An eSIM is a novel technology that is likely to replace physical SIM cards, which are used in endpoints to identify users and grant users access to the data plans that they subscribed to with a service provider. Even though this might not be a common thing yet in all regions of the world, we learned from a survey that more than 89% of all mobile network operators plan to offer eSIM-based services by 2025. The other bit of the gambit is that the consumers will need smartphones or other mobile endpoints that also support eSIM services as a feature. More than 80% of hardware manufacturers are planning to offer such a spec in their products by 2025 or earlier.
As everything turns SaaS, so will the old SIM cards. Having eSIM technology instead will be just a little more comfortable to an average user in their daily lives, the bigger benefit will be introduced to people who travel a lot and are used to swapping SIM cards around and mixing up plans. Operators as well will receive massive benefits from going all digital, but for today, let’s stick to the world of consumers. For all who are interested in the B2B side of things, I recommend another article we did as the eSIM technology was introduced first.
How could eSIM tech be used in our lives in the future?
Shortly after the MWC event, in Barcelona, just a few days back, we heard from one of the companies that exhibited there as part of the 4YFN startups. As we thought the solution was very future-oriented and leveraging cutting-edge tech, we want to introduce to you today ZIM Connections – the”Amazon of travel eSIM mobile plans” as it’s described on the 4YFN website.

As of 2021, there were about 350 million IoT devices capable to use eSIM services, and the projected amount of eSIM-supporting endpoints to be manufactured by 2030 is 14 billion. ZIM Connections wants to be your one-stop shop for your eSIM data plan needs, no matter where in the world you’re traveling.
Interview with ZIM Connections CEO and co-founder Irina Gheorghiu
Irina Gheorghiu, the CEO, and co-founder of ZIM Connections talked with us and was kind enough to answer our questions in an interview. Here’s what we learned.
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What experience do you have in the eSIM and mobile data industry?
As the founders of ZIM Connections, we have extensive experience in the eSIM and mobile data industry. Our company specializes in providing eSIM solutions to travelers around the world. We’ve developed strong partnerships with leading mobile network operators, which allows us to offer seamless connectivity to our customers. Our team has expertise in eSIM technology and mobile data services, and we are constantly staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry.
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How would you define ZIM Connections’ mission and values?
Our mission is to create a customer-focused telecommunication service by providing eSIM connectivity without borders through disruptive technological innovation. At ZIM, we are committed to upholding the following core values:
- Customer focus: We put our customers first and strive to provide them with the best possible experience. We listen to their needs, understand their challenges, and work to develop solutions that meet their unique requirements.
- Innovation: We are dedicated to being at the forefront of the eSIM and mobile data industry. We continually seek new and better ways to provide our customers with the best possible products and services.
- Integrity: We believe in doing business with honesty, transparency, and fairness. We treat our customers, partners, and employees with respect and integrity in everything we do.
- Reliability: We understand that our customers rely on us to keep them connected, which is why we prioritize reliability in all aspects of our business. We work tirelessly to ensure our products and services are dependable and consistent.
- Teamwork: We believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork. We work closely with our customers, partners, and employees to achieve shared goals and drive success for all involved.
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What strategies will you employ to ensure customer satisfaction with your services?
We know customer satisfaction is crucial to our success. So, to make sure our customers are happy with us, we’ll implement the following strategies:
Excellent customer service; we’ll provide our customers with top-notch customer service by making sure that they have access to knowledgeable and friendly support staff who can quickly address their concerns or questions.
High-quality products and services; we’ll provide high-quality eSIM and mobile data services that are reliable and affordable. We’ll continually monitor and improve our products and services so that they meet or hopefully exceed our customers’ expectations.
Regular communication; we’ll keep our customers informed about new products, updates, and promotions through regular communication channels. This includes newsletters, social media, and direct emails.
Feedback and improvement; we’ll actively seek customer feedback and use it to improve our services. Suggestions from customers will be incorporated into our product and service development strategies.
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How does your knowledge of the telecom market benefit your company’s growth objectives?
We’re fortunate to have a great advisor as a shareholder with more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector. In particular, their experience helps us navigate the complexities of the industry and identify new opportunities for growth. They provide us with insights into emerging technologies, changing consumer behavior, and other trends that are shaping the industry.
As the telecom market continues to evolve, it’s crucial to have a deep understanding of its inner makings. With the built knowledge and expertise we have developed since starting with ZIM, we can help guide the company’s strategic decisions and ensure that we stay ahead of the pack.
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What steps will you take to create a competitive edge for ZIM Connections in this marketplace?
Our focus will be on customer experience. We’ll offer flexible and customizable eSIM solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers. We’ll strive to provide excellent customer service and ensure that our customers have a hassle-free experience. We’ll offer competitive pricing for our eSIM services, which will make them affordable for a broad range of customers. We will also offer transparent pricing that is easy to understand, which will help build trust with our customers.

