Good eSIM provider for Oz for a 4 day trip?

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › Good eSIM provider for Oz for a 4 day trip?

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cokemaster

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#3255502 2-Jul-2024 13:52

When you are using foreign passport verification, are you using a New Zealand passport and if you are, are you currently in Australia?

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razor2000nz

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#3255504 2-Jul-2024 14:06

cokemaster: When you are using foreign passport verification, are you using a New Zealand passport and if you are, are you currently in Australia?

yes, NZ passport, no not in Australia yet. tried via VPN.

only asked as original poster said

Thanks. I signed up fine and got 25GB for $12.5(AUD). The eSIM loaded fine and I know it works because I got a text saying Welcome to NZ and rates for roaming. Just turned it off until I need it

so assumed he activated before leaving NZ.

cokemaster

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#3255505 2-Jul-2024 14:23

VPN won't help. The problem is when ID verification takes place which is a requirement for Telco services.

I believe non-NZ passports with a visa issued will work when the person is outside of the border, however NZ passports only validate when you're in Australia (eg. passed through customs).
If you had an Australian drivers license + medicare card, the passport status is moot as you'd just use those.

Some providers may allow you to 'sign up' prior to passing the border on the provision that you activate after you arrive. I'm aware of one or two virtual providers who allow you to use Aussie issued credit cards as a ID method.

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noroad

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#3255557 2-Jul-2024 14:33

When researching esim's for a US trip Ive got coming up I found https://www.airalo.com/ which is an app that makes it all easy. Just select where you are going, select your esim option and you are good to go. The app handles the switching when you are in country and the esim only activates when you land.

razor2000nz

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#3255572 2-Jul-2024 16:04

noroad:

When researching esim's for a US trip Ive got coming up I found https://www.airalo.com/ which is an app that makes it all easy. Just select where you are going, select your esim option and you are good to go. The app handles the switching when you are in country and the esim only activates when you land.

Yeah Ive previously used https://www.getnomad.app/en. But it seems these travel sims providers are no longer as cheap as the used to be. Felix is $10Aud for 25GB. Travel sim providers were $50USD for the same amount of data.

KiwiSurfer

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#3255639 2-Jul-2024 17:56

cokemaster:

All three will have variable performance. In places like Sydney, all three networks have spots of congestion and its a mixed bag in terms of in-tunnel coverage (for trains). Brisbane + Gold coast is similar, you can get around on all three without too many dramas although Optus/Telstra generally will have coverage at the underground stations + tunnels whilst Vodafone won't.

I've been on all of the options above - can vouch - for general city + tourist areas (as long as near main centres), you'll be ok.

I agree with the comment re variable performance.

I went to a town in Victoria big enough to justify a supermarket, police station, schools, etc so not a tiny town but not a large town either. In NZ a town like that would have good service from all 3 carriers. In AU though it's a completly differnt story... Vodafone had zero service. Telstra did have coverage but the whole town and surrounding areas was served by single omni-directional antenna with LTE 700 only. Probably just enough to meet the demand but probably would struggle if there was an event in the area. Optus on the other hand had 3 sectors with IRRC no less than 4 carriers on LTE -- good coverage and plenty of capacity. The significant disparity in service levels was shocking for me coming from the fairly consistent experience you get across the 3 NZ carriers. Made me realise how lucky we are in NZ--for most people there is little difference between the three networks other than price and the occassional pockets of areas where certain carriers may have slghtly less/more service.

Hard to recomend one network. Telstra may have the better coverage but they achieve that so at the expense of capacity. Optus seem to be the middle ground with less coverage but where they do have coverage the capacity seems to be pretty good (and at the levels you'd expect from any NZ carrier). Vodafone has even less coverage but like Optus they still seem to try and provide a reasonable amount of capacity as they can within their limited footprint. YMMV but the reommendation to go with any of the 3 as long as you stay within city limits is sound. Beyond that Optus (or a Telstra MNVO) is probably a good bet if you're just going say a few hours out of a major city and you can confirm from coverage maps that you will have service where you need it. For serious outback travels the Telstra retail network may be your only option.

A few years back Vodafone did a deal with Telstra to gain access to the MNVO portion of their rural network via a MoRAN arrangeemnt (similar to 2deg/One has here for around 200+ rural sites) but apparently the competition authorities put a stop to it because thought it would affect the competition in a bad way. So they've basically ensured AU consumers continue to have less choice than those over the tasman. Probably not surprising given silly govt policies that has resulted in the NBN etc -- the government on that side of the tasman seem hell bent on making sure their people have at best variable access to good internet. *shurgs*

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