When evaluating mobile connectivity for corporate travel, the numbers tell a compelling story. This detailed cost analysis compares eSIM solutions against traditional carrier roaming, providing the data enterprises need to make informed decisions.
Understanding Traditional Roaming Costs
Carrier Roaming Pricing Models
Daily Pass Model
- Typical cost: $10-15 per day
- Usually includes limited data (500MB-2GB)
- Must purchase for each travel day
- Overages can be expensive
Pay-As-You-Go
- Data: $2-10 per MB (!)
- Calls: $1-3 per minute
- SMS: $0.50-1 per message
- Extremely expensive for any real usage
International Plans
- Monthly add-ons: $50-100
- Limited geographic coverage
- Often require commitment period
- Data limits may still be restrictive
eSIM Cost Structure
Typical eSIM Pricing
- Regional plans (Europe): $10-30 for 5-10GB, 7-30 days
- Country-specific: $5-20 for 3-5GB, 7-15 days
- Global plans: $30-50 for 5-10GB, 30 days
Cost Per GB Comparison
- Carrier roaming: $5-50+ per GB (highly variable)
- eSIM plans: $2-5 per GB (consistent)
Case Study: Individual Business Trip
Scenario: 5-Day European Business Trip
Employee travels to 3 EU countries for client meetings.
Traditional Roaming
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Daily pass (5 days × $12) | $60 |
| Data overage (500MB × $5) | $25 |
| International calls (30 min × $2) | $60 |
| Total | $145 |
eSIM Alternative
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| EU eSIM (5GB, 7 days) | $15 |
| VoIP calls (included in data) | $0 |
| Total | $15 |
Savings: $130 (90%)
Case Study: Monthly Corporate Travel
Scenario: 20 Employees, 4 International Trips Each/Year
Annual Traditional Roaming
- Average trip cost: $100 (conservative)
- Trips per year: 80 (20 employees × 4 trips)
- Total annual cost: $8,000
Annual eSIM Approach
- Average eSIM per trip: $20
- Trips per year: 80
- Total annual cost: $1,600
Annual savings: $6,400 (80%)
Hidden Costs of Traditional Roaming
Administrative Overhead
- Time managing carrier contracts
- Handling billing disputes
- Expense report processing for variable charges
- Employee training on carrier-specific rules
Productivity Losses
- Employees limiting data usage due to fear of charges
- Missed communications while rationing connectivity
- Time spent managing carrier settings abroad
- Stress from unpredictable costs
Surprise Charges
- Employees who forget to activate plans
- Overages from unforeseen usage
- Charges from unexpected layover countries
- Background app data consumption
eSIM Total Cost of Ownership
Direct Costs
- eSIM plan purchases (predictable)
- Occasional top-ups if needed
Administrative Costs
- Minimal—employees self-serve
- Straightforward expense reporting
- No contract management
Implementation Costs
- Employee training (minimal—simple process)
- Policy documentation
- Vendor selection
ROI Calculation Framework
Step 1: Calculate Current Spend
Gather 12 months of:
- International roaming charges
- International plan subscriptions
- Related administrative time
Step 2: Estimate eSIM Costs
Based on:
- Number of international trips
- Average trip duration
- Typical data consumption
- Regional pricing
Step 3: Calculate Net Savings
Current spend - Projected eSIM spend = Annual savings
Step 4: Consider Soft Benefits
- Improved employee productivity
- Better communication abroad
- Reduced administrative burden
- Enhanced security posture
Implementation Recommendations
Pilot Program
- Select 5-10 frequent travelers
- Run 3-month comparison
- Track actual costs and feedback
- Use data to build business case
Rollout Strategy
- Establish approved eSIM vendors
- Create expense guidelines
- Train employees on process
- Monitor savings over time
MerrSim Enterprise Value
MerrSim delivers enterprise-grade value:
- Predictable pricing: Clear costs for budgeting
- Transparent billing: Simple expense documentation
- Global coverage: One vendor for all destinations
- No hidden fees: What you see is what you pay
- Significant savings: 70-90% reduction typical
Calculate your potential savings with MerrSim and start reducing your corporate travel connectivity costs.