We’re also focusing on developing strategic partnerships with established mobile network operators, technology providers, and other relevant companies. This lets us offer a broader range of services and solutions to our customers and enhances our reputation as a reliable and trustworthy partner. We’ll also embrace innovation by continually investing in new technologies and solutions. We’ll offer the latest services to our customers when they become available. Lastly, we opened our B2B channel, partnering with leaders in the travel sector in order to reach more customers that will benefit from our solution.
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In what ways do you plan to maximize revenue streams for your organization?
We’ll employ a variety of strategies to increase sales, customer engagement, and brand awareness. Firstly, we will diversify our product and service offerings to appeal to a broad range of customers. By offering a variety of eSIM solutions, and mobile data plans, both through B2B and B2C channels, we can create multiple revenue streams that will facilitate a steady flow of income.
We’ll develop targeted marketing campaigns that focus on specific customer segments and their needs. By tailoring our messaging and promotional efforts to the unique needs and interests of different customer groups, we can increase customer engagement and drive more sales.
Finally, building strategic partnerships is another important strategy for maximizing our revenue streams. By collaborating with mobile network operators and travel companies, we can expand our offering and provide customers with a wider range of solutions. This will help us attract new customers and retain existing ones, increasing our revenue streams in the process.
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Are there any innovative technology solutions that can be incorporated into your operations or product offering that could provide additional value or convenience for customers or employees?
Yes, there are several. One of the key technologies that we are exploring is artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. By leveraging AI and machine learning algorithms, we can improve the efficiency and accuracy of our operations, automate certain processes, and enhance the customer experience. For example, we could use AI and machine learning to automate customer service inquiries, which would allow us to respond to customer needs more quickly and efficiently.
We could also use these technologies to analyze customer data and behavior, which would enable us to better understand their needs and preferences and tailor our product offerings accordingly. We are developing the infrastructures to be able to deliver eSIM mobile plans efficiently and effortlessly to our customers, without the need to manually activate or even scan a QR code to install it, but just through a button within our application.
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Who are some of your key partners within the tech industry, and what opportunities could they bring us down the line?
Some of our key mobile network operating partners include Helix Wireless and eSIMgo among others These partnerships allow us to access a wide range of network coverage and provide customers with high-quality connectivity. We also partner with travel tech companies, student organizations, and digital nomad communities that promote our solution to their customers. In terms of opportunities, our key partners within the tech industry bring several potential benefits to ZIM Connections.
For example accessing new markets, as our partnerships with mobile network operators allow us to expand into new markets and reach new customer segments by providing better solutions in more geographic locations. Overall, our key partners within the travel tech industry play a critical role in our growth strategy at ZIM Connections, and we will continue to leverage these partnerships to drive innovation and provide the best possible services to our customers.
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What approaches do you envision taking to build relationships with potential strategic partners and investors who may support further expansion of our business model internationally?
At ZIM, we understand the importance of building strong relationships. To achieve this, we will attend industry events and conferences to network with potential strategic partners and investors. This has already proved successful and has given us opportunities to meet with key decision-makers, share our story, and establish connections that lead to partnerships and investment. We will focus on creating partnerships that provide mutual benefit.

This means identifying areas where we can add value to our partners’ businesses while also benefiting from their expertise and resources. We’ll also maintain open and honest communication with these potential strategic partners to build trust. We’ll keep them informed of our progress, listen to their feedback and concerns, and work collaboratively to address any issues that may arise.
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What techniques would you use to engage employees, clients, and stakeholders around corporate initiatives related to sustainability goals or community outreach programs?
Engaging employees, clients, and stakeholders is essential to our success. To achieve this, we communicate our sustainability and community outreach initiatives clearly and regularly to all our stakeholders, including employees, clients, and partners. We use various channels such as email, newsletters, social media, and website updates to keep everyone informed of our progress and goals.
We will provide training and development opportunities for our employees to raise awareness of our sustainability and community outreach plans. Through this, they’ll understand the importance of these initiatives and how they can contribute to achieving our goals. We will encourage our employees to participate in volunteer programs that align with our sustainability and community outreach goals. They’ll have the opportunity to engage in these schemes and contribute to making a positive impact on society.
We also seek out collaborative projects with clients and partners that support our sustainability and community outreach plans. So that we can work together towards common goals and drive meaningful impact.
We’re committed to sustainable development and recognize the critical role that businesses play in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, we are committed to supporting SDG 9, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation, as well as SDG 12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production. We believe that by aligning our business practices with these SDGs, we can contribute to a more sustainable future and create long-term value for all our stakeholders.
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Do you offer any service or data plans to people who don’t have endpoints that support eSIM technology?
No, we provide eSIM technology solutions to our customers, which allow them to activate mobile data plans without the need for a physical SIM card. We believe that eSIM technology is the way of the future and are focused on providing innovative solutions to our customers. However, we understand that not all devices currently support eSIM technology, and we recommend customers to ensure their device is compatible before considering our services.
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How would you explain your work and what you do at ZIM Connections to a 5-year-old?
At ZIM Connections, we help people use their mobile phones to talk to their friends and family, send messages, and access the internet. We have a special way of doing this called eSIM technology, which allows you to activate mobile data plans on your phone without needing a physical SIM card. The idea here is to make it easy for people to stay connected no matter where they are, and we’re always looking for new ways to make using your phone simpler and more convenient.
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Is there anything else that you’d like our readers to know about ZIM Connections?
We know change can be uncertain, it’s human nature to be wary of it, even scared of it sometimes. But the best things come from embracing it. eSIM technology is going to be the new wave of communication, it’s inevitable. We want to be the ones to help you with your transition when you make the switch. Become part of the ZIM family and we’ll make sure you’ll stay connected everywhere, at all times.
Change in the future might be uncertain
But it is fair to assume, as of now, that eSIM is likely to replace legacy SIM cards in the near future and that solutions like ZIM Connections are likely to make the lives of travelers and power data users less chaotic and could help them to save money on their mobile data plans. You only need a device that supports eSIM and you’ll unlock this future for yourself.
Thanks so much, Irina, for taking the time to talk to us. This is a very interesting space in my opinion and I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing more about ZIM Connections in the future. If this sounds like something you could benefit from, why not visit their website or try out their app? Maybe it can help you already right now, and you don’t have to wait for the future.
YouTube: ZIM – The Future of Connectivity is Here (promotional video)
Photo credit: The photos were provided by ZIM Connections with permission for media usage.