Estimating the Travel eSIM Market Volume in the Southeast Asia by 2030
Andreev, Georgii (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052315172
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052315172
Tiivistelmä
This thesis estimates the travel eSIM market volume in Southeast Asia by 2030. Travel eSIMs are among the current solutions for accessing the internet while abroad. The installation of a travel eSIM occurs remotely and provides users with a cost-effective means of internet access during travel.
The research problem is quantitative and was divided into five research questions. A qualitative approach was used to answer one of these questions. The questions first assessed the current status of the market, then explored the market CAGR and outbound travel statistics in the region, and finally produced a scenario matrix for market development.
In this study, the Southeast Asian market was initially represented by three countries: Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Outbound travel statistics were gathered for each country and then extrapolated to other countries with similar GDP per capita. Current market volumes and predicted growth rates were then obtained, complemented by the average spend on a travel eSIM during a single trip. Outbound travel statistics for the mentioned countries were also collected. Finally, a matrix of four different market development scenarios was presented. The results revealed that the market significantly depends on two driving forces: regulations and traditional data roaming costs. Varying degrees of these factors could either boost the market or make it unprofitable to operate in.
In the best-case scenario, more than 70 million travel eSIM users and approximately US$1.2 billion in annual expenditures are expected in Southeast Asia. In the worst-case scenario, only about 4 million users and US$74 million in expenditures are projected.
This research ultimately provides a framework for assessing all proposed scenarios. If this report is relevant to a company's operations, it is recommended to conduct more in-depth research, possibly by changing the market scope – for example, by analyzing a specific country or focusing on a particular scenario.
The research problem is quantitative and was divided into five research questions. A qualitative approach was used to answer one of these questions. The questions first assessed the current status of the market, then explored the market CAGR and outbound travel statistics in the region, and finally produced a scenario matrix for market development.
In this study, the Southeast Asian market was initially represented by three countries: Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Outbound travel statistics were gathered for each country and then extrapolated to other countries with similar GDP per capita. Current market volumes and predicted growth rates were then obtained, complemented by the average spend on a travel eSIM during a single trip. Outbound travel statistics for the mentioned countries were also collected. Finally, a matrix of four different market development scenarios was presented. The results revealed that the market significantly depends on two driving forces: regulations and traditional data roaming costs. Varying degrees of these factors could either boost the market or make it unprofitable to operate in.
In the best-case scenario, more than 70 million travel eSIM users and approximately US$1.2 billion in annual expenditures are expected in Southeast Asia. In the worst-case scenario, only about 4 million users and US$74 million in expenditures are projected.
This research ultimately provides a framework for assessing all proposed scenarios. If this report is relevant to a company's operations, it is recommended to conduct more in-depth research, possibly by changing the market scope – for example, by analyzing a specific country or focusing on a particular scenario.