Truecaller gets into the eSIM business to diversify its revenue streams

Truecaller gets into the eSIM business to diversify its revenue streams Ivan Mehta 10:57 AM PDT · May 20, 2026 Caller ID company Truecaller launched eSIM services for travellers. The launch comes as the company aims to bolster its balance sheet and diversify business amid dipping ad revenues. The company said its plans will range from 1 GB over 7 days to 20 GB over 30 days. Initially, the launch will make the eSIM product available in 29 countries. The list includes Italy, Sweden, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Finland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria. Notably, the company’s biggest market, India, is missing from the list. This is likely due to the country’s strict telecom regulations. Previously, the country blocked AirAlo and Holafly over concerns around fraudulent use. Truecaller said it is working with global cellular connectivity provider Telna and telecom software provider Telness Tech to operate the eSIM platform. Where there are other eSIM providers like Airalo, Holafly, Roamless, and NordVPN’s Saily, Truecaller thinks that its existing userbase of over 500 million will prove beneficial for acquiring new users. “The starting point is different from other players in the category. They have had to build their audiences from zero. We are offering travel eSIM inside our app that over 500 million people already use and trust every month,” Truecaller chief operating officer Fredrik Kjell told TechCrunch over email. “These are established relationships, with a large number of people having used Truecaller for many years. That changes distribution and pricing,” said Kjell. Kjell also said that this is a strategic move for Truecaller that makes the app more usable for users. This comes at a critical time for the company. Last week, the company slashed 70 jobs across many teams. Plus, it posted disappointing Q1 2026 numbers. Truecaller’s net sales dropped 27% to 362 million SEK ($39.34 million), and ad revenues declined by 44%. The company is leaning into increasing subscription revenues with features like AI Assistant and Family Protection. During the time when ad revenues are shaky, additional services like eSIM could provide newer money-making avenues. As TechCrunch reported last year, eSIM adoption is on the rise thanks to travel and device compatibility. Investors are also interested in putting money into eSIM startups. Within the last twelve months, startups like Airalo, Roamless, Kolet, eSIMo, and Truley raised millions of dollars. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Ivan Mehta Ivan covers global consumer tech developments at TechCrunch. He is based out of India and has previously worked at publications including Huffington Post and The Next Web. You can contact or verify outreach from Ivan by emailing im@ivanmehta.com or via encrypted message at ivan.42 on Signal. May 27 Athens, Greece StrictlyVC Athens is up next. Hear unfiltered insights straight from Europe’s tech leaders and connect with the people shaping what’s ahead. Lock in your spot before it’s gone. Most Popular Google Search as you know it is over Sarah Perez Elon Musk has lost his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI Tim Fernholz Users turn to jailbreaking their older Kindles as Amazon ends support Lauren Forristal OpenAI launches ChatGPT for personal finance, will let you connect bank accounts Ivan Mehta US orders travelers on Air Force One to throw away gifts, pins, and burner phones after China trip Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai OpenAI is reportedly preparing legal action against Apple; it wouldn’t be the first partner to feel burned Connie Loizos How to turn off Instagram’s new Instants feature and retract photos you accidentally shared Aisha Malik X LinkedIn Facebook Instagram youTube Mastodon Threads Bluesky TechCrunchStaffContact UsAdvertiseCrunchboard JobsSite Map Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyRSS Terms of UseCode of Conduct AnthropicSAPSamsungMarc LoreTechCrunch DisruptTech LayoffsChatGPT © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC.