When a smartphone manufacturer launches its own roaming service, the first question isn't "how does it work," but "who actually provides the network." In the case of Motorola Global Connect, the answer is easy to find: behind the scenes is the company Gigs, which the industry calls an "MVNO in a box."
What is Gigs and why it matters
Gigs is not just a middleman between Motorola and telecom operators. The company provides a complete infrastructure stack: from eSIM provisioning to payment processing and customer support. Its clients include Revolut, Klarna, Nubank, and several phone manufacturers. In December 2024, Gigs raised $73 million in a Series B round led by Ribbit Capital — and almost simultaneously announced a partnership with Vodafone.
This means Motorola didn't build its own network infrastructure — it bought a ready-made white-label product and wrapped it in a branded interface.
How it works in practice
The technical logic is simple: a single eSIM profile is installed once and remains active in over 160 countries — without reinstallation when crossing borders. The app is available on Google Play, but on millions of compatible Motorola devices it comes pre-installed.
To get started, Motorola offers 1 GB for free — according to the company's estimates, this is enough for about an hour of video streaming or over 10 hours of browsing. After that — paid plans with a choice of destination country directly in the app.
"Staying connected abroad has always been harder than it should be"
— Sudhir Chaddaga, VP Partnerships, Motorola
Launch and geography
The first markets are Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and Chile. Next in line are Germany, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe. The service is tied to specific models: the list of supported devices includes the razr, edge, and moto g lines from 2024 onwards, but does not cover the entire catalog.
Where the pitch meets reality
Motorola positions Global Connect as a solution that "automatically connects to the best available network." But the competitive eSIM market is already crowded: Holafly, Airalo, Jetpac offer global plans starting from $1.58/GB. Motorola hasn't yet disclosed its pricing structure publicly — the app directs users to an internal price list.
The key difference from competitors is not the technology (eSIM is available to everyone), but the point of access: not a separate service you have to find and download, but a feature built into the device from day one. This is exactly what Gigs sells to its partners — the invisibility of infrastructure behind the manufacturer's brand.
If Motorola keeps prices competitive after the free gigabyte runs out, the model will work. If the plans turn out to be more expensive than market alternatives, pre-installation will become not an advantage but an irritant: a user will find Airalo in three clicks, and brand loyalty doesn't buy roaming.
