Opera is expanding its Android browser with a feature that you would not normally expect from a web browser. The company has launched a travel eSIM that lets users get mobile data for international trips without installing a separate eSIM app.
The timing is interesting because browser makers are currently competing heavily around AI features. Opera is taking a different route with a feature aimed at a very practical problem: staying connected while travelling abroad.
The new eSIM can be installed and managed directly through Opera for Android. However, it is not restricted to the browser. Once activated, it provides mobile data to the entire phone. So users can use apps such as Maps, Messenger and other internet-connected services.
Opera is also offering 3GB of free data to users in selected markets. The free data is valid for three days and does not require users to enter payment details or even an email address. At launch, the offer is available in the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, UAE, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Poland.
The setup is designed to work before and during a trip. Users can install the eSIM while they are still at home and activate the plan after reaching their destination. The same eSIM can also be used when travelling between supported countries, although users need to purchase a new data package for each country.
Once the free data expires, Opera offers paid plans with 3GB, 5GB and 10GB of data. These plans remain valid for 30 days after activation. The service is data-only, so it does not replace the user’s existing phone number or provide regular calling and SMS services.
Opera says the eSIM works in 47 destinations and can connect to 5G networks where supported by local carriers. The supported destinations include the US, UK, Germany, France, UAE, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries.
The feature is currently limited to Opera for Android. It requires an eSIM-compatible smartphone running Android 10 or newer. While the free 3GB promotion is limited to selected markets, Opera says the eSIM can be purchased worldwide.
This is not the first time Opera has added a service that goes beyond traditional browsing. The company has already built features such as a VPN into its browser, and the eSIM follows a similar approach of putting an otherwise separate service directly inside the browser. If you are looking for a dedicated VPN service, NordVPN and Proton VPN are also worth considering, especially if you want more control over VPN features and server locations.
There is a practical reason this could work. Travellers often need an eSIM only occasionally, and the biggest barrier can be finding a provider, installing another app and setting everything up before a trip. Opera can now handle that process from an app users already have on their phone.
The move also gives Opera another way to differentiate its browser. AI has become a major focus for browser companies, with many products adding similar AI assistants and features. A travel eSIM is a very different kind of addition because it provides something useful outside the browser itself.
Related Posts
