In a survey published by YouGov’s survey of consumers in 17 international markets, it was found that 24.6% prefer to work from home, 51% in a hybrid environment, and the remaining from the office.
One of the most popular options, aligned to the above, is the possibility of working from other countries, which has brought with it in recent years the phenomenon of digital nomads.
Latin America in particular has become one of the preferred destinations for digital nomads. In fact, Mexico is the country with the highest number of digital nomads, totaling 90,000. According to Restart’s report, the presence of foreigners there can be a positive indicator for the economy, since the economic activity they generate is approximately $1 billion USD.
This has created a number of consequences in the local ecosystem, including an increase in salaries, as well as a growth in housing prices and expenses in some cities. But there are also other industries that have been impacted, including mobility.
To stay connected, digital nomads have begun to adopt eSIMs, digital chips that provide connectivity. These are just like traditional simcards, only a physical card is not needed, and the nomad can easily add another phone number regardless of where they are.
The eSIM market
Usually, when acquiring a traditional SIM, individuals are required to provide personal information, such as identification number and even bio-metric data. However, when using an eSIM, these formalities become secondary, since the activation is done by means of a QR.
The global e-SIM market will generate $4.7 million this year and is forecast to reach $16.3 million in revenue by 2027.
While the eSIM market is relatively new in Latin America, some operators are already offering this type of service, which is also being used by digital nomads.
“Today’s travelers value autonomy and personalization in every aspect of their experience. This constant need for connection makes solutions like eSIM essential, ensuring that they can access information and services anytime, anywhere,” explains Maria Yepes, head of Affiliates & Customer Engagement at Sim Local.
It is expected that by the end of 2029, 75% of smartphone connections in the region will be through eSIMs.
The challenges
Some experts emphasize that the market still faces challenges, such as the availability of suitable devices to use digital cards, similar to the situation with the implementation of 5G, in addition to the lack of infrastructure in some countries in the region.
For now, it is necessary to have a terminal that supports eSIM, but the device must be unrestricted, i.e. it must be unlocked. Although this practice is prohibited, some operators still market smartphones with restrictions.
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