Planning Ahead for a New Orange Line
Tomorrow, I need to take a high-speed train across France. I don’t fully trust the SNCF’s Wi-Fi, and I absolutely must have internet access during this 300 km/h journey. I remembered that with SFR, maintaining an internet connection on the train can be challenging, whereas with my Orange line, it was quite comfortable due to their impeccable network. So, last week, I decided to order a secondary line from Sosh, opting for an eSIM to activate it quickly on my brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max, alongside my RED by SFR SIM. It was Friday, September 20th when I logged onto the Sosh website to subscribe.
No, It Won’t Take Just 2 Hours
I was honestly convinced that ordering an eSIM would only take a few hours, and besides, I was doing this a week in advance, plenty of time! I have good experience with eSIMs: I regularly use them when traveling abroad, and usually, they get activated in just a few hours, which is convenient and flexible, even if you’re doing it last-minute.
Well, no! It’s Thursday, September 26th as I write this, and I still don’t have my eSIM that I ordered 6 days ago. My train leaves tomorrow, and it’s very likely that this new line won’t be up and running as my TGV speeds through the French countryside, under the probably mocking gaze of cows, laughing at my plight (cows can be cunning).
Delay Confirmed by Customer Service
I found out that it wasn’t just a one-time issue, but rather the norm, as the Sosh customer service confirmed it. Specifically, Orange took three days to request verification documents and now tells me it will take 7 days to activate a new line. That’s quite a long wait for a virtual SIM.
Quicker Abroad Than in One’s Own Country
The customer service told me I could cancel my order. Yes, that’s true, and I ultimately won’t, just to see how long this activation will actually take, but I am still amazed at how inflexible this process is. I’m not sure whose fault it is. Is it Orange or one of its document verification service providers that’s slow? Or is it a regulatory issue?
And more importantly, why can I activate an eSIM in 2 hours abroad, but in France, I have to wait 7 days? This isn’t the way to boost France’s competitiveness! Hopefully, Orange will manage to shorten these delays in the future.
Hi, my name is Disha and I’m a passionate writer and editor at “Jason Deegan”. With a keen interest in all things tech, I strive to bring you the latest news and updates from the world of high-tech.