<h2 id="h163248d089">What is tethering?</h2><p>Tethering is the ability for one device to be connected to a cellular network and share its Internet connection with other devices. A smartphone or tablet acts as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, providing Internet access to surrounding devices. There are three main ways to connect: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB.</p><h3 id="h8b40bf460d">Wi-Fi Connection</h3><p>Wi-Fi tethering is the most common and easiest to set up. The device emits a Wi-Fi signal and other devices can connect to its Wi-Fi to access the Internet.</p><h3 id="h8ed5bf2a3a">Bluetooth Connection</h3><p>Tethering over Bluetooth is also possible, but tends to be slower than Wi-Fi. However, it consumes less power than Wi-Fi, making it a good choice if you want to conserve battery power.</p><h3 id="hd382d73f50">USB Connection</h3><p>USB tethering is a direct connection of devices with a USB cable. The connection is more stable and the battery is less of a concern since the device is charged, but a cable is required and only one device can be connected.</p><h3 id="h5b6d2499ea">Reasons for slow communication when tethering</h3><p>The main reasons for slower communication speeds when tethering include signal strength, network congestion, and the processing power of the tethered device. Also, if many devices are connected at the same time, bandwidth may be split, slowing down the speed of individual devices.</p><h2 id="h4f6788b10a">What is eSIM?</h2><p>Embedded SIM (eSIM) is a technology that replaces the traditional physical SIM card and is built into the device. eSIM allows users to remotely activate their cell phone plans and switch between multiple carriers.</p><h3 id="hd16742ba88">eSIM is becoming increasingly popular.</h3><p>According to forecasts by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, approximately 33.8% of all smartphone shipments are expected to be eSIM-enabled devices by 2024. This figure indicates that eSIM technology is rapidly penetrating the market as a mainstream alternative to conventional physical SIM cards, and its adoption is accelerating among consumers and operators as the convenience of eSIM is recognized (see &quot;Draft Direction of Study | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications&quot;).</p><p>The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications forecasts that 33.8% of smartphone shipments will be eSIM-compatible handsets by 2024&quot; (Direction of Study (Draft) | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) Reference URL: <a href="https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000735823.pdf">https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000735823.pdf</a></p><h3 id="h8fce2f899b">Can tethering be used with an eSIM?</h3><p>Devices equipped with an eSIM can be tethered in the same way as devices using a conventional SIM card. eSIM itself does not function as a method of providing Internet connectivity, but shares the connection with other devices through the device&apos;s tethering function.</p><h2 id="ha233f9a020">How to set up an eSIM to use the tethering feature</h2><p>Even devices with an eSIM require some configuration to use tethering. Below we explain how to set up tethering on Android and iPhone.</p><h3 id="hc4a740fe66">How to use tethering on Android</h3><ol><li>Open the &quot;Settings&quot; application.<p></p></li><li>Tap &quot;Network and Internet.<p></p></li><li>Select &quot;Hotspot and Tethering.<p></p></li><li>Tap &quot;Wi-Fi Hotspot&quot; and configure the necessary settings. If necessary, also set security settings and passwords.</li></ol><h3 id="hcbd72acb12">How to tether with iPhone</h3><ol><li>Open the Settings app.<p></p></li><li>Tap &quot;Personal Hotspot.<p></p></li><li>Turn on &quot;Allow personal hotspots&quot; and set your Wi-Fi password.<p></p></li><li>Search for a Wi-Fi network on the other device you wish to connect to and connect using the password you set.</li></ol><h2 id="h20ff6512fd">Tethering when traveling abroad is not recommended for some applications.</h2><p>While tethering while traveling abroad can be very convenient, there are some caveats. In particular, if you are considering using a PC or using your smartphone with more than one person, you need to think carefully.</p><h3 id="hca250dcbbe">If you want to use your PC while abroad</h3><p>When using a PC abroad, you need to be aware of its convenience as well as its rapid consumption of communication capacity. Especially when connecting to the Internet through tethering, it is important to pay attention to the following points</p><h4 id="hbb956ab533">Digesting communication capacity quickly</h4><p>PCs are frequently used for data-intensive activities such as high-resolution video viewing, large file downloads, online meetings, and software updates. These activities require special attention when tethering abroad. Some communication plans have a cap on the amount of data that can be used, and exceeding this cap may result in additional charges or a significant drop in speed. Therefore, be aware of the following points when using a PC overseas.