How do data-only eSIMs work?

What a data-only eSIM is

A data-only eSIM is a digital SIM profile installed on your phone (no plastic card) that provides mobile internet only — no phone number, no SMS line, no voicemail.

It is purpose-built for how people actually communicate today: WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, FaceTime, Telegram, Signal, Google Meet, Maps and Email all run over data.

How it works step-by-step

1. You buy a plan at /plans and receive a QR code by email in ~60 seconds. 2. You open Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data → Add eSIM and scan the QR code. 3. The eSIM profile installs alongside your existing SIM as a second line. 4. When you land, you toggle the A.R.I.A line on and select it as your data line. 5. Every internet-based app on your phone is online — instantly, in 180+ countries.

Why "data-only" is a feature, not a limitation

• You keep your real phone number on your primary SIM.
• WhatsApp, iMessage and banking 2FA keep working.
• No bill shock — the plan is prepaid and capped at the data you bought.
• One eSIM platform, one account, dozens of countries.

This is why A.R.I.A Mobile positions itself as a global eSIM connectivity platform rather than a traditional mobile network.

People also ask

• What is an eSIM?

  An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of inserting a plastic SIM, you scan a QR code or tap a link and a mobile plan is downloaded onto a secure chip inside the device. It takes about a minute and works alongside your normal SIM, so you can keep your home number while using a travel data plan abroad.

• eSIM vs roaming — which is cheaper?

  For almost every trip outside the EU, a travel eSIM is dramatically cheaper. A typical UK carrier charges £6 per day for roaming data outside Europe — that's £84 for a two-week trip with a 500 MB daily cap. The same trip on an A.R.I.A Mobile eSIM is around £10-£20 for 10-20 GB of data, with no daily caps and no bill shock.

• Can I use WhatsApp with an eSIM?

  Yes. WhatsApp works perfectly on an A.R.I.A Mobile eSIM — messages, voice notes, voice calls and video calls all run on the data plan, while your original WhatsApp number stays linked to your primary SIM.

• Can I keep my phone number with an eSIM?

  Yes. A.R.I.A Mobile is a data-only eSIM, so your existing phone number stays on your primary SIM. You add A.R.I.A as a second line for data while calls, texts and WhatsApp continue arriving on your normal number.