Lebara has officially begun the long-anticipated rollout of eSIM support across its mobile offerings — a move that brings the budget-friendly MVNO in line with broader industry trends towards digital SIMs — but with notable caveats and a carefully phased approach.
In October 2025, Lebara confirmed it had started introducing eSIM technology to its UK customer base, marking the first time the operator has offered a way to connect without a physical SIM card. Initially, this support is limited and primarily targeted at new customers subscribing with Apple’s iPhone Air, a smartphone that relies solely on eSIM rather than a physical SIM slot.
According to official community updates from Lebara, the operator defines an eSIM as a digital SIM embedded in a device that enables voice, text and data services without the need for plastic cards — offering faster setup and reduced waste compared to traditional SIMs. Existing customers with supported handsets can request an eSIM by contacting customer support, with broader device compatibility expected in due course.
The phased launch reflects Lebara’s intent to modernise its service offerings while ensuring backend support is fully functional. Initial eSIM availability is focused on select devices and new customers, but internal messaging from Lebara and reports from tech news outlets suggest that support will expand to additional devices and existing account holders as the year progresses.
Industry commentary points out that eSIMs enable users to store multiple mobile profiles on a single handset and switch plans without waiting for a SIM card to arrive by post — features increasingly popular among international travellers and smartphone users alike. The rollout also aligns Lebara with competitors that already support eSIMs (such as Vodafone, EE, and others), helping the network stay competitive in a market increasingly driven by flexibility and convenience.
For customers interested in switching to an eSIM, Lebara’s website and support lines offer guidance, and users are advised to check device compatibility before transitioning. As part of its longer-term strategy, the operator says it plans to support a wider range of eSIM-capable devices and enable existing customers to migrate their current numbers more seamlessly in the months ahead.
In the meantime, Lebara’s entry into eSIM services represents a significant step in its evolution from a pure SIM-card era operator to one that embraces more modern connectivity standards — even if the journey to universal support is still unfolding.