</p><h3 id="hb9510006f2">When two or more people want to use a smartphone when traveling abroad</h3><p>When more than one person uses a smartphone overseas, tethering is a convenient means of communication, but it can lead to slower communication speeds and a spike in data usage. Therefore, it is recommended that you use your own data plan whenever possible, or consider the following services</p><h2 id="hdfe250d3c5">Disadvantages of tethering when traveling abroad</h2><p>There are a few things to keep in mind when using tethering abroad.</p><h3 id="hd738098cb2">The battery of the device providing the tethering is easily depleted.</h3><p>Tethering consumes a significant amount of the device&apos;s battery. In particular, if multiple devices are connected, the battery will deplete even faster.</p><h3 id="h977f0f2101">Connection is lost after a certain amount of time without communication, so the device must be connected from Wi-Fi many times</h3><p>When using tethering, the connection may automatically disconnect if there is no communication for a certain period of time. This feature is intended to extend battery life and prevent unnecessary data usage, but frequent disconnections during use can be inconvenient.</p><h3 id="ha91be9887c">Data backup, synchronization, and updates can consume communication space.</h3><p>Processes that take place in the background, such as automatic backups, app synchronization, and system updates, can use large amounts of data without being noticed. Especially abroad, this can result in unexpectedly high data charges.</p><h2 id="h741dcb34cc">If you&apos;re traveling abroad with a group, you should each sign up for your own eSIM or rental Wi-Fi.</h2><p>When traveling abroad in a group, it is recommended that each person use their own eSIM service or rental Wi-Fi instead of tethering. This will make data usage more manageable, improve connection stability, and prevent battery life issues and slower transmission speeds. Having each person have an independent connection improves the communication experience for the entire group.</p><h2 id="haca8a838d9">For your first overseas eSIM, we recommend &quot;trifa&quot;!</h2><p>Trifa is an eSIM application from Japan with the No. 1 app DL number in Japan.</p><p>Its No. 1 attraction is the &quot;ease of use&quot; and &quot;sense of security&quot; of the app. After installing the app on your phone, all you have to do is follow the Japanese-language instructions. You can easily complete the overseas internet communication settings in as little as 3 minutes.</p><p>If you have any questions, Japanese chat support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so even those who are new to eSIM or unfamiliar with smartphone operation can use the service with peace of mind.</p><p>Furthermore, since the fees are &quot;completely prepaid,&quot; you will never be charged more than you have paid before using the service. So, you don&apos;t have to worry about &quot;I used too much overseas data, will I get a high bill later? You can enjoy your overseas trip comfortably and happily without such worries as &quot;I might use too much data overseas and get a high bill later...&quot;!</p><p>Thank you for reading this article to the end. We hope this article has answered some of your questions about eSIM.</p>

The tethering function can be used with an eSIM. However, when traveling abroad with more than one person, it is better to have an eSIM contract for each person. This section explains some of the unexpected disadvantages of the tethering function.

Can an eSIM be tethered? How to set up Internet Sharing

<h2 id="he42952becc">What is the difference between an eSIM and a SIM card?</h2><h3 id="h4f6788b10a">What is eSIM?</h3><p>eSIM stands for &quot;Embedded SIM,&quot; a digital SIM embedded in a device instead of a physical SIM card. eSIM allows users to easily change providers and store multiple plans on the device. According to source 1), eSIM adoption is growing rapidly and may replace traditional SIM cards in the future.</p><p>A service that, at the user&apos;s request, writes a profile to the device online, or rewrites the profile without having to replace the SIM.&quot;</p><p>(Definition of eSIM｜Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)</p><h3 id="hb064ded68a">What is a SIM card?</h3><p>SIM card stands for &quot;Subscriber Identity Module&quot; and is a physical chip that contains information on connection to a mobile network. Users can access a communication service provider&apos;s network by inserting a SIM card into their device.</p><h3 id="h85773877ec">Differences between an eSIM and a SIM card</h3><p>The main difference between an eSIM and a SIM card is that an eSIM is a digital SIM embedded in a device, rather than a physical chip. This makes an eSIM easy to change plans and switch providers, and provides the flexibility to manage multiple plans on a single device.</p><h3 id="h601c2bb2e3">eSIM Penetration and the Future Landscape</h3><p>According to sources 2) and 3), eSIM penetration is increasing rapidly, and many smartphone manufacturers are bringing devices to market that support eSIM. In the coming years, eSIM is expected to establish itself as a new communication standard and spur further technological innovation.