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Thousands of travellers could be left without Internet as Turkey bans 
websites and apps of major eSIM providers - but don't worry, there's a catch

Date:
Thu, 24 Jul 2025 13:59:00 +0000

Description:
Major eSIM providers, including Holafly, Airalo, Saily, and Ubigi, are part 
of the ban - but there might be a way around it.

FULL STORY

The BTK, Turkey's telecom regulator, has banned access to the websites and
apps of major eSIM providers. 

As summer holiday time commences, around 13 million Brits are flying away on
holiday in the next two months, with Turkey one of the top tourist
destinations. 

The ban includes top eSIM providers for international travel , including
Holafly, Airalo, Ubigi, and Saily.

How can travelers still access the Internet in Turkey?

With these recent changes, UK travelers are strongly advised to install and
activate their eSIM before they take off, meaning users should ensure the 
eSIM is fully downloaded and activated on their device before departure. 

"To avoid getting caught out, UK travellers should ensure their eSIM is fully
downloaded and activated before leaving the UK. This means setting up your
digital SIM while still on UK networks and confirming it's working properly
before departure," says Pablo Gomez, CEO of Holafly. 

Most eSIM providers for Turkey allow you to install and activate your plan
ahead of time, and the process is typically quick and simple. 

However, failing to do so could leave users without internet access on
arrival. In that case, users will have to rely on public Wi-Fi or try to find
a physical SIM, not ideal when free Wi-Fi isnt always available, and many
people are understandably wary of the security risks that come with using
public networks. 

Otherwise, you could be left without internet access the moment you land,
which can be a serious issue if you rely on your phone for maps, transport, 
or bookings, added Gomez.

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/thousands-of-travellers-could-be-left-without-in
ternet-as-turkey-bans-websites-and-apps-of-major-esim-providers-but-dont-worry
-theres-a-catch

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