Red Bull Global eSim

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Shindig

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#306730 16-Aug-2023 15:09

https://esim.redbullmobile.com/roaming/

How can they provide a global eSim, including NZ when only a handful of carriers over here offer it?

I have heard of the term CloudSim. How does that technology work?

Is there an initial agreement between carries in each country, so you can essentially hop from one to the next on eSim?

Any information, background reading would be appreciated.

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cokemaster

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#3116866 16-Aug-2023 17:48

It’s more likely that they’re dealing with a larger provider, eg. EU, UK, HK or Singapore based that will own all the relationships with the networks involved, they’ll just pay a per GB rate depending on which country you are in. You’ll probably be able to ID it off the sim id.

The roaming network itself doesn’t know/care if you are using a physical sim or not. They just see a sim.

Edit: looks like the app comes from A1 Telekom Austria AG.

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KiwiSurfer

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#3116868 16-Aug-2023 17:55

They probably partner with an existing carrier somewhere in the world, which itself has existing roaming agreements with NZ carriers. Note roaming works more or less the same whether it's eSIM or physical SIM so it has nothing at all to do with the local rollout by NZ domestic carriers. From the NZ carrier's perspective international eSims is just another roaming customer and they will accept the connection as long as the visitor's network has an agreement in place. This is how most if not all the other global eSim operators work as well --they may have their own brands etc but under the hood there is a "home" network somewhere in the world that is providing the connectivity and looks after the roaming side of things to the advertised roaming countries. Probably somewhere govr legalisation is weak enough that they can get away with provisioning esims without verifying identities etc. Sort of a MVNO but marketing to a global audience.

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#3116871 16-Aug-2023 18:08

Slightly off topic but back in the day, Spark did this in two variations:
- with their world mode sims for dual CDMA-GSM handsets.
- initially with XT SIM cards which had a partner sim loaded against it.

Both used certain HK or UK providers. No longer a thing these days.

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andyb

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#3117032 17-Aug-2023 09:45

Most of the eSIM providers purchase a block of IMSIs from a large carrier with a unit rate for usage (voice, text, data) and sell those as retail packages. They are effectively piggy backing off the unit rates the overseas carrier has with the NZ carriers, and just look like a normal roamer from that carrier (although you can identify them, as some use different APNs and you can figure our the rough IMSI ranges)

There are a few eSIM providers that have their own required network components however, so NZ carriers can have direct roaming agreements with them.

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Shindig

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#3118500 21-Aug-2023 13:30

Who would the larger carriers be, that have agreements in place with the local NZ carriers?

How would one approach the larger carriers to become a reseller? Organise data usage and rates etc.

cheers

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openmedia

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#3118614 21-Aug-2023 14:37

Sadly missing a bunch of key locations I'd need like Singapore and Indonesia.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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#3118622 21-Aug-2023 14:51

openmedia:

Sadly missing a bunch of key locations I'd need like Singapore and Indonesia.

Eskimo.Travel has Indonesia but not Singapore.

Free 1GB of Global Data (Virtual eSIM, Data Valid for 2 Years)

codes ESKIMO and/or 4UDBTF-1

Inphinity

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#3118683 21-Aug-2023 16:31

Not super helpful, but I laughed at this bit in their info about NZ:

Capital: Wellington
Other main cities: Gisborne, Hastings, New Plymouth

Like, how do you even select these 3 as the ones to list alongside Wellington when describing NZ cities :P

lxsw20

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#3118701 21-Aug-2023 17:03

Airalo is worth a look for this too, they do global/regional/country eSIM depending on what you need. It's data only, but I suspect thats fine for most people. They give details of which carrier they use etc when you click into the country.

I was going to use it in an upcoming UK trip, but got giffgaff to send a SIM card to NZ instead.

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#3118766 21-Aug-2023 19:56

Shindig:

Who would the larger carriers be, that have agreements in place with the local NZ carriers?

How would one approach the larger carriers to become a reseller? Organise data usage and rates etc.

cheers

I'd be thinking players like (disclosure - I know a few already offer this service)

Vodafone
Singtel
O2
Hutchison
HKT
Tmobile
AT&T
China Mobile

+ A1 Telekom Austria AG

Generally you'd approach their Wholesale team with a bit of a proposal. Obviously they'll want a certain amount of minimum volume and there will be commercials based off how much heavy lifting that they'll be doing. Eg. Billing, Apps etc.

All of them have roaming relationships with one or more NZ operators... but I'd have to caution you:

A. The roaming rates they offer won't be ground shattering compared to what you can get domestically, and
B. They'll want a certain amount of volume... a few dozen or even hundred SIM's aren't going to do it.
C. You'll probably be expected to fund a decent portion of effort upfront.

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Handle9

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#3118848 21-Aug-2023 22:33

lxsw20:
Airalo is worth a look for this too, they do global/regional/country eSIM depending on what you need. It's data only, but I suspect thats fine for most people. They give details of which carrier they use etc when you click into the country.

I was going to use it in an upcoming UK trip, but got giffgaff to send a SIM card to NZ instead.

I used Airalo for my recent trip to Türkiye. It worked great, the network roamed back to the Netherlands.