Nigerian-Founded Sineli Telecoms Takes on the Global Travel Connectivity Market as eSIM Adoption Surges

Tolulope Oke

As global adoption of travel eSIM technology accelerates, Nigerian-founded Sineli Telecoms is positioning itself within a fast-growing market reshaping how travellers access mobile data abroad.

Founded by Lagos-based entrepreneur Ayo Afonja, the company began commercial operations in November 2025 with a travel eSIM platform covering more than 200 countries and 650 carrier networks. The platform allows travellers to purchase and activate mobile data plans digitally before departure, reducing the need for physical SIM cards or traditional international roaming arrangements.

Since its commercial launch in November 2025, the platform has recorded transactions across multiple continents, with customers activating plans across destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa.

According to Juniper Research, global travel eSIM revenues are expected to reach $1.8 billion in 2025, representing 85% year-on-year growth. The research firm projects the market will surpass $8.7 billion by 2030, driven by rising international travel, growing awareness of roaming costs, and the increasing adoption of eSIM-enabled smartphones.

“Travel has become borderless, but connectivity has not. That gap is exactly what we built Sineli to close.”
Ayo Afonja, Founder & CEO, Sineli Telecoms
A Fast-Growing Market
The case for travel eSIM technology has strengthened in recent years as more travellers seek flexible alternatives to traditional roaming. Juniper Research estimates that travellers using eSIM products save an average of 35% per gigabyte compared to standard roaming charges, although actual savings vary by destination, carrier, and plan type.

As more smartphones ship with eSIM support, the addressable market for digital travel connectivity continues to expand. Juniper Research forecasts significant growth in global travel eSIM users over the next five years, reflecting rising demand for mobile data solutions that can be purchased and activated before travel.

For new entrants such as Sineli Telecoms, the opportunity is clear, but so is the challenge. The sector is becoming increasingly competitive, with independent eSIM providers, mobile operators, and travel technology companies all seeking market share.

Enterprise Ambitions Set Sineli Apart

While many travel eSIM providers focus primarily on individual consumers, Sineli Telecoms is also targeting the corporate travel segment through Sineli for Business, its enterprise product aimed at organisations managing internationally mobile teams.

The product addresses a common challenge in corporate travel management. Companies with employees who travel frequently often deal with unpredictable roaming costs, local SIM purchases, and reimbursement processes that can be difficult to manage at scale. Sineli for Business allows organisations to provision data plans for travelling staff before departure, with activation available on arrival in supported destinations.

The company said it is already working with partners across the travel, enterprise, and digital creator ecosystem, while continuing discussions with airlines, travel management companies, corporate travel teams, and other distribution partners on deeper commercial integrations.

Temilola Salami, who leads commercial strategy, enterprise partnerships, and market expansion for Sineli Telecoms, said the enterprise opportunity reflects a wider shift in how connectivity is viewed across the travel, business mobility, and digital economy sectors.

“The modern traveller expects connectivity to feel invisible. They book flights, navigate cities, work remotely, and create content from their phones. Connectivity is no longer a telecom feature. It is part of the travel experience itself. Sineli is being built to sit at the centre of that experience, not at the edge of it.”

—Temilola Salami, Country Manager & Head of Strategy & Commercial Development, Sineli Telecoms
Nigerian Founding, Global Ambition

Sineli Telecoms enters a global market that has largely been shaped by companies founded in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its Nigerian founding gives the company a distinct position within a sector where African-founded brands are still relatively underrepresented.

The company said it was built with a global customer base in mind from inception, with coverage across major international travel corridors rather than a phased expansion from a single domestic market.

Its distribution strategy also reflects that ambition. Alongside its enterprise partnerships, Sineli has launched a creator partnership programme, working with travel content creators across international markets to build consumer awareness in digital communities where travel-related purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced.

What Comes Next

The travel eSIM market is expected to continue expanding as more travellers seek flexible alternatives to traditional roaming and as eSIM support becomes more common across mobile devices.

For newer entrants such as Sineli Telecoms, long-term growth will depend on pricing, service reliability, distribution reach, enterprise adoption, and brand recognition across key travel markets.

Sineli Telecoms is six months into commercial operation. Its enterprise product is live, its creator programme is active, and its consumer platform has recorded transactions across multiple continents since launch. Whether that foundation proves sufficient to build durable scale in a fast-moving global market remains to be seen.

The company currently offers travel eSIM plans through its digital platform, with coverage across major international travel destinations.