---
title: "Football Clubs Bet on Connectivity: Targeting Tourists and Fans"
description: Antalyaspor partners with BNESIM to launch a club-branded eSIM, transforming tourism connectivity in Antalya and opening new revenue streams for football
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-06-30T10:00:27.000Z
updated: 2026-02-25T15:38:40.663Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/football-clubs-bet-on-connectivity-targeting-tourists-and-fans
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/wu7hye7lzzs.jpg
categories: Business, Marketing
content_type: Spotlight
region: Turkey
publication: Sovereign Magazine
---

Turkey’s Mediterranean coast attracts millions of travellers each year, with connectivity often proving a barrier for visitors and local fans travelling abroad. Antalya alone welcomed a record 17.28 million visitors last year, yet tourists routinely face hefty roaming charges that can reach thousands of pounds for heavy data users. Antalyaspor’s new eSIM project shows how sports clubs in tourism hubs are teaming with telecom providers to offer practical, branded mobile products.

## Why Clubs are Getting into eSIMs

Antalyaspor has signed a four-year agreement with BNESIM, a global telecom provider, to launch Antalya Cell. The partnership, involving BNESIM’s exclusive Turkish partner Skysim, creates a club-branded eSIM service targeting both local supporters and the city’s massive tourist influx.

The timing coincides with growing market opportunities. [Retail spending on travel eSIM services](https://kaleidointelligence.com/esim-travel-plans-surge-traveller-spending-projected-to-top-3-3-billion-by-2025/) is projected to reach $3.3 billion by 2025, representing a 165% increase from 2023. Travellers save about 35% per GB when using eSIM compared to traditional roaming – a significant draw given that [roaming charges in Turkey](https://localrent.com/en/journal/turkey/articles/mobile-internet/) activate automatically and can cost over £6,000 to unlock phones without proper planning.

eSIM technology allows users to activate mobile plans digitally without physical SIM cards, offering instant connectivity across more than 200 destinations worldwide. For football clubs in tourist-heavy cities, this represents untapped revenue potential beyond traditional stadium tickets and merchandise.

## The Business Model

The four-year agreement positions Antalyaspor to generate recurring revenue from both fan loyalty and Antalya’s tourism economy. ‘This four-year partnership secures a new, reliable revenue stream for our club while offering real value to our supporters and the millions of visitors who arrive in Antalya every year,’ said Sinan Boztepe, President of Antalyaspor.

The revenue model follows how [Europe’s top football clubs](https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/about/press-room/deloitte-football-money-league.html) are diversifying income streams through telecom partnerships and digital fan engagement. With the top 20 European clubs earning €11.2 billion in the 2023/24 season, mid-tier clubs like Antalyaspor are exploring ancillary revenue sources that use their brand recognition.

[Telecommunications companies](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/ai-powered-analytics-reshape-business-intelligence-landscape-in-telecommunications) across travel and entertainment are using eSIM technology to create substantial ancillary revenue streams by offering branded data plans through apps and platforms.

## Tech Details and Usability

The Antalya Cell eSIM app, launching soon on iOS and Android, will allow users to browse and activate local or regional data plans, top up at any time and monitor usage through a secure interface. The service promises affordable data plans, zero roaming fees and instant activation – addressing the core pain points that cost tourists hundreds of pounds annually.

‘We’re proud to join forces with Antalyaspor to deliver a service that connects fans far beyond the stadium,’ said Luca Mattei, CEO of BNESIM. ‘Antalya Cell shows the growing intersection of sport and technology, and the power of seamless connectivity to bring people closer together.’

The technical infrastructure builds on [Turkey’s expanding 5G and eSIM capabilities](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/global-5g-satellite-networks-set-to-enable-massive-iot-growth-in-remote-regions) through networks including Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey and Türk Telekom. With [smartphone eSIM connections](https://www.mobiliseglobal.com/50-esim-statistics-in-2023/) nearly doubling from 310 million in 2023 to 598 million last year, the timing aligns with consumer adoption patterns.

## Hospitality and Tourism Integration

The project extends beyond football into Antalya’s tourism infrastructure. Antalyaspor will work with travel agencies and hotels so visitors can activate low-cost data plans at check-in, ensuring seamless connectivity throughout their stays on the Turkish Riviera.

This integration addresses a significant market opportunity. [Hotels are increasingly integrating](https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000117.html) digital check-in services and upselling offers through apps and property management systems, capturing additional revenue while enhancing guest experience. The Antalya Cell partnership provides hotels with a value-added service that differentiates their offering.

‘By uniting that technology with Antalyaspor’s spirit of passion and determination, we’re creating a solution that will amplify the fan experience and add tangible value to Antalya’s tourism sector,’ said Kemal Can Tuncer, Director at Skysim.

With Antalya targeting over 18 million visitors this year, the hospitality integration could generate substantial user adoption beyond the football club’s immediate fanbase.

## Market Context

Similar sports club-telecom partnerships are emerging across Europe’s tourism-driven cities. [European football clubs](https://www.lifecycle-software.com/resources/football-mobile-telephony-mvno-euro-2024) are increasingly exploring mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) tailored to fans, including co-marketing campaigns, exclusive mobile offers and discounted roaming rates for travelling supporters.

The European travel eSIM market is projected to grow from $129 million in 2024 to nearly $296 million by 2030, driven by tourism growth across Mediterranean destinations including Spain, Greece and Turkey. Spain attracted over 90 million international visitors last year, whilst Greece saw tourism revenues rise 17.4% year-on-year.

## Revenue and Market Potential

The Antalyaspor partnership represents a template that other Turkish and European clubs in tourist destinations may follow. With football clubs facing pressure to diversify revenue streams, telecoms partnerships offer recurring income that scales with both fan engagement and regional tourism.

The timing coincides with Turkey’s broader push to extend its tourism season and attract higher-spending visitors. Antalya has already extended its season through November due to strong demand, with early bookings for this year reaching 80-90% compared to 15-20% in previous years.

For tourists, the service addresses real financial pain points – roaming costs that can easily exceed accommodation expenses for data-heavy users. For the club, it creates a revenue stream that benefits from Antalya’s status as the world’s fourth-largest destination by international arrivals.