How to Send Mobile Data to Your Family in Africa

The WassaSim Team · March 19, 2026 · 7 min read

Your mother in Dakar ran out of data again. Your brother in Douala cannot join the family WhatsApp call. Your cousin in Casablanca needs internet for her university exams. You know the feeling — you are thousands of miles away and you want to help, but sending mobile data across borders has never been straightforward.

Until now. With WassaSim, you can send mobile data to anyone in Africa in under 5 minutes, from wherever you are. No app to install, no account to create on their side, no complicated top-up codes. Just a QR code delivered by email.

Why sending data matters more than you think

For millions of people in Africa, mobile data is not a luxury — it is a lifeline. It is how they access banking, education, healthcare information, and stay in touch with family. When the data runs out, the connection breaks.

Sending data is sending connection — not money that may be used for something else entirely. Your gesture has a direct, immediate impact:

Your loved one gets exactly what they need: internet access
It is instant — no bank delays, no agent visits
There are no middlemen taking a cut
You can do it any time, from your phone or computer
It costs as little as €2.39 for 1 GB

How it works: 3 simple steps

Step 1: Choose a country and plan

Go to the WassaSim shop and select the country where your family member lives. Choose from 1 GB to 20 GB depending on their needs. A 3 GB plan is plenty for a week of WhatsApp, social media and basic browsing.

Step 2: Select "Send to someone else"

During checkout, choose the option to send the eSIM to another person. Enter their email address. Pay securely by card (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay).

Step 3: They scan and connect

Your family member receives the QR code by email within 30 seconds. They open their phone settings, scan the QR code, and the eSIM installs automatically. Within 2 minutes, they have mobile data on a trusted partner network (Orange, Ooredoo, Vodacom or other verified operator depending on the country).

How it looks in practice: imagine sending a 5 GB eSIM to your mother in Dakar every month. She receives the QR code by email, scans it, and she is connected in minutes. No app, no account, no trip to a mobile shop. That is the kind of routine WassaSim makes possible.

Which countries can you send data to?

WassaSim covers 178 countries, including all the most popular destinations for the diaspora:

West Africa: Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin
North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt
East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda
Southern Africa: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar
Central Africa: DRC, Congo, Gabon

Check the full list of countries on the shop page.

How much does it cost?

Prices depend on the country and data volume. Here are examples for popular destinations:

Country	1 GB	3 GB	5 GB	Network partner
Algeria	€2.39	€4.79	€8.39	Mobilis / Ooredoo 3G/4G
Morocco	€3.59	€7.19	€10.79	Orange Morocco 3G/4G/5G
Senegal	€8.39	€23.99	€37.19	Orange 3G/4G
Cameroon	€8.39	€20.39	€35.99	Orange 3G/4G
South Africa	€3.59	€7.19	€11.99	Vodacom 3G/4G

No subscription, no hidden fees. You pay once, they use it for up to 30 days. WassaSim is a French company: secure Stripe payment, GDPR-compliant, VAT-inclusive pricing with no surprises.

What your loved one needs

For this to work, your family member needs:

An eSIM-compatible phone (iPhone XS+, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3a+, recent Xiaomi or Huawei)
An email address to receive the QR code (or you can share it via WhatsApp)
That is it. No app, no account, no tech skills.

Not sure if their phone supports eSIM? Check our eSIM activation guide for the full compatibility list.

Sending data vs. sending money

	Send data (WassaSim)	Send money
Speed	30 seconds	Hours to days
Fees	None	5-10% transfer fees
Currency loss	None	Exchange rate margin
Certainty	They get internet, period	You hope they use it for data
Effort for recipient	Scan a QR code	Go to an agent, bring ID

Use cases from the diaspora

Keeping parents connected

Many diaspora families send a monthly eSIM to their parents so they always have WhatsApp, can video call, and access news. It is the modern version of calling cards — except it works both ways.

Supporting students

University students in Africa rely on mobile data for online courses, research, and study groups. A 10 GB or 20 GB plan can cover an entire month of academic use.

Emergency connectivity

When a family member is traveling, sick, or in an unexpected situation, being able to send data instantly can make all the difference. No waiting for a shop to open, no agent to visit.

Business support

If you run a business with employees or partners in Africa, sending data plans is a practical way to ensure they stay connected for meetings, emails, and deliverables.

Not just Africa: send data anywhere

This guide focuses on Africa because it is the most common need for the diaspora. But the same principle works for 178 countries worldwide. WassaSim is used by communities far beyond the African diaspora:

Filipino community in the Gulf: send data to family in the Philippines from Dubai or Riyadh
Indian diaspora in the UK: keep parents connected in Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai
Turkish families in Germany: send data to relatives in Istanbul or Ankara
Ukrainian community in France: stay in touch with family back home
Chinese students abroad: share data plans with family in China
NGO and humanitarian workers: equip teams on the ground with reliable mobile data

The experience is identical: choose a country, pick a plan, pay securely, and your loved one receives a QR code by email. Same simplicity, same speed, regardless of the destination.

Frequently asked questions

How does sending data to someone in Africa work?

You purchase a data plan on WassaSim, choosing the recipient's country and the amount of data. After payment, a QR code is generated and sent by email. Your family member scans the QR code on their phone, and they are connected to mobile data within minutes.

Does my family member need to download an app?

No. The eSIM is installed directly through the phone's settings by scanning a QR code. No app, no account creation, no technical knowledge required.

Which phones can receive an eSIM in Africa?

Any eSIM-compatible smartphone works: iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3a and newer, recent Xiaomi and Huawei models. The phone must be unlocked (not tied to a single carrier).

Is sending data better than sending money?

Sending data is more direct and purposeful. With a money transfer, you cannot be sure the funds will be used for mobile data. With WassaSim, you send internet access directly to their phone — no middleman, no conversion fees, no uncertainty. Your loved one benefits immediately.

What if my family member already has a SIM card?

That is perfectly fine. The eSIM works alongside the existing physical SIM. They keep their local number and phone calls on the SIM card, and use the eSIM for data. Dual SIM works on all compatible phones.

Send data to your family now →