Truely Launches “Pause and Resume” eSIM Feature to Stop Data Waste for Travellers

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Truely has introduced its innovative “Pause and Resume” eSIM feature, giving travellers more control over their data usage.

For frequent travellers, the silent drain on unused mobile data is a familiar frustration. It’s a phenomenon the industry calls “breakage”, prepaid data that expires, whether you’ve used it or not, quietly adding to telco profits. 

To address this long-standing issue, a Singapore-based travel tech company is taking action. eSIM provider Truely has introduced a revolutionary “Pause and Resume” feature, specifically designed to give frequent flyers unprecedented control over their data plans. This functionality allows travellers to pause their mobile data plans when they are not in use and reactivate them at their convenience.

According to Breaking Travel News, in 2024 alone, Juniper Research estimated that global roaming would generate over $10 billion, a figure inflated by every gigabyte of data travellers pay for but never consume. This isn’t just a problem when you’re abroad; it happens at home, too, with countless plans that don’t roll over unused data. Spotty connectivity exacerbates the issue, according to Travel Daily Media. Research from OpenSignal highlights a significant “5G gap,” revealing that travellers often experience 60% less access to 5G networks than locals. This disparity is due to inconsistent coverage and the way roaming traffic is typically routed, resulting in tourists paying premium prices for subpar service.

While some eSIM providers offer limited versions of this capability, Truely has integrated it as a standard feature for all its users, framing it not as a perk but as a fundamental customer right. This move is a core part of the company’s mission to bring greater fairness and transparency to the international roaming market.

“The industry has long normalised the issue of breakage,” according to Simon Landsheer, Founder and CEO of Truely. “Our goal is to restore fairness to a system that has profited silently from waste for decades.”

Landsheer believes that addressing this seemingly small inefficiency can set a new standard for customer-centric technology. “If we fix something as small but universal as breakage, we set a precedent for how technology should treat people everywhere: transparently, on their terms, and without hidden losses,” he adds.

With this new feature, Truely customers can freeze their data plan for one day at a time, provided they do so before the next 24-hour cycle begins. The remaining days on the plan are saved and can be resumed whenever needed during their trip, ultimately eliminating the need to pay for unused data.

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The introduction of flexible, user-controlled data solutions, such as Truely’s “Pause and Resume” feature, has significant potential to positively impact the tourism and travel sectors in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. International travellers to Nigeria and other African countries often face high and unpredictable roaming charges. 

The complexity of purchasing local SIM cards upon arrival can also be a deterrent. An affordable eSIM with a pause feature makes staying connected easier and more cost-effective, which can enhance the overall tourist experience and make the destination more attractive. Tourists can pause their data while on a safari in a remote park without a signal and resume it upon returning to the city, maximising its value.

For Nigerians and other Africans travelling within the continent, cross-border roaming fees remain a major pain point. A flexible eSIM solution makes business travel, short holidays, and multi-country trips more seamless and affordable, encouraging more regional tourism.

Africa, with its vibrant cultures and relatively low cost of living, is an emerging destination for digital nomads. Reliable and flexible internet is non-negotiable for this demographic. A service that allows them to manage data costs intelligently, pausing plans during transit or in areas with free Wi-Fi, makes Nigeria and the continent a more viable and appealing base for remote workers.

 The entry of disruptive travel tech solutions, such as Truly, can pressure local telecommunication companies in Nigeria and across Africa to innovate. It may compel them to offer more competitive roaming packages, introduce data rollover options, or develop their own flexible plans to retain customers and cater to the needs of modern travellers.

Reliable connectivity is a matter of safety and convenience. By making data more accessible and manageable, tourists are better able to use navigation apps like Google Maps, access emergency services, use ride-hailing apps, and share their experiences on social media in real-time, which indirectly promotes the destination.

 

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FAQs

1. What is the “Pause and Resume” feature from Truely?

It is a new standard feature on all Truely eSIM plans that allows users to temporarily freeze their data plan for one or more days and reactivate it later. This ensures customers only pay for data on the days they actually need it.

2. What problem does this feature solve for travellers?

It directly addresses “data breakage”, the industry term for prepaid data that expires unused. Travellers often lose money on data plans during travel days, in areas with poor connectivity, or when they have access to free Wi-Fi. This feature eliminates that waste.

3. How exactly does the “Pause and Resume” function work?

A user can pause their plan for a full day at a time, provided they activate the pause before the next 24-hour cycle begins. The remaining days of the plan are saved and can be resumed at any point during their trip.

4. Is this feature a premium add-on or available to everyone?

According to Truely, the “Pause and Resume” feature is a standard offering included with all their eSIM plans, not a premium add-on. The company considers it a fundamental right for its customers.

5. How does this make Truely different from other eSIM providers?

While some competitors may offer limited pausing capabilities, Truely has made it a universal and core feature of its service. This reflects the company’s commitment to fairness and transparency in a market where hidden costs and data waste have been prevalent.