Business travel to the Americas: Tech solutions for Transatlantic digital access and data roaming options

When you land in New York for an important client meeting, it's easy to assume your mobile plan has you covered until you realise roaming will cost £8 a day, providing only 500 MB of internet usage. A single hour-long video conference would exceed that limit, potentially costing you hundreds in overage charges during your two-week corporate trip.

That's a common situation that many UK professionals travelling to Transatlantic nations face today. Most corporate internet plans for transatlantic travel charge between £5 and £8 per gigabyte, often including restrictive fair usage limits and hidden fees when used in the Americas. Professionals abroad often face unreliable network access and severely limited allowances, which can quickly become a costly problem resulting in unexpected roaming charges.

This article examines network access challenges faced during transatlantic trips and suggests tech solutions, including eSIM technology for professionals, to avoid expensive USA roaming costs.

The UK's growing commercial ties with the Americas

The US and the UK have a strong history of commercial and investment relationships. In fact, the US-UK investment relationship is the largest in the world. The UK exported £182.6 billion worth of goods to the US, accounting for 21.7% of all UK exports. Conversely, the USA recorded $148 billion of trade with the UK in 2024. Commercial exchange is also active with other transatlantic countries like Canada.

Professionals from financial services, tech, IT, cybersecurity and agriculture sectors frequently visit San Francisco, New York, Toronto, Mexico and other cities. An average work trip typically lasts 3 to 7 days, with professionals making these journeys on a monthly or quarterly basis. Most of these trips involve in-person meetings, but the hybrid work culture demands 24/7 continuous access to distributed teams in different parts of the world.

The real cost of staying connected across the Atlantic

Whether UK professionals are heading to Canada or Latin America, standard corporate mobile solutions remain limited, expensive and unreliable. International roaming plans become cost-prohibitive for stays longer than a day or two.

Working abroad requires substantial internet usage through apps like Zoom for video conferencing, cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox, and navigation tools such as Google Maps.

In most cases, usage fees accumulate without you even realising that you've reached your limit. Apps silently run in the background and automatically download attachments on work phones. These unexpected expenses often result in invoice surprises at month-end. UK providers like EE and Vodafone offer international plans with daily fees and hidden extra costs when you exceed their fair usage thresholds.

Also, your network may not offer service in all Latin American countries, the USA, and Canada. Public Wi-Fi may come to the rescue in those situations, but it poses risks for confidential commercial communications.

Below is an overview of international mobile operator plans:

Strategic connectivity options for the corporate professional

Let's compare popular mobile options with newer solutions like eSIM for international work travel.

Traditional roaming packages: They are convenient options to stay connected with the UK office while in the Americas. You can keep your UK number and mobile plan. However, these packages can be expensive (£5–£7.50/day) and not ideal for long trips requiring heavy internet usage.

Local SIM Cards: Local SIMs are often considered a cost-effective option for corporate travellers. They offer affordable rates of £1–£3/day but require an unlocked phone, local registration and phone compatibility.

eSIM Technology: eSIMs are the best roaming alternatives for work trips to North and South America. eSIMs like Yesim offer flexible plans, secure communications and competitive prices. Yesim's eSIM can provide access to unlimited internet with as low as £1–£5/day across 200+ destinations.

Corporate Mi-Fi (mobile routers): This wireless internet option is ideal for secure online access during corporate travel to America. It's also suitable for teams with high usage needs, offering shared service between £5 and £10/day.

Satellite Solutions: A backup option for remote regions with no mobile coverage. They provide uninterrupted access for critical tasks, though bandwidth is limited and costs are high.

If you're seeking ways to avoid excess fees when travelling to the USA, an eSIM might be the answer. This technology offers cost-effective mobile access without the additional expense of international charges. You also retain your existing phone number while selecting a plan customised to your specific work requirements.

Region-by-region guide for corporate travellers

Mobile service quality varies across the Americas. For instance, major cities like New York, San Francisco and Chicago offer 5G networks. However, rural areas and the Caribbean may experience poor reception and regular outages. Urban centres in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Chile have good 4G coverage, but countryside locations are prone to network disruptions.

eSIMs, on the other hand, offer uninterrupted services at low rates in the Americas for UK professionals. Besides, to avoid service disruptions, Yesim has a SwitchLess Networks technology that ensures connection to the strongest signal, which is crucial for professional reliability.

Conclusion

Reliable mobile internet is paramount for efficient work. While America's mobile solutions offer limited usage, travel tech options like eSIMs can remove the friction from staying connected for individual professionals and teams.

Transatlantic digital access is essential for managing hybrid teams, conducting Zoom calls and Slack sessions, finding locations, and communicating with team members for UK professionals on an international trip. Instead of relying on expensive and unreliable international roaming solutions, corporate teams can switch to affordable eSIM providers like Yesim and enjoy hassle-free communications without losing work numbers.

Essential questions for corporate travellers to the Americas

How secure are eSIM connections for accessing company networks?

eSIMs provide secure communications as profiles can be remotely managed, and the threat of SIM cloning is eliminated.

Can I maintain my UK work number while using an eSIM abroad?

You can retain your UK number while using an eSIM abroad.

Do I need different network solutions for different American regions?

You may require multiple solutions for different American regions due to differences in infrastructure availability, cost, distance, etc. However, eSIMs like Yesim grant global connectivity across 200+ destinations.

How can I manage communications for a team travelling together?

While travelling, a team can manage online access by using a combination of solutions like eSIMs, international roaming numbers, and mobile hotspots. Plus, team collaboration apps like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Asana, etc., can assist in intra-team communication.

Will an eSIM work with my company's mobile device management systems (MDMS)?

eSIMs work well with most MDMS, which allow eSIM profiles to be managed remotely and controlled from a centralised location.

How secure are eSIM connections for accessing company networks?