To answer this question accurately it is necessary to break this down into two segments; "the eSIM itself" and "the bundle applied to the eSIM"
1. The eSIM itself
· Can be topped up only while it is still active on the network: depending on the package, about 2 months from purchase or about 6 months after the last package activity. After that the network switches it off and a new eSIM is needed.
2. The bundle applied to the eSIM
· The bundle validity period (11 months prior to activation) won't start to expire until the device connects to a network and the first 10mb of data has been depleted from the bundle.
· If a bundle has not been started and remains completely unused, then it will expire 12 months after the date it was applied to an eSIM.
A scenario to illustrate the difference between SIM expiry and bundle expiry has been written below:
Two bundles are applied to the same eSIM. Both were bought at the same time 12 months ago.
One of the two bundles is used after 6 months, but the second bundle remains completely unused within a 12-month period.
The second unused bundle would expire, but the SIM would not expire as there was usage activity on month 6.
Top-ups are only possible while the eSIM is still active (see above). When you tap "Top Up" in your account, you'll see whether your eSIM can still be topped up.