Society Pass Incorporated is officially stepping into the global eSIM arena, and it is doing so in a way that signals long-term ambition rather than a short-term product play. The Nasdaq-listed company has announced a US$1.8 million minority investment in Singapore-based eSIM infrastructure and digital connectivity platform Gorilla Networks Pte Ltd. Society Pass eSIM investment

On the surface, this looks like another travel tech company adding connectivity to its portfolio. Look closer, and it is clear this is about something much bigger. This investment marks Society Pass’s entry into the fast-growing global eSIM market. It positions Gorilla as a core building block in a broader travel and platform strategy that blends OTA distribution, embedded services, and infrastructure-level control.

According to Straits Research, the global eSIM market is projected to grow from US$11.2 billion in 2025 to US$25.0 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 10.5 percent. That growth is being driven by cross-border travel, device compatibility, and the shift away from physical SIM cards. But growth alone is not the real story here. The real opportunity lies in how eSIMs are distributed, bundled, and monetized.

Why this investment matters beyond the headline

Society Pass is not buying into a consumer-facing eSIM brand. Instead, it is a backing infrastructure. Gorilla operates as an API-driven, white-label eSIM platform that allows travel companies, OTAs, and digital platforms to embed connectivity directly into their user journeys.

This is a crucial distinction. Most eSIM providers today still rely on direct-to-consumer acquisition, paid ads, and price competition. Gorilla has taken a different route by positioning itself as the plumbing layer behind travel platforms that already control demand.

That is where Society Pass comes in.

Through its majority-owned travel platform NusaTrip Inc, Society Pass sits at the moment when travelers make fast, high-intent purchasing decisions. Flights, hotels, and add-ons are often booked in minutes. Connectivity, despite being essential, is usually purchased later, if at all.

This investment is designed to close that gap.

By integrating Gorilla’s eSIM infrastructure directly into the OTA booking flow, Society Pass can turn mobile connectivity into a native part of the travel purchase, not an afterthought. For travelers, that means fewer apps, fewer steps, and less friction. For platforms, it means higher attach rates, better customer lifetime value, and a recurring revenue stream that behaves more like software than telecom.

A platform-first approach to eSIMs

Gorilla’s positioning is clearly explained by its CEO, Loic Gautier:

“Unlike consumer-only eSIM providers, Gorilla has been architected as a platform-first business, optimized for scale, distribution partnerships, and multi-market expansion. Its technology stack supports centralized provisioning, dynamic pricing, and partner-level customization across regions. The global eSIM ecosystem remains highly fragmented, with many small operators lacking distribution scale, capital access, or integration capabilities. Gorilla’s positioning allows it to aggregate demand through large digital partners, standardize connectivity delivery, and over time pursue selective consolidation opportunities, including regional operators, niche travel-focused providers, or complementary technology platforms. Together, these elements position Gorilla to evolve from an infrastructure provider into a regional connectivity platform with consolidation optionality. By embedding eSIM services directly into partner platforms, we unlock scale, data, and recurring demand. We look forward to working with our shareholders, Ascendance Group and Society Pass, to accelerate this vision by combining distribution, capital markets expertise, and a proven ecosystem strategy.”

This is not language typically used by consumer eSIM brands, and that is intentional. Gorilla is aiming to sit where demand, data, and distribution intersect. Society Pass brings exactly that.

What Society Pass plans to do next

Raynauld Liang, CEO of Society Pass, frames the investment as both an operational integration and a strategic platform bet:

“As an initial phase, Society Pass plans to integrate Gorilla’s eSIM services across its travel vertical, starting with NusaTrip. This integration enables travelers to purchase flights, accommodations, and mobile connectivity in a single transaction, increasing attach rates, improving customer lifetime value, and generating recurring, software-driven revenue with minimal incremental cost.”

Beyond the initial rollout, the roadmap is clearly defined.

Planned expansion paths

• Enterprise and B2B connectivity partnerships
• White-label deployments for regional platforms
• Strategic bolt-on acquisitions aligned with its infrastructure roadmap

Mr. Liang adds,

“Connectivity is a logical extension of our OTA and travel strategy. Gorilla allows us to internalize a critical travel service that is digital, margin-accretive, and globally scalable. Beyond near-term revenue synergies, we see Gorilla as a long-term platform opportunity within a fragmented market that is ripe for consolidation.”

This is a telling statement. Internalizing connectivity means more control over pricing, user experience, and data. In an industry where margins are under constant pressure, that matters.

How this compares to the wider eSIM market

Most well-known eSIM brands today, such as Airalo, Nomad, or GigSky, focus on brand visibility and direct sales. At the other end of the spectrum, telecom operators are still struggling to productize eSIMs that work seamlessly for travelers.

Gorilla sits in the middle, closer to infrastructure players than consumer brands. This mirrors a broader trend in travel tech where value is shifting away from standalone apps and toward embedded services. We have seen this with insurance, payments, and fintech. Connectivity is now following the same path.

Industry analysts from GSMA and McKinsey have repeatedly highlighted that the next phase of eSIM growth will be driven by distribution partnerships rather than standalone consumer adoption. Embedding connectivity at the point of booking is one of the most frequently cited use cases, especially in Asia-Pacific, where mobile-first travel behavior is already the norm.

In that context, Society Pass’s move looks well-timed.

Conclusion: a quiet but meaningful shift in travel connectivity

This eSIM investment is not about launching another eSIM brand into an already crowded market. It is about controlling how connectivity is delivered, bundled, and scaled inside the travel ecosystem.

By backing Gorilla, Society Pass is betting that the future of eSIMs will look less like a digital SIM shop and more like an invisible layer built directly into travel platforms. If that thesis holds, infrastructure-first players with strong distribution partners will be the ones shaping the next phase of the market. Society Pass eSIM investment

For travelers, this means fewer decisions and smoother journeys. For OTAs, it unlocks a new margin layer. And for the eSIM industry as a whole, it is another signal that consolidation, embedded distribution, and platform thinking are no longer optional.