RedEx
As a data-only Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), RedEx integrates 51 Tier-1 carrier networks across 38 European countries via API. The 2026 version of the European regional package has seen its unit price drop to $0.85 per GB.
The plans offer full access to local 5G Standalone (SA) networking, with an average latency of 24ms measured at the Frankfurt node and peak download speeds reaching 680Mbps.
RedEx does not provide voice numbers or SMS services. The system supports direct device-level installation (eSIM DP+), and all product lines allow personal hotspots. However, if daily data consumption exceeds 3GB, the download speed will be forcibly throttled to 1Mbps, automatically restoring to full speed at midnight the following day.
Functional Configuration
- Network Standard: Full access to local 5G SA networking, with peak download speeds of 680Mbps and an average latency of 24ms at the Frankfurt node.
- Communication Permissions: Provides data-only services; does not assign local European phone numbers and lacks standard voice calling and SMS capabilities.
- Hotspot Sharing: The system removes device network sharing restrictions, allowing users to distribute data to laptops via personal hotspots.
- Rate Limiting: After daily data consumption reaches 3GB, the download speed is forcibly reduced to 1Mbps, automatically restoring to maximum bandwidth at midnight.
- Activation & Installation: After payment, the eSIM is written to the eUICC chip directly via the mobile system’s underlying API; validity begins upon the first connection to a European base station.
Pricing
- Short-term Data: A 7-day 3GB package is priced at $6.5, and a 15-day 10GB package is priced at $12.
- Monthly Plans: A 30-day 20GB package is priced at $19, with the data cost calculated at $0.85 per GB.
Suitable Target Users
- Multi-country Travelers: Travelers crossing more than three European countries in a single trip who need the device to automatically switch between international base stations.
- Online Meeting Participants: Individuals sensitive to network latency who require a Ping value under 30ms to maintain high-resolution Zoom video conferences.
- Multi-device Professionals: Short-term workers carrying more than two devices who must use a mobile hotspot to share the network for handling emails and forms.
Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom owns Europe’s largest fiber optic backbone, with 5G network coverage in Germany reaching 98.5%. Its eSIM products provide Tier-1 network priority (QoS Class 8), rather than virtual operator proxies.
Under the 3.6GHz band, download speeds in downtown Munich exceed 1.2Gbps, with network jitter below 3ms.
Cross-border roaming agreements connect directly to the base stations of 42 partner operators within the EU (such as Magenta in Austria and Bouygues in France). Data does not need to be routed back to home-country servers, keeping cross-border data request latency stable below 40ms.
Functional Configuration
- Network Bandwidth: Assigned the highest network priority channel; speeds will not be forcibly throttled due to network congestion in high-density areas like stadiums or stations.
- Band Support: Supports the high-speed European N78 (3.5GHz) 5G band as well as the B20 (800MHz) 4G band used for wide coverage in remote areas.
- Number Assignment: Provides a local German phone number starting with +49, allowing the receipt of SMS verification codes for local European apps and banks.
- Voice Services: Supports 300 minutes of free two-way voice calls within the EU region.
- Roaming Restrictions: Follows the EU Roaming Fair Usage Policy (FUP). If roaming outside of Germany continuously for more than 120 days, a surcharge of 0.002 Euro per MB will be applied.
Pricing
- Basic Plan: A 14-day 15GB package including voice services is priced at 25 Euro.
- Standard Plan: A 30-day 30GB package including voice services is priced at 35 Euro.
- Unlimited Plan: A 30-day package with no data cap and no FUP throttling mechanism is priced at 60 Euro.
Suitable Target Users
- Germany-focused Travelers: Business travelers spending more than 50% of their itinerary within Germany who require extremely high network stability.
- Cross-border Drivers: Drivers traveling through highways or mountainous regions in multiple European countries who need wide-coverage low-frequency bands to keep GPS navigation running.
- Local Communication Seekers: Users who need to make regular phone calls to book European restaurants or receive contact SMS from European car rental companies.
Orange
Orange’s European eSIM products directly assign a native +33 French number and connect to over 21,000 5G base stations in France. Tested download speeds in downtown Paris reach 800Mbps, with network latency under 15ms.
Based on the EU broadband roaming agreement, this configuration provides full-speed roaming in 39 European countries. When connecting to local TIM base stations in Italy or Spanish carriers, data requests are processed directly by local backbone nodes, keeping cross-border latency stable below 55ms. The system has no daily data consumption caps or throttling.
Functional Configuration
- Network Standard: Direct connection to the highest priority local 5G or 4G networks in 39 European countries, with no daily throttling limits throughout.
- Number Assignment: Automatically issues a physical French phone number with a +33 prefix upon activation, allowing the receipt of verification SMS from worldwide.
- Voice Communication: Includes between 120 minutes to unlimited two-way calling within Europe depending on the plan, plus up to 1,000 SMS messages.
- Hotspot Sharing: Supports sharing the entire data allowance via personal hotspot with tablets and other mobile devices.
- Real-name Registration: In compliance with French telecommunications regulations, a passport photo must be uploaded online for real-name certification after 30 days of continuous use, otherwise the service will be suspended.
