The eSIM revolution is stalling, as people refuse to quit their physical SIM

eSIM adoption is significantly lagging behind industry projections, with consumers showing strong resistance to abandoning physical SIMs despite their technological advantages—only 5% adoption in South Korea and reliance on forced migrations rather than voluntary switching. While the US shows higher adoption at 38%, this is primarily driven by manufacturers removing consumer choice through eSIM-only devices rather than genuine preference, indicating a market being pushed by supply rather than pulled by demand. IT organizations must prepare for a prolonged transition period and should anticipate managing hybrid SIM environments, supporting legacy physical SIM infrastructure longer than expected, and addressing user adoption barriers through enhanced awareness and improved customer experience.