Five Pioneering Industries at the Forefront of White-Label Telco

What is a white-label product?

White-label, or embedded telco, is a new way for digital brands to reach a wider audience and grow revenue by rapidly integrating new services and products into their app or website.

White-labelling as a business practice is centuries old. It’s only in recent years that the technique has become synonymous with digital services. The principle is simple: a company outsources the production of a specific product to an external specialist, then resells the “blank” (or white-labelled) product under their own branding.

• This allows established brands to expand into specialist products without R&D expenditure.

• Manufacturers can leverage the reseller's brand position, distribution channels, and marketing to expose their product to a wider audience.

A classic example is own-brand supermarket food – nearly all these products are sourced from third-party suppliers and resold under the supermarket’s branding, rather than being directly produced by the markets themselves.

In recent years, the term has developed a close association with digital products. One success story has been white-label eSIMs, which are now in widespread use by products and brands far beyond the traditional telecommunications sector.

The eSIM revolution

First launched in 2012, eSIMs are a software-based SIM format found everywhere, from the latest consumer smartphones to industrial devices and smart homes. In contrast to a physical SIM card, which must be physically inserted, an eSIM can be downloaded or remotely distributed to any compatible device.

This allows users to instantly change between providers in seconds, for example, switching to a local eSIM when traveling to avoid roaming fees.

Businesses and enterprises have enthusiastically adopted the new format, as eSIMs allow an organization to remotely distribute employee mobile plans to team members anywhere in the world. An entire global workforce can receive access to custom eSIM mobile plans in seconds.

The eSIM revolution has also driven the rise of wearable connected tech, like smartwatches or fitness trackers, and data-connected wireless devices like tablets and retail point-of-sale (POS) systems. As eSIMs take up a fraction of the internal area of a SIM card, they’re far easier for manufacturers to add into new devices, and clear space for other components like larger batteries or processors.

Today, the majority of new flagship smartphone models are eSIM-compatible.

The simplicity of eSIMs

The remote distribution possibilities of eSIMs have transformed the way we get online. Accessing temporary mobile data no longer requires the physical ordering, transport, and installation of a SIM card: users can instantly download an eSIM to their device through the following methods:

1. Scanning a QR code

2. Clicking a button in an app or website

3. Having an eSIM automatically "pushed" to a device by the network provider

Key to their success is their ability to enable simple network switching: most modern phones can store several eSIM profiles on the same chip, and instantly switch between them in seconds. No longer the sole purview of chip manufacturers and traditional telecommunication providers, any brand with a digital platform now has the ability and the opportunity to offer eSIM mobile plans.

The disparity between the rising global eSIM demand and the handful of companies with the capability to produce, distribute, and embed eSIMs has led to a thriving white-label eSIM economy, also known as embedded telco.

Who uses white-label eSIMs?

The number of industries with a demand for eSIM products grows every year. eSIMs have successfully crossed over from purely industrial applications to the consumer mobile market. Today, they offer a route for nearly any business with a digital presence to enter the telecommunications space — provided they choose the right partner.

The software-only nature of eSIMs makes them relatively simple to integrate into existing digital platforms and allows for the development of a new revenue stream in a short window of time. Embedded telco specialists like 1GLOBAL leverage their suite of proprietary APIs to launch custom-branded eSIM services for clients within weeks. This rapid go-to-market makes the service ideal for short-term campaigns or quick responses to new market trends.

The value of eSIMs is being recognised by brands outside telecoms. As public awareness of eSIMs, coupled with an ongoing increase in eSIM-compatible new mobile devices, continues to grow, embedded telco will become a familiar feature of a wide range of apps and services.

5 real-world uses for 1GLOBAL white-label eSIMs

1. Fintech

Digital-only banks are one of the most significant new players in the telecommunications industry, despite their primary role as financial institutions.

Most neobanks are app-only services, meaning they can roll out new features, open accounts, and gain market entry far faster than brick-and-mortar institutions. This has been a key factor in their sudden ubiquity. One such feature that's becoming increasingly common in the neobank service offering is the option to purchase in-app eSIM mobile plans.

• Revolut is one of the world’s largest digital banks, with over 60 million customers. During its short history, the British company has expanded its product from a purely banking app to an all-in-one personal finance service and grown into the UK’s most valuable fintech company. The Revolut app is a diverse platform, offering customers traditional banking services as well as the opportunity to trade stocks, purchase crypto, and exchange currencies. In 2024, Revolut partnered with eSIM experts 1GLOBAL to incorporate short-term eSIM plans as an additional offering in their app. Combining 1GLOBAL’s worldwide mobile networks and eSIM distribution capabilities with Revolut’s loyal customer base, the new service offered users the chance to instantly purchase worldwide roaming data directly within the app. As well as providing Revolut with a new revenue stream, Revolut also included free global roaming as a perk in their highest-tier account type, Revolut Ultra. By incorporating 1GLOBAL white-label eSIMs, Revolut was instantly able to raise the profile of Revolut Ultra accounts and build deeper customer relationships.

