Is Retail Roaming Revenue Set to Decline Further?

In the report, retail roaming refers to mobile roaming services provided to smartphone users, excluding Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) connections. Retail roaming revenue is the income mobile network operators (MNOs) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) generate from these roaming services.

The global retail roaming market is in flux. Connectivity is more important than ever to international travellers, but the businesses of MNOs are increasingly under pressure.

Juniper Research projects that the global retail roaming market will experience a consistent decline over the next five years; with revenue forecast to fall from $15.6 billion in 2026 to $11.4 billion in 2031. This 27% decline in retail roaming revenue is entirely due to the growth in travel eSIMs, which provide international travellers with an alternative to traditional retail roaming services.

Juniper Research expects that travel eSIM growth will drive an increase in silent roamers; with the number of silent roamers projected to rise from 602 million in 2026 to more than 1 billion in 2031.

About the Infographic

The graph highlights a significant shift in the travel connectivity market, with retail roaming revenue declining 23.2% from 2026 to 2030, while travel eSIM revenue is projected to rise by 208.3% during the same period.

This contrast indicates a growing preference among travellers for more flexible and digitally enabled connectivity options. The trend signals a potential change in how consumers access mobile services when travelling internationally, with traditional roaming increasingly facing competition from alternative solutions.

Several factors are contributing to the growing adoption of travel eSIMs. Cost savings are a key consideration, as eSIMs can often provide more affordable connectivity than traditional roaming services. They also offer greater convenience; removing the need for a physical SIM card and allowing users to activate a service digitally.

In addition, eSIMs provide greater flexibility, with local, regional and global plans available without requiring customers to commit to long-term contracts. 

The growth of international travel and the increasing number of digital nomads are also supporting demand for travel eSIMs.

As more consumers require reliable connectivity across multiple destinations, the ability to switch between plans and networks digitally becomes increasingly valuable. 
For businesses operating in the telecoms and travel sectors, this shift represents both a challenge to traditional roaming revenue and an opportunity to develop new eSIM-based services that align with changing customer expectations.

Source: Retail Roaming Market: 2026-2031

Read the Press Release: Retail Roaming Revenue to Fall $4 Billion By 2031, as Regulatory Restrictions and Competition Bite

Download the Whitepaper: Reimagining the Future of Retail Roaming – How Mobile Network Operators Must Adapt