Tuesday’s announcement of the iPhone Air has shaken up the schedule. Thank you, Apple!
In anticipation of the launch of the first smartphone without a physical SIM card on the Belgian market, Proximus is introducing two new features designed to make the transition to eSIM as easy as possible for customers.
The iPhone Air is probably the best possible advertisement for eSIM.
The technology has been around for years. In the United States, all iPhones have already done away with traditional SIM cards since the iPhone 14. In Europe, it has taken some time. But the page has been turned. Apple’s latest flagship could help democratize these digital cards, which can be activated simply by scanning a QR code.
Already today, around 80% of the devices sold by Proximus are compatible with eSIM. And with the iPhone Air announced on Tuesday, a fully “eSIM only” smartphone is making its debut in Belgium for the first time, according to the operator.
Transition
Proximus firmly believes in the potential of this technology. eSIM allows customers to manage one or more numbers and user profiles in a fully digital and secure manner. It is also a smart and sustainable choice, helping to reduce (plastic) waste and lessen the impact of logistics and transport. That is why Proximus wants to support its customers in this transition, which will make eSIM the new standard.
“Today, new customers are already spontaneously opting for eSIM: more than 6 out of 10 activations are for new mobile numbers,” observes Jim Casteele, Consumer Market Lead, Proximus. As for existing customers, they mainly switch to eSIM when purchasing a new device. The arrival of ‘eSIM only’ smartphones should further reinforce this trend.”
Quick Transfer and self-service activation in the Proximus+ app
To make this transition as smooth as possible, Proximus is launching two important new features. First, Quick Transfer. It now takes just a few clicks to transfer a number (with a physical SIM card or an eSIM) to a new device. Proximus offers this new feature for several brands: the option is available on iPhone (from the iOS 26 update in September), on Google Pixel 9 and 10, and will be available on almost all Samsung devices by the end of the year. For now, it is limited to transfers between devices running the same operating system.
Next, self-service activation in the Proximus+ app. Until recently, to transfer an existing SIM card or eSIM to another device, you had to go to a Proximus Shop. Now, this process can also be done entirely online, with secure identification via itsme. Customers can thus carry out the transfer independently, at their own pace, even between devices with different operating systems.
In short, more freedom, flexibility, and autonomy for both new and existing customers, says Proximus. “Thanks to this innovation, we are helping our customers to use this new technology with ease. And of course, customers can still visit one of our Proximus Shops to activate their eSIM.”