Pricing
- Basic Plan: 12GB allowance for 14 days, including 30 minutes of global calling and 200 SMS, priced at 19.9 Euro.
- Standard Plan: 30GB allowance for 14 days, including 120 minutes of global calling and 1,000 SMS, priced at 39.9 Euro.
- Monthly Plan: 50GB allowance for 28 days, including unlimited calls within Europe, priced at 49.9 Euro.
Suitable Target Users
- Long-term Travelers: Travelers with itineraries lasting over two weeks, crossing multiple countries in Western and Southern Europe, who need a unified network configuration.
- Local Service Bookers: Users who must use a physical European phone number to register for ride-hailing apps, book local restaurants, or contact homestay hosts.
- High-bandwidth Users: Short-term seconded employees who need to continuously consume large amounts of data to download files over 5GB and do not accept daily FUP speed limits.
Vodafone
Leveraging its pan-European network advantage, Vodafone UK has retained full EU free roaming agreements post-Brexit. Its eSIM solutions are centrally managed by the UK network, with an average cross-border latency of 65ms. In London and Manchester, tested download speeds reach 750Mbps via 5G base stations deployed on the 3.4GHz band.
For users crossing the English Channel into France or Germany, devices seamlessly connect to local sub-networks under the Vodafone Group without needing to manually switch carrier profiles. Network handovers take less than 1 minute, with signal strength maintained above -95dBm.
Functional Configuration
- Network Standard: Defaults to 5G SA networks within the UK; in EU roaming zones, the connection automatically downgrades to 4G+ or maintains 5G based on local base station capabilities.
- Number Assignment: Issues a +44 UK mobile phone number, supporting free incoming calls and SMS receipt throughout Europe.
- Voice Communication: Includes up to 250 minutes of international calling time, allowing calls to landlines and mobile numbers in 35 European countries.
- Roaming Allowance: Subject to FUP in EU roaming zones, with a maximum monthly allowance of 25GB of data. Beyond this, extra data packages must be purchased at 3.5 GBP per GB.
- Real-name Requirements: No immediate passport certification required, but according to Ofcom regulations, the number will be reclaimed if no calls or SMS records are generated for 6 consecutive months.
Pricing
- Short-term Data: 3GB allowance for 5 days, including 100 minutes of calling, priced at 10 GBP.
- Standard Plan: 20GB allowance for 15 days, including 200 minutes of calling and unlimited SMS, priced at 20 GBP.
- Large Data Pack: 100GB UK native allowance for 30 days (of which 25GB can be used for EU roaming), including unlimited calls, priced at 30 GBP.
Suitable Target Users
- UK-EU Multi-stop Travelers: International tourists whose first stop or main stay is in the UK, while also planning to visit EU countries like France and Spain.
- Long-distance Callers: Business people who need to make long calls to various parts of Europe and require high clarity for voice communication.
- Heavy Social Media Users: Young people who consume more than 2GB of data daily within the UK, primarily for Instagram or TikTok video browsing.
Telefónica
Directly operated through its dual brands Movistar and O2, Telefónica has deployed over 35,000 5G SA base stations on the 3.5GHz band in Spain and the UK, with Southern European coastline coverage reaching 99.2%. Tested peak download speeds in downtown Madrid are 850Mbps.
Its eSIM products process cross-border roaming via backbone nodes in Madrid or London, with routing latency stable within 35ms. The system provides direct roaming services in 43 EU and EEA countries, with cross-border handovers averaging 45 seconds and no daily data consumption limits.
Functional Configuration
- Network Standard: Direct connection to the highest priority local 5G base stations of Movistar Spain and O2 UK; automatically switches to local Tier-1 partner networks when roaming in the EU.
- Number Assignment: The system issues a local mobile number with a +34 or +44 prefix, supporting free receipt of SMS from banks and system apps worldwide.
- Voice Services: Provides between 500 minutes to unlimited local European calling time, allowing users to call landlines and mobile devices within the EU directly.
- Hotspot Sharing: The system fully opens personal hotspot sharing permissions for all data within the plan, allowing multiple portable devices to connect simultaneously.
- Roaming Rules: Follows EU FUP terms. After roaming outside the home country for more than 120 consecutive days, excess data will be billed at 2.5 Euro per GB.
Pricing
- Short-term Plan: 15GB allowance for 10 days, including 200 minutes of calling throughout Europe, priced at 15 Euro.
- Standard Plan: 40GB allowance for 30 days, including unlimited calls within Europe and 500 SMS, priced at 25 Euro.
- Large Data Pack: 100GB home-network allowance for 30 days (of which 30GB can be used in EU roaming zones), priced at 35 Euro.
Suitable Target Users
- Southern Europe Vacationers: People whose itineraries are mainly concentrated in Spain, Portugal, or Italy and need to maintain stable network connections on beaches or in remote towns.
- High Data Users: Users with a budget around 30 Euro who require more than 40GB of data capacity along with local voice calling for long-term travel needs.
- UK-Spain Multi-stop Travelers: Travelers with routes including both the UK and Spain who require their device to connect directly to native backbone networks in both locations.