Independence note: askotto is an independent consumer-information and consultancy publisher. We are not a mobile network, and we are not owned by, partnered with, or endorsed by Three, O2, Sky Mobile, EE, Vodafone or any provider named in these reports. Everything here is general guidance, marked and written by our own reviewers; confirm current details with the network before acting. Our phone and WhatsApp lines reach askotto consultants only — never a network's own customer service.
Section 01
What it is & who supports it
An eSIM is the same subscription written into your phone's built-in chip. Recent iPhones and Android flagships support it broadly; among networks, EE's flow ranks smoothest, Three and O2 issue in minutes, and Sky's support arrived later and still varies by handset — confirm your exact model with Sky first.
Section 02
Issue & transfer, safely
The safe path
- Request the eSIM inside the official app or website — a QR code or in-app flow activates it in minutes.
- Moving to a new phone? Use the network's official transfer flow only.
- Keeping your number when switching network: the same free PAC text (65075) — plastic and digital are identical in law.
Red-pen note: There is no such thing as a paid eSIM 'transfer service' or 'activation fee'. Anyone charging for these is a scam, full stop.
Section 03
The travel pairing
Dual-SIM is the treasurer's trick: keep your UK line active for calls and texts, add a cheap local or regional data eSIM for the trip, and route data through it. On any stay past a few days this routinely beats daily roaming fees — do the arithmetic on the roaming page before you fly.
Independence note: askotto is an independent consumer-information and consultancy publisher. We are not a mobile network, and we are not owned by, partnered with, or endorsed by Three, O2, Sky Mobile, EE, Vodafone or any provider named in these reports. Everything here is general guidance, marked and written by our own reviewers; confirm current details with the network before acting. Our phone and WhatsApp lines reach askotto consultants only — never a network's own customer service.