few scenarios where these fees could apply, which highlights their absurdity:\n\nBuying a new phone, deleting your old eSIM, and downloading a new eSIM\n\nLosing your phone, buying a new phone, deleting your old eSIM (via the network's app), and downloading a new eSIM\n\nErasing all content and settings, deleting your old eSIM (via the network's app), and downloading a new eSIM\n\nIn the olden days, you just moved your SIM card between devices. It was free and easy to do.",
  "title": "eSIMs as a Profit Centre"
}