For our travel eSIMs, eSIM Access mainly relies on something called Home-Routed Roaming (HRR). With Home-Routed Roaming (HRR), your phone connects to the local network in the country you’re visiting, but instead of letting your data “break out” locally to the internet, all of it is tunneled back to the data providers carrier first.
This means the local network mainly provides access, while the data providers carrier stays in charge of assigning your IP address, authenticating your subscription, and routing your internet traffic. In practice, your emails, web browsing, and app data may travel halfway around the world before reaching the internet, which can make connections slower.
In the case of eSIM Access, we use several different data suppliers and so Home-Routed Roaming (HRR) means that all data traffic is ultimately managed by one of the several home networks of the eSIM providers we have chosen to work with. Data routing is not managed by the local network in the country you are visiting. Our chosen supplier becomes the “home network” in this process.
How Home-Routed Roaming (HRR) Works for Travel eSIMs #
| Step | What Happens | Who Controls It | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Device connects | Your phone with a travel eSIM connects to the local visited network in the country you are in. | Local mobile network (VPLMN) | The local network just provides initial access. |
| 2. Authentication | The visited network asks the home network of the eSIM provider to confirm your subscription. | eSIM provider’s carrier (HSS in home network) | Each data supplier we use has its own “home” carrier. |
| 3. Traffic routing | Instead of “breaking out” locally, your internet traffic is tunneled back to the home network of the provider. | eSIM provider’s carrier (PGW in home network) | This carrier assigns your IP address and manages your session. |
| 4. Internet access | From the home network, your traffic is finally sent to the internet. | eSIM provider’s carrier | Emails, browsing, and apps travel to another country before reaching the web. |
| 5. Result | Your data routing is not handled by the local network where you are traveling. It is always handled by the home network of whichever eSIM supplier we are working with. | One of several chosen eSIM data suppliers | This gives the supplier visibility into usage and location. |
By contrast, Local Breakout (LBO) has both advantages and disadvantages and something eSIM Access is actively reviewing options for.
Local Breakout vs Home-Routed Roaming #
| Feature | Home-Routed Roaming (HRR) | Local Breakout (LBO) |
|---|---|---|
| Where traffic goes | All your data is sent back to the eSIM home carrier first, then to the internet. | Your data goes straight out through the local network to the internet. |
| Who handles login & setup | Home carrier checks your subscription and approves the connection. | Home carrier still checks your subscription, but only for login — not for all traffic. |
| Speed/Latency | Slower, because traffic takes a long detour. | Faster, because traffic exits locally. |
| Who can see your activity | Home carrier can see websites, apps, sessions, and your approximate location. | Local network sees your activity; home carrier only sees login details. |
| Privacy risks | Data visible to a company in another country (often unknown to the user). | Data visible to the local carrier; risk depends on local laws and trust. |
| How common | Very common with travel eSIMs (default method). | Less common, requires unique deals with each local carrier. |