VietNamNet Bridge - Apple SIM is available in 140 countries, including regional countries, but not in Vietnam, as Apple SIM partners still cannot reach agreement with local mobile network operators.

Except China and Vietnam, Apple SIM services are available in nearly all other countries in the region.

Apple has signed contracts for its SIM with large telecom groups such as AT&T, AU, EE, Sprint, Three, T Mobile, AlwaysOnline Wireless and GigSky.  

Of these, GigSky is the biggest partner as it brings Apple SIM to more than 100 countries and territories. 

Apple SIM is available in 140 countries, including regional countries, but not in Vietnam, as Apple SIM partners still cannot reach agreement with local mobile network operators.

Zing.vn quoted sources as saying that GigSky still cannot get agreements with local network operators.

In other South East Asian countries, clients now can use abservice package with data capacity of 500 MB for 30 day-use, while service fees vary in different countries.

Also according to Zing, though domestic network operators still don’t have plans to distribute Apple SIM, Vietnamese users still can use the service when going abroad. 

For example, if they travel to Singapore, they don’t need to buy SIM in the country, but can activate Apple SIM in their iPads to use the 4G service package with the capacity of 50 MB for three days, priced at 15 SGD, or VND250,000.

The absence of Apple SIM in Vietnam means that foreign travelers when coming to Vietnam will have to buy simcards issued by Vietnamese mobile network operators such as Viettel, MobiFone or VinaPhone, and they cannot shift to other networks on Apple SIM. 

In fact, domestic users don’t have to use the service in Vietnam, because the 3G/4G service packages provided by network operators are more competitive.

Now Vietnamese users can register Apple SIM package when traveling abroad, if they have iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4 or iPad mini 3 with Apple SIM service (which can be bought at Apple Store in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italia, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the US and the UK).

Apple SIM was suggested in 2014 as a solution to replace the traditional SIM card. 

It is described by technology websites as a ‘revolution’ as it allows users to simplify the procedure of registering and choosing networks. Travelers don’t have to buy local simcards when traveling to other countries, and they can also make payments and enjoy services in an easier way.


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