</p><p>The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications forecasts that 33.8% of smartphone shipments will be eSIM-enabled devices by 2024&quot; (Direction of Discussion (Draft) | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)</p><p>Promotion of eSIM Services&quot; (Guidelines for the Promotion of eSIM Services | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)</p><h2 id="h99e60a7d80"> Advantages of using eSIM</h2><h3 id="h098d042805">Immediate online activation</h3><p>With an eSIM, you can easily open a communication service online. You can save time as you can connect to the network immediately without having to wait for a physical SIM card.</p><h3 id="hd107ff13d8">No need to replace the SIM card when changing models.</h3><p>Changing handsets between eSIM-enabled devices is smoother because there is no need to physically move the SIM card. This also reduces the risk of loss.</p><h3 id="h575364f4f9">Multiple lines can be used</h3><p>With an eSIM-enabled device, you can use multiple phone numbers and data plans on a single device. This allows for greater flexibility of use, such as being able to manage lines for work and private use with the same phone.</p><h3 id="h53b755204f">Easily secure a means of communication when traveling abroad</h3><p>When traveling abroad, eSIM makes it easy to sign up for a plan with a local provider. According to Source ④, an eSIM allows you to secure a means of communication overseas quickly and hassle-free.</p><p>Short-term contractable eSIM applications are another option for international travel</p><p>eSIM apps that offer special plans for short-term international travel are also available. These apps offer flexible plans for the duration of the trip and facilitate local communication.</p><h3 id="ha96eed63b1">Source 4) Regarding SIM card purchase agreements in Germany.</h3><p>&quot;In Germany, since January 2017, due to anti-terrorism measures, the Telecommunications Act has made it mandatory to verify identity and register an address when purchasing a &apos;prepaid SIM card.&apos;&quot; (Electronic Communications Act 111, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications | Federal Republic of Germany)</p><h2 id="h2bfe5d539c">Disadvantages of eSIM</h2><h3 id="hcb99ae2473">Some knowledge required when setting up</h3><p>If you are new to eSIM, the setup process requires a bit of learning. However, once you understand how to set it up, you can easily set it up the next time.</p><h3 id="hea908b2d3f">Available models and plans are not yet fully developed</h3><p>eSIM is a relatively new technology, and the choice of supported models and plans is still limited compared to conventional SIM cards. However, this situation is expected to improve as eSIM becomes more widely used.</p><h2 id="h4d79934864">Are there any cases where I should choose a SIM card?</h2><h3 id="h742a099c05">The device or plan you want to use does not support eSIM.</h3><p>Due to the limited number of eSIM compatible devices and plans, you may need to choose a conventional SIM card if you want to use a specific model or plan.</p><h3 id="h6331bb7266">I want to use multiple smartphone devices while switching within the same contract</h3><p>If you want to move your SIM card frequently between multiple devices, a physical SIM card may be more convenient. eSIMs are built into the device, so switching between them requires changing the settings on each device.</p><h2 id="h548c925f82">Flow of using an eSIM</h2><h3 id="hc8fe27dd99">Re-issue an eSIM in case of a model change</h3><p>When changing the handset model, you will need to have your eSIM reissued by your provider in order to use the eSIM on the new device.</p><h3 id="hccb7c9dd7f">Scan the QR code with an eSIM-enabled device and set up the eSIM</h3><p>In most cases, setting up an eSIM is done by scanning the QR code provided by the provider with your phone. eSIM setup will begin automatically once the QR code is scanned.</p><h3 id="hd19c4a97f1">Switching SIMs and setting up APNs</h3><p>Once the eSIM setup is complete, switch SIMs and set APNs (access point names) as necessary. This will ensure that the eSIM is properly connected to the network and that communication is possible.</p><h3 id="h5fe8f348a5">Typical smartphone devices that support eSIM</h3><p>There are many eSIM-compatible smartphones on the market. Typical examples include Apple&apos;s iPhone series, Google&apos;s Pixel series, and Samsung&apos;s Galaxy series. These devices are designed to take full advantage of eSIM.</p><p>The eSIM application &quot;trifa&quot; is recommended for using your phone when traveling abroad!</p><p>An eSIM app like &quot;trifa&quot; is very useful for using your phone when traveling abroad. trifa offers the best plans for short periods of time abroad and makes it easy to communicate while traveling. This app saves you the trouble of buying a SIM card locally and allows you to enjoy your trip more.</p>

Which is better, eSIM or SIM card? This is an easy-to-understand explanation of the differences from a physical SIM and the advantages and disadvantages of each.