[takeaways] • On 10 July 2025, Turkey's telecoms regulator (BTK) blocked access to several foreign eSIM providers' websites — including Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad. The list has grown to 30+ blocked providers by 2026.
• This is a website block only — not a block on eSIM technology. Already-installed eSIMs continue to work normally.
• SIMOVO is completely unaffected — our website is accessible from within Turkey, our plans work on Turkish networks, and you can buy and activate a SIMOVO eSIM even after you land.
• The block appears aimed at steering travelers toward domestic Turkish networks, which typically charge higher rates for short-term visitors.
• As always, installing your eSIM before you travel is recommended — but with SIMOVO, it's not a requirement. [/takeaways]
Travelers heading to Türkiye may have seen recent headlines about the government blocking access to several international eSIM providers. This has raised understandable concerns — will your eSIM still work when you land?
Here's what's actually going on, and why SIMOVO customers are completely unaffected.
What happened in Türkiye?
On 10 July 2025, Turkey's telecoms regulator (BTK) restricted access to several foreign eSIM providers' websites, including Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Alosim, BNESIM, Instabridge, Mobimatter, and Saily. Since then, the scope has widened considerably — by 2026, industry trackers count more than 30 blocked eSIM storefronts, though BTK has not published an official public list.
This move appears aimed at steering travelers toward domestic Turkish mobile networks — such as Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom — which typically charge higher rates for short-term visitors.
[warning]This is a website block, not a block on eSIM technology itself. If a traveler had already installed an eSIM from an affected provider before the restriction came into force, that eSIM continues to work normally. The block prevents access to those providers' websites from within Turkey — not the use of the eSIM once it is installed.[/warning]
[esim flag="🇹🇷" label="Türkiye" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$6.40" href="/products/turkey" benefits="Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom · Up to 5G · Accessible from within Türkiye · No contracts"]Stay connected in Türkiye — SIMOVO works as normal[/esim]Why SIMOVO isn't affected
SIMOVO operates independently of the providers impacted by Turkey's restrictions. Here's the situation for SIMOVO customers:
- SIMOVO's website is fully accessible from within Türkiye — travelers already in the country can browse, buy, and activate eSIMs with no issue.
- No service disruption — our platform and data plans remain fully functional, including on Turkish networks.
- No pre-installation requirement — you can buy and activate a SIMOVO eSIM even after you land in Türkiye.
- No reliance on blocked domains — we are not among the providers affected by the BTK restriction.
[tip title="In short: SIMOVO works as normal in Türkiye — no VPN, no workarounds needed"]Whether you're traveling to Türkiye or are already there, SIMOVO eSIMs are available, functional, and fully supported on Turkish networks. Nothing has changed for SIMOVO customers.[/tip]
Tips for travelers to Türkiye
[tip title="Install before you travel — still the smartest approach"]While SIMOVO is accessible from within Türkiye, installing your eSIM before you fly remains the best practice. You arrive connected from the moment you land, with no setup required on the ground.[/tip] [tip title="Visiting multiple countries? The Europe and Türkiye eSIM covers you across the region"]If you're traveling to Türkiye as part of a wider European trip, our Europe and Türkiye eSIM covers multiple countries in a single plan — ideal for avoiding the need to buy separate plans for each destination.[/tip] [tip title="Top up instantly through your SIMOVO dashboard"]If you run low on data while in Türkiye, top up immediately through the SIMOVO dashboard or contact our UK-based support team at any point. No local SIM required, no store visit, no waiting.[/tip]
Still not sure which eSIM to pick?
- What is an eSIM? — our beginner's guide to getting started
- Best eSIM for Türkiye travel — local and multi-region options
- eSIM vs SIM: what's the difference? — learn which suits your trip
SIMOVO is travel-ready — no workarounds needed
While several global eSIM platforms have been blocked in Türkiye, SIMOVO continues to operate without interruption. Our travelers can access our website, buy data plans, and activate service from anywhere — including from within Türkiye itself.
Setting up your eSIM before your trip is always recommended for the smoothest arrival, but if you're already abroad, we have you covered. Stay connected — no VPN, no hassle, no inflated roaming charges.
[faq] [q]Can I use SIMOVO in Türkiye right now?[/q] [a]Yes — SIMOVO eSIMs are fully supported by Turkish networks and our website remains accessible from inside Türkiye. You can browse, buy, and activate a SIMOVO eSIM whether you're at home or already in the country. Nothing has changed for SIMOVO customers as a result of the BTK restrictions.[/a] [q]Do I need to install my SIMOVO eSIM before traveling to Türkiye?[/q] [a]No — you can install and activate your SIMOVO eSIM before or after you arrive in Türkiye. That said, installing before you travel is always recommended as best practice — you arrive connected from the moment you land, with no setup required on the ground.[/a] [q]Is SIMOVO at risk of being blocked in Türkiye?[/q] [a]There is no indication of this. SIMOVO's platform is unaffected by the current BTK restrictions, and we maintain good operational compliance across all the regions we serve. We continue to monitor the situation and will communicate any changes to our customers promptly.[/a] [q]Which eSIM providers were blocked in Türkiye?[/q] [a]The BTK restriction announced on 10 July 2025 initially affected access to the websites of Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Alosim, BNESIM, Instabridge, Mobimatter, and Saily from within Türkiye. The list has since grown — by 2026, industry trackers count more than 30 blocked eSIM storefronts. SIMOVO was not among the affected providers. Importantly, the block applies to website access only — eSIMs already installed by affected providers before the restriction continue to function normally.[/a] [q]What is the difference between a website block and an eSIM block?[/q] [a]A website block restricts access to a provider's website from within a particular country — meaning travelers inside Türkiye cannot visit those providers' sites to purchase or manage plans. It does not affect the functionality of eSIMs that are already installed on a device. An eSIM block would prevent installed eSIMs from connecting to local networks — which is not what has happened in Türkiye.[/a] [q]Why did Türkiye block these eSIM providers?[/q] [a]The BTK restrictions appear aimed at steering short-term visitors toward domestic Turkish mobile networks such as Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom, which typically charge higher rates for short-term data packages than international eSIM providers. The move is regulatory rather than technical in nature.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇹🇷" label="Türkiye" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$6.40" href="/products/turkey" benefits="Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom · Up to 5G · Accessible from within Türkiye · No contracts"]Stay connected in Türkiye — SIMOVO works as normal[/esim]
