Starlink is Dead in Egypt – Long Live Holafly

2025 brought an unexpected and unwelcome surprise for me and my kiters — Starlink is no longer working in Egypt. It used to work perfectly on our yacht throughout the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Kite Safari seasons.

We still have Wi-Fi on board, but as you might expect, the performance isn’t great.

There is an alternative: an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM card (not a physical one) that you simply download to your phone. It’s easier than it sounds.

Performance, it’s decent – not as fast or reliable as Starlink, of course – but good enough to let me write this article, text friends, share some pictures, and get a bit of work done.

So, I’ve put together this short guide on how to use Holafly, the eSIM I personally use, here in Egypt.

STEP 1

Install the app – it’s the most practical way to get started.

STEP 2

Check this option: 1 unlimited plan for 7 days. It costs around €35. The checkout process is very simple and ends with you paying (obviously) and receiving an email with a QR code. If you don’t receive the email, contact customer support through the in-app messaging system – they usually reply quickly and resolve the issue fast.

STEP 3

You need to open your camera and visualize the QR code to get all installed – the best way to do it is to ask a friend to make a picture of your QR code, then scan it with your phone.

STEP 4

Follow the procedure on screen and an eSim will be added to your phone – you now will have two lines – your regular line and a dedicated line only for internet. Done.

To recap: the combination of an eSIM and our Wi-Fi helps provide a decent connection during our kite safari. If you have a roaming plan with your mobile operator at home, that could also be a good alternative to Holafly.

For more questions, doubts, etc etc, simply contact me.