British media outlets like The Sun and FTN News have recently sounded the alarm for holidaymakers heading to Turkey: activating a travel eSIM after arrival may no longer be possible. 

In July 2025, the Turkish telecom authority BTK (Bilgi Teknolojileri ve İletişim Kurumu) officially ordered the restriction of access to the websites and apps of several major international eSIM providers — including Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, and others.

As reported in Turkish Minute, this means travelers can no longer activate or recharge their eSIMs from within Turkey unless it was set up before entering the country.

AskGreg Recommendation

• For travelers: Download, install, and activate your eSIM before takeoff. Once you land, you may find access to your provider is blocked — unless you’re equipped with a VPN.
• For eSIM providers: Update your customer onboarding and messaging. A clear pre-travel activation reminder can save your users frustration and reduce support costs.

⚠️ A Broader Trend to Watch

Turkey might just be the beginning. As eSIM usage expands, other countries may implement similar restrictions, citing data sovereignty, digital regulation, or telecom licensing concerns. Pre-activation is no longer just smart — it’s becoming essential.

Let’s Talk

At AskGreg, we help telco players stay ahead of regulatory changes — and turn them into strategic advantages. If you’re building or scaling a travel eSIM service, let’s connect.

👉 Contact AskGreg to see how we can help future-proof your product roadmap.