Land connected in Israel - 350GB 5G and a local number
Stay connected across Israel with 350GB of high-speed 5G data on the Pelephone network, a local +972 phone number, 3,000 calling minutes, and instant QR delivery before landing at Ben Gurion Airport.
Best for: Tourists and business travelers visiting Israel
Coverage: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Eilat, the Dead Sea, the Negev, and major highways
Why tourists need high-speed 5G data in Israel
Navigating unfamiliar streets with Waze, booking Gett taxis, verifying 2FA bank codes, and calling local restaurants requires a stable connection. An eSIM for Israel eliminates $10-$15/day carrier roaming passes and long airport SIM queues at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), activating instantly on Pelephone 5G.
Pelephone, Partner, and Cellcom - what tourists actually get
Israel’s mobile market is built around three nationwide networks: Pelephone, Partner, and Cellcom. Airport kiosks and global eSIM apps often leave that choice opaque. For a tourist, the useful question is not the brand on the plastic card - it is which radio network carries your data, whether 5G is available outside Tel Aviv, and whether speed is throttled after a few gigabytes.
Pelephone
SabraConnect runs on Pelephone, one of Israel’s original national operators. 5G is live across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Eilat, and the main intercity corridors (Route 1, Route 6, the Dead Sea road). There is no daily fair-use slowdown on the SabraConnect plan - the 350GB allowance is the cap, not a hidden 2GB/day throttle. That is why maps, hotspot tethering, and video calls stay usable for a full 30-day trip.
Partner
Partner (formerly Orange Israel) is a strong city network and a common roaming partner for some European and US carriers. Coverage in the center of the country is competitive. The gap for visitors is usually the commercial wrapper: roaming day-passes and data-only eSIMs that land on Partner still bill per day or throttle after a small high-speed bucket. Partner itself is not the problem - paying $10-$15/day to use it is.
Cellcom
Cellcom is Israel’s other national 5G operator and appears on many “unlimited” tourist SIMs sold at Ben Gurion. Those kiosk plans often look cheap until you read the fair-use clause. Cellcom coverage is real; the tourist product on top of it is frequently a 30-60 minute queue, a physical SIM swap, and a higher price for less data than a pre-installed eSIM.
You cannot pick Partner or Cellcom on a SabraConnect eSIM - and you should not need to. One Pelephone 5G profile, a local +972 number, and 350GB is the simpler tourist setup: install at home, land at TLV already on a local network, keep your home SIM for WhatsApp and bank codes.
How to install and activate your Israel eSIM
Do this on Wi-Fi before you fly. The eSIM profile sits on the phone until you reach Israel; validity starts on your trip date or first connection, so buying early does not burn days.
- Buy the plan: Choose the 30-day 350GB eSIM at checkout. You receive a QR code by email as soon as payment clears - no shipping, no kiosk ticket.
- Keep the QR on a second screen: Open the email on a laptop or a second phone. You cannot scan a QR that is displayed on the same device you are installing.
- Add the eSIM on iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code. Scan, wait for the profile to download, and label the line “Israel travel” so it is obvious next to your home SIM.
- Add the eSIM on Android: Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM. Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM. Scan the same QR. Compatible with unlocked Galaxy S20+, Pixel 3+, and most recent eSIM Androids.
- Set data and roaming before wheels-down: Set the SabraConnect line as the mobile-data SIM. Leave your home SIM on for calls, iMessage, and SMS one-time codes. Enable data roaming on the travel line only.
- Land at Ben Gurion and switch off Airplane Mode: The phone attaches to Pelephone 5G in the terminal. If you see No Service, confirm the travel line is turned on and selected for cellular data - then open Waze or Gett and walk past the SIM kiosk.
Nationwide Pelephone 5G & LTE Coverage
SabraConnect operates directly on Pelephone, Israel’s pioneer mobile network, offering blazing-fast 5G data across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Galilee, the Dead Sea, and Eilat with zero daily throttling.
Common questions
How much data do I need for a trip to Israel? Most travelers use 10-20GB over a two-week trip with maps, social media, and messaging. SabraConnect includes 350GB, so you can stream, video-call, and hotspot without watching your usage.
Will my phone work in Israel? If your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM (most iPhones from XS onward and recent Samsung and Pixel models), it works on SabraConnect - you install the eSIM and connect to the Pelephone 5G network, no SIM swap needed.
Do I get an Israeli phone number with the eSIM? Yes. SabraConnect includes a local Israeli (+972) number with 3,000 minutes and 1,500 SMS, so you can make local calls and receive texts for bookings, taxis, and hosts.
Can I keep my home SIM active for calls and 2FA? Yes. Dual-SIM phones keep the home line on for WhatsApp, iMessage, and bank verification SMS while SabraConnect carries data and local Israeli calls. Set the eSIM as the mobile-data line only - your home number does not change.
How fast is the 5G - and is it throttled? On Pelephone 5G you get full network speed with no daily cap and no hidden fair-use slowdown on this plan. 350GB is the allowance for 30 days. That is the opposite of many “unlimited” tourist SIMs that drop to 3G after about 2GB/day.
Which devices are compatible? iPhone XS/XR and newer (including iPhone 16), Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most modern dual-SIM Androids with eSIM. Check the compatible-devices list if you are on a carrier-locked phone - the device must be unlocked to add a travel eSIM.
Related Israel Connectivity Guides & Resources
Get a SabraConnect Israel eSIM — $25 (350GB 5G) · All Israel Travel Connectivity Guides