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Virgin Connect Roam eSIM: Turning Connectivity into a Travel Essential

Virgin Connect has introduced a timely, insight-led campaign for its flagship travel eSIM product, Virgin Connect Roam.

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Based on in-depth consumer behavior, the campaign is built around a core truth: mobile connectivity is now a travel essential, on par with passports, accommodation, and itineraries. The campaign aims to communicate how Roam’s eSIM puts a stop to last-minute stress, missed bookings, or the inability to stay in touch during crucial moments when traveling.

The work aims to reframe connectivity as a core travel essential, enabling travelers to feel confident, connected, and in control wherever they go. Through real-life scenarios, from airport arrivals to exploring new cities, the campaign highlights how Roam delivers not just signal, but peace of mind, freedom, and shared experiences worth remembering.

“At Virgin Connect, we are not just offering connectivity; we are delivering flexibility, affordability and simplicity,” said Walid Omar, Group Chief Product Officer. “Roam was built to amplify travel experiences, keeping travelers connected so they can focus on the moments that matter most.”

The campaign, developed in-house by the Beyond ONE – Virgin Connect team, aims to set the telecommunications brand apart through its consistent community-first mindset.

From stress relief to shared experiences

By merging a seamless travel eSIM offering and emotionally intelligent storytelling across multiple touchpoints, Roam aims to position itself as the preferred choice for Gen Z and young Millennials across the GCC: digital natives who expect simplicity, value, and cultural relevance in every decision they make.

Furthermore, the campaign will activate across high-summer outbound markets including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait with multilingual creative in English, Arabic, and Spanish.

This includes a content-rich mix of AV, mobile-first formats, and social-native assets to ensure strong engagement across the platforms where travel planning lives. The brand has extended the campaign by partnering with popular regional travel content creators.

Amplifying travel with simplicity and control

Virgin Connect Roam is a digital-first roaming companion app built with Flutter, offering seamless mobile and web access to global data plans. Designed for travelers, it enables instant eSIM activation, top-ups, and real-time usage tracking across 190+ countries. Built by Beyond One for Virgin Mobile UAE, the app delivers a fast, unified, and scalable experience with a single codebase—proving Flutter’s viability for telco-grade solutions.

The latest campaign from Virgin Connect Roam aims not to just change how the GCC connects; but reshape what travel feels like.

Conclusion about Virgin Connect Roam eSIM

Virgin Connect’s new campaign for its Roam eSIM doesn’t just follow the travel tech trend — it sharpens it. While major global eSIM players like Airalo, Nomad, and aloSIM have focused on aggressive pricing, marketplace variety, or ultra-fast onboarding, Virgin Connect is carving out a unique position: emotionally intelligent, regionally relevant, and community-first.

This approach is especially significant in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, where digital adoption is among the fastest globally and mobile-first behaviors dominate travel planning. According to a GSMA Mobile Economy report, over 85% of GCC residents are expected to be using smartphones by 2025, with eSIM penetration growing steadily thanks to government-led digital transformation.

Unlike the transactional nature of many competitors, Virgin Connect Roam leverages in-house creative development and local content partnerships to build cultural resonance — a strategy often missing in global-first offerings. This positions it more like a Spotify of travel connectivity” — not just selling access, but curating an experience travelers trust.

As demand for seamless, borderless connectivity continues to rise — especially among Gen Z and Millennials seeking stress-free tech — Roam’s blend of multilingual storytelling, app-led control, and emotional utility aligns with what’s next in travel. It’s not just about having data when you land — it’s about belonging the moment you arrive.

In a market growing at nearly 30% CAGR for eSIM technologies (Counterpoint Research, 2024), Virgin Connect isn’t simply entering the race — it’s shaping a new lane. The challenge ahead will be maintaining product scalability and competitive pricing as regional rivals and OEM-embedded eSIM solutions evolve. But with the right mix of product, purpose, and personalization, Roam stands well-positioned to lead.

Driven by wanderlust and a passion for tech, Sandra is the creative force behind Alertify. Love for exploration and discovery is what sparked the idea for Alertify, a product that likely combines Sandra’s technological expertise with the desire to simplify or enhance travel experiences in some way.