A small revolution is about to happen in the pockets of Canadians. Apple has just announced that all iPhone 17 models sold in Canada will be exclusively equipped with eSIMs, marking the long-feared disappearance of the traditional physical SIM card slot.
The end of an era for the eSim
A change that raises questions
Although most Canadian carriers technically support eSIM, Apple’s announcement has already sparked some concern. The real sticking point comes from certain providers’ business practices, which often involve extra fees when transferring an eSIM between devices.
For instance, some providers charge $5 to move an eSIM from one phone to another, even though it could easily be done for free. Understandably, this may frustrate consumers, who could see this technological leap as yet another way for providers to pad their profits.
The question now is whether Apple’s built-in tools, like carrier activation and Quick Transfer, will be enough to ease this historic transition. One thing is clear. The landscape of mobile telephony in Canada has just shifted.
