Smart Communications (PLDT’s mobile arm) just flipped the eSIM conversation in the Philippines from “only on newer phones” to “any Android from 2018 onward.” In a new tie-up with Thales, Smart launched the Smart Prepaid & TNT Multi SIM — a physical SIM that adds eSIM capability to phones that don’t have it.

Think of it as an eSIM “adapter,” but carrier-grade and app-managed. The move is aimed squarely at the mass market, where most users still carry non-eSIM Androids.

What exactly launched — and how it works

Multi SIM is a regular SIM (with its own Smart or TNT number) you pop into a non-eSIM Android (Android 9+). You then install the Smart Multi SIM app and start adding eSIM profiles — local or international — switching between them inside the app. That’s it. No hardware mods, no QR acrobatics.

Price-wise, it’s aggressively accessible: ₱119 at the Smart Online Store, with a small starter bundle reported by local tech press. Availability is nationwide via online and retail.

“Smart is proud to be the first in the country to enable a digital eSIM experience for the broader market of non-eSIM smartphones. This is a leap forward in convenience and connectivity for our customers, particularly overseas workers, travelers, and users with multi-line needs.”

said Lloyd Manaloto, Smart Communications’ First Vice President for Corporate Marketing & Strategy.

Why this matters (beyond the buzzword)

eSIM adoption has been slow globally — ~3% of smartphone connections in 2024, per GSMA Intelligence — but where OEMs force it (hello, eSIM-only iPhones in the US) usage jumps. In markets like the Philippines, the bottleneck isn’t interest; it’s device compatibility. Multi SIM neatly removes that barrier for tens of millions of Android users, effectively making “try an eSIM for travel or a second line” a one-app decision.

“This launch deepens our long-standing collaboration with Smart. By enabling eSIM services on non-eSIM phones, we are democratizing access to flexible mobile connectivity. With this innovation, subscribers will enjoy eSIM exploration without having an eSIM-capable handset, they just need a new powerful SIM – The Smart Multi SIM.”

said Jon CAHILIG, Head of Sales for Mobile Connectivity Solutions for Asia, Thales.

How it stacks up vs Globe, DITO, and third-party adapters

• Globe: First to bring eSIM to PH (postpaid in 2018), now sells prepaid eSIM via GlobeOne for ₱99. Great if you already have an eSIM-capable phone — but it doesn’t unlock eSIM on older devices.
• DITO: Also offers prepaid eSIM (₱99) with generous inclusions, again limited to eSIM-ready devices.
• Third-party “eSIM adapters” (e.g., eSIM.me): Similar concept (a special SIM that stores eSIM profiles) but not carrier-integrated, with mixed user experiences and compatibility caveats. Smart’s angle is different: a telco-issued, Thales-backed solution with an official Android app and local support.

Net: Smart/Thales are the first to bring a carrier-grade, mass-market eSIM bridge to PH, not just selling eSIMs to those who already can — but creating eSIM-capable users where there were none. Local business press is calling it a first-of-its-kind deployment.

Travel & roaming angle (Alertify readers care about this)

Because Multi SIM can host multiple profiles, it’s tailor-made for travel eSIMs: keep your Smart/TNT number active, add a local or global data eSIM before you fly, and switch on landing. That’s the eSIM promise — instant, no kiosks — finally extended to non-eSIM phones. Thales, for its part, runs large chunks of the world’s SIM/eSIM infrastructure (Gemalto lineage), so the back-end here isn’t experimental.

The bigger trend line: eSIM-only is coming; bridges are the bridge

Apple’s US iPhones have been eSIM-only since iPhone 14, and enterprise guidance from Apple confirms the direction of travel. Industry trackers show eSIM uptake accelerates when OEMs drop the tray — and Android is moving that way too. Solutions like Multi SIM soften the transition in prepaid-led markets where device replacement cycles are long.

Our take: a pragmatic win — with competitive ripples

This isn’t just another promo. Its distribution for eSIM. By pricing Multi SIM at ₱119 and bundling a clean app flow, Smart lowers the switching cost to try eSIMs (for a work line, for travel data, for signal diversity). Expect two follow-ons:

1. Globe/DITO responses — either matching with their own adapters or pushing aggressive prepaid eSIM device bundles.
2. More travel eSIM usage — because the addressable base just grew to include millions of non-eSIM Android users.

If you’re deciding between carriers for eSIM flexibility on an older phone today, Smart has the edge thanks to Multi SIM’s “works-on-almost-anything” proposition and the credibility of a Thales-powered stack. For users with newer eSIM-ready phones, Globe and DITO remain perfectly competitive on price and inclusions—but they don’t solve the legacy device gap that Smart just targeted.