• Another digital-only bank, the German brand N26 partnered with 1GLOBAL in 2025 to incorporate eSIM mobile plans into their app. Like Revolut, N26 integrated a “mobile plans” button into their app UI, providing customers with a new product while retaining their familiar UX. Unlike Revolut, N26 offers domestic voice, SMS, and data plans, with a longer-term focus than travel eSIMs. This signifies and illustrates embedded telco’s usage as a tool to build customer retention as well as acquisition.

2. Traditional finance

Established financial institutions have responded to this market shift by embracing their own white-label digital services. In 2024, American Express included discounts on travel mobile plans from an eSIM supplier as part of their Amex Gold and Business Platinum account perks. Like Revolut, this provided an additional incentive for existing customers to upgrade their account type, as well as attracting potential new clients.

With a traditional core base of regular flyers, the American Express eSIM service is a clear example of how eSIMs can offer an instant value add for new customers and slot into an existing product suite. This product provides a blueprint for how legacy financial institutions can adopt digital channels to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.

3. Aviation

From on-board Wi-Fi to food prep techniques, the aviation industry invests significant efforts into leveraging technological developments to improve customer experience. The emergence of embedded telco has offered a new opportunity for airlines to extend their value proposition to passengers. eSIM plans are now available through the apps and websites of major carriers like Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines.

In 2024, Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways became the first airline in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region to offer its own travel eSIM service, in collaboration with 1GLOBAL.

4. Travel & tourism

A notable early adopter of white-label eSIMs was the travel and tourism sector. NordSecurity is a Lithuanian software company widely known for its NordVPN Virtual Private Network. Its travel eSIM service, Saily, offers a range of short-term mobile plans for over 200 destinations. Saily has been named as one of the world’s best travel eSIM providers by publications including CNN, PC Magazine, and TechRadar. Its eSIMs are white-label products supplied by 1GLOBAL.

By leveraging a white-label service, Nord Security has been able to develop the Saily brand and enter an entirely new market. Bundling the 1GLOBAL/Saily eSIM with other Nord Security services like VPN, ad-blocking, and cybersecurity measures allows users to enjoy the best of both worlds from an industry-leading security software and global telecommunications provider.

5. Telecoms

Within the telecommunications industry itself, eSIMs and embedded telco have reshaped established business models and found creative new uses. In 2025, many traditional telcos have already adopted travel eSIM capabilities in their own offering.

Odido is the Netherlands’ largest mobile network operator. In 2025, Odido partnered with 1GLOBAL to launch SimWallet, an app offering eSIM mobile plans within the Netherlands.

Billed as the “Dutch eSIM for tourists”, SimWallet offers short-term, fee-free roaming for anyone who installs the app, not just Odido customers. SimWallet breaks from the traditional operator model to offer access to the Odido network, with no contracts or subscriptions.

Instead, SimWallet is aimed at visitors to the Netherlands and people who don’t yet have a long-term domestic mobile contract. Here, SimWallet fulfils a dual role of building revenue through short-term eSIM sales and advertising the Odido network to potential customers.

SimWallet indicates how legacy telcos are adopting their business models to cater to eSIM demand. As a trusted connectivity provider, Odidio was able to use white-label eSIMs to develop and distribute them through a familiar and reliable channel.

The future

The success of SimWallet points to a much wider shift across the telecommunications industry. Even the longest-established network operators, from Vodafone to AT&T, offer some form of in-house eSIM, as well as white-label partnerships with eSIM suppliers.

All-in-one "bundled" digital subscriptions and multifaceted superapps are becoming increasingly common as the boundaries between distinct digital service providers continue to blur. eSIMs and embedded telco provide a simple and fast market entry for the previously impenetrable world of telecommunications. Harnessing these technologies is key to remaining viable in an increasingly competitive field.

1GLOBAL embedded telco

For brands looking to integrate eSIMs into their digital offering, it’s essential to find the right supplier. Businesses require a partner with a deep level of industry knowledge and proven success implementing eSIM services.

1GLOBAL is a digital-first telco and eSIM pioneer that has distributed over 57 million eSIM profiles worldwide. We’ve helped a wide range of clients, from MNOs to retailers and digital banks, embrace the possibilities of eSIM. Find out how your business can integrate 1GLOBAL eSIM solutions by speaking to our team today.