
Founded in 2019, Airalo is a Singapore-headquartered travel technology startup that enables travelers to access mobile data instantly through eSIMs, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards or expensive roaming plans.
As international travel rebounded and remote work expanded globally, Airalo positioned itself as a digital-first alternative to traditional telecom providers, offering affordable, instant mobile connectivity in over 200 countries.
Airalo was founded by Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir and Abraham Burak, entrepreneurs with backgrounds in telecom and global mobility.
The founders identified a universal pain point: travelers routinely overpay for roaming or waste time buying local SIM cards at airports. Their solution was simple but powerful — a global eSIM marketplace that lets users activate mobile data before even landing in a new country.
Airalo operates as a direct-to-consumer digital platform, available via mobile app and web.
Core offerings include:
Revenue is generated through:
The platform removes logistics, retail costs, and telecom complexity, giving Airalo strong margins and scalability.
Airalo has experienced rapid global adoption:
The company has raised venture funding from leading global investors, supporting expansion, network partnerships, and product development.
Airalo sits at the intersection of travel, telecom, and remote work, benefiting from long-term structural trends:
By abstracting telecom infrastructure into a simple digital experience, Airalo has effectively productized global connectivity.
Airalo’s edge comes from:
Unlike traditional carriers, Airalo does not compete on infrastructure but on distribution, convenience, and price transparency.
Despite its growth, Airalo faces ongoing challenges:
However, its global footprint and brand recognition give it a strong defensive position.
Airalo is expanding beyond travelers into:
As eSIM becomes the default standard, Airalo is positioned to become a core layer of global mobile infrastructure.
Airalo transformed a frustrating travel necessity into a seamless digital product. By simplifying mobile connectivity across borders, the startup demonstrates how software-first thinking can disrupt even the most regulated industries.
For entrepreneurs and investors, Airalo is a case study in identifying a universal problem and scaling a global solution with precision.









