COP31 Antalya eSIM Guide: Mobile Data for Delegates (2026)

COP31, the UN Climate Change Conference, runs from 9 to 20 November 2026 at the Antalya Expo Center in Turkey. Delegations, observers, journalists and company sustainability teams will spend up to two weeks between plenaries, side events, hotel meetings and late drafting sessions, and most of that work runs through a phone. This guide covers what roaming in Turkey tends to cost, how mobile coverage works in and around Antalya, and how to set up an eSIM before you fly so you land connected.

Why roaming in Turkey gets expensive

Turkey is outside the European Union, so the EU's "roam like at home" rules do not apply, and most UK and US plans put it outside their cheapest roaming zone too. Depending on your carrier, data in Turkey is charged per megabyte, sold as a daily travel pass, or included only in small amounts. A daily pass that looks cheap for a weekend adds up over a two-week conference.

Before you go, check what your plan includes for Turkey. If it is a daily fee, multiply it by the length of your stay and compare it with a local data plan on an eSIM.

What an eSIM is and why it suits a conference trip

An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone. Instead of buying a plastic card at the airport, you scan a QR code and your phone downloads a data plan for Turkey. Your physical SIM stays in: you keep your usual number for calls, texts and the SMS codes your bank and work accounts send, and the eSIM handles data.

On a conference trip that helps in three ways:

• no queue at an airport counter after the flight, and no SIM registration with your passport;
• you are online when you land, to message your team, find your shuttle or check the day's schedule;
• you install it at home, on WiFi, days before you leave, so there is one less thing to sort in Antalya.

Mobile coverage in Antalya

Three operators cover Turkey: Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey and Türk Telekom. Travel eSIMs connect to one or more of these networks, and your phone picks the strongest signal.

The city, the airport and the Expo Center

4G is the norm across Antalya, at the airport and along the main roads to the Expo Center and the hotel areas. Coverage is generally strong in the city and the resort strips along the coast.

Inside the venue

Any venue with tens of thousands of people in it puts mobile networks and shared WiFi under strain, especially at the start and end of big sessions. Mobile data on your own plan gives you a second connection when the venue WiFi is slow, which matters when you are sending a draft text or joining a call between meetings.

Side trips

If you stay on after the conference, coverage along the coast and in the main towns is good. In the Taurus Mountains and on smaller back roads it can thin out, so download offline maps before you head inland.

Turkey eSIM prices and data options

Plans differ by how much data you get and for how long. Here are today's plans:

For a two-week conference, a 30-day plan covers the whole stay with room for travel days on either side. As a rough guide, maps, messaging and email use about 1 GB a week. Regular video calls, sharing documents and posting from the venue take that to 3 to 5 GB a week. If you plan to run a laptop from your phone's connection, choose a larger plan.

How to install and activate a Turkey eSIM

Before you travel

1. Check that your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. Most recent iPhone, Pixel and Samsung Galaxy models are.
2. Buy your plan and open the QR code from the confirmation email.
3. On iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM. On Android: Settings, Connections or Network, SIM manager, Add eSIM. Scan the code.
4. Label the new line "Turkey" so it is easy to find, and leave it off for data until you arrive.

Validity starts from the first time you use the plan in Turkey, not from the day you buy or install it, so you can set it up a week early.

When you land

1. Choose the Turkey eSIM for mobile data.
2. Turn on data roaming for that line. This is normal for a travel eSIM and does not use your home plan.
3. Keep your physical SIM on for calls and texts if you want them, with its own data roaming turned off.

Your phone usually connects within a minute or two of landing.

Booking eSIMs for a delegation

If you organise travel for a team, you can buy up to 10 eSIMs in one checkout and pay once. Each person gets their own QR code, all in one email, so you can forward them before the flight. Ask everyone to check their phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked first, since that is the one thing you cannot fix for them on arrival.

Travel dates and badges often change late. An eSIM you have not installed can be refunded in full within 180 days, so you can buy early and refund any that end up unused.

eSIM vs local SIM vs roaming

• Roaming on your home plan is the simplest, but outside the EU it is often the most expensive per gigabyte, and daily fees add up over two weeks.
• A Turkish SIM card can be cheap, but you buy it after landing, register it with your passport, and take out your home SIM.
• A travel eSIM costs a little more per gigabyte than a local SIM, but it is ready before you leave, works on arrival and leaves your number alone.

For a conference stay of one to three weeks, an eSIM is the best balance of cost and convenience.

COP31 eSIM FAQ

When and where is COP31?

From 9 to 20 November 2026, at the Antalya Expo Center in Antalya, Turkey. Turkey holds the presidency and Australia leads the negotiations.

Can I install the eSIM before I leave?

Yes, and it is the best way to do it. Install it at home on WiFi. The plan's validity starts the first time you use it in Turkey, not when you install it.

Will I keep my usual phone number?

Yes. Your physical SIM stays in your phone through Dual SIM, so calls, texts and two-factor codes still reach your usual number. The eSIM only handles data.

Does WhatsApp work in Turkey?

Yes. Messages, voice notes and photos work normally over mobile data, and calls work on most connections. Your WhatsApp number does not change: it stays tied to your home number.

Can I share my connection with a laptop?

It depends on the plan. If you need a hotspot for work, check the plan details before you buy.

What if I run out of data?

Buy a top-up on our site. It takes a minute, and you do not need to leave the venue to find a shop.

What if my trip is cancelled?

An eSIM you have not installed can be refunded in full within 180 days, including one your phone turns out not to support.

Final thoughts

Two weeks at COP31 is a long time to rely on venue WiFi and daily roaming fees. Check your phone is eSIM-ready, install your Turkey plan at home, and you will land in Antalya with data that works from the arrivals hall to the closing plenary.