WeChat Go SIM Cards to Provide Chinese Social Media Access in Europe

Chinese tourists to Europe have been granted the ability to use the WeChat social media platform while travelling, following an agreement between Dutch mobile service provider KPN and Tencent, the developer of the app.

The service is being made available via special WeChat Go SIM cards, which are being made available for purchase at major airports in China and Europe.

A 1GB WeChat Go SIM card costs 12 euros with 15 days validity, while a 4GB card valid for 28 days costs 33.50 euros. Following the abolishment of roaming tariffs in June 2017, users will be able to enjoy access to the service throughout EU member states without paying additional charges.

KPN revealed that, on top of 4G data access, the SIM cards will also offer specialised services including travel information and Chinese video content, as well as set amounts of call minutes within Europe and to China, as well as the ability to receive free calls and SMS messages within the EU.

Company spokesperson Stefan Simons highlighted the practicality of the service, claiming: “This is for the convenience of the Chinese customers, who can buy it and then put it in their cellphones and use WeChat Go without having to worry about which operator they have to connect to”.

In addition to the launch of WeChat Go SIM cards, users of the social media platform travelling in Europe will also be able to benefit from the introduction of the WeChat Pay electronic payment service following an agreement with Wirecard.

COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute provides expert insights into the worldwide developments of China’s outbound tourism market. As Chinese outbound tourists are travelling to a large range of destinations, our publications cover a number of regions, providing detailed insights and analysing visitor behaviour.

With COTRI’s insights you can forge a successful business strategy built upon in-depth market expertise, comprehensive qualitative analysis and future projections. The Spring 2017 Edition of the COTRI Market report features in-depth exploration of the developing trends in the field, supported by a wealth of qualitative and quantitative statistical research.

Source: Business Times, Business Insider

Image: Flickr