How Orange Is Embedding Connectivity Into Travel with Trip

The days of hunting for a local SIM card after landing on holiday are fading fast.

For today's travellers, connectivity is expected to be as seamless as booking a flight or reserving a hotel room.

That shift is creating new opportunities for telco providers, and Orange Travel is betting that the future of travel connectivity lies in meeting customers before they even leave home.

The Orange Group subsidiary has signed a global distribution partnership with Trip.com, one of the world's largest online travel platforms, bringing its eSIM services directly to travellers as part of the booking experience.

The agreement positions Orange Travel in front of millions of international customers and reflects the growing convergence between telco and digital travel services.

From June 2026, Trip.com users will be able to purchase exclusive Orange Travel eSIM packages covering five key European destinations: France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

The launch focuses on some of the continent's most popular tourism markets, as operators support travellers seeking simple alternatives to traditional roaming.

Connectivity becomes part of the travel journey

Telco providers are more often embedding connectivity into wider digital ecosystems where customers are already making purchasing decisions.

Through Trip.com, travellers will be able to select an Orange Travel package, pay in their local currency and activate their eSIM once they arrive at their destination.

Plans will include calls, texts and data allowances of 20GB, 50GB or 100GB, available for periods ranging from seven to 30 days. 

Frédéric Bléhaut, CEO of Orange Travel, says: “This partnership with Trip.com demonstrates our commitment to accelerating our growth in Asia and internationally through strategic partnerships.

“Orange Travel offers European eSIMs with a recognised quality of service backed by the Orange Group’s know-how.

“By combining our expertise with a platform that supports millions of travellers in Asia and around the world, we are affirming our position as a leading eSIM partner for global tourism.”

The deal is especially notable for Orange Travel's ambitions in Asia, where digital travel services continue to see strong adoption.

Leveraging Orange's global infrastructure

As competition in the travel eSIM market intensifies, network quality and coverage are becoming increasingly important differentiators.

Orange Travel's offering is underpinned by the wider Orange Group, which maintains more than 700 roaming agreements globally.

The company says it provides connectivity across more than 200 destinations worldwide, supported by the group's network infrastructure and cybersecurity capabilities.

For operators, travel eSIMs have emerged as an attractive growth area as consumers seek flexible alternatives to roaming charges and physical SIM cards.

The ability to activate connectivity remotely has helped drive adoption, particularly among international travellers who want immediate access to navigation, messaging and online services upon arrival.

Expanding the travel platform proposition

The partnership strengthens Trip.com's efforts to provide a more comprehensive travel experience through a single platform.

Alongside flights, accommodation and attractions, connectivity is viewed as an essential part of the traveller journey.

By integrating Orange Travel's services directly into its platform, Trip.com is aiming to reduce friction for customers while expanding its range of ancillary services.

Chase Liu, General Manager of International Attractions and Tours Business, Trip.com Group, says: “We are pleased to partner with Orange Travel, further strengthening our eSIM solutions in Europe and beyond.

“With tailor-made offers and packages easily accessible on our platform, our customers can enjoy enhanced connectivity and greater convenience when they travel in this region.”

For Orange Travel, the partnership represents a growing telco strategy centred on embedding connectivity into the digital services consumers already use.

It makes mobile access an integrated part of the travel experience rather than a separate purchase made after arrival.