if i want gps and cellular on my apple watch but i dont have a sim card for virgin media, ee, or 02 but i have a giffgaff sim then do i have to get another sim for my phone to get the cellular

Giffgaff does not support Apple Watch over cellular, so you would need to switch networks to one which does support Apple Watch. The watch must be configured on the same network account as your iPhone to get standalone cellular on the watch, so this means a complete network migration. Fortunately here in UK this is fairly easy and in most cases you can migrate your existing number. When I jumped ship from O2 (before they supported Apple Watch) I was up and running on EE before I left the store.

Check Apple Watch - Carriers - Apple for which UK networks support Apple Watch, then visit the network websites to check cost of plans and coverage in the areas you think you will want to use the watch. Make your decision on what is available today, not what they promise for next week.

Apparently this is a licensing issue. Apple are preventing VMNO such as giffgaff, virgin and Tesco mobile from offering eSim contracts. This is really disappointing, as a loyal giffgaff customer I don’t want to transfer to one of the other networks. Worse, this limits the use to Apple Watch as a device I can recommend as an assistive technology device in both child protection and supporting vulnerable adults.. those customers with sometimes low incomes and a need to not be tied to long contracts are prevented from accessing a service that provides falls protection, tracking of loved ones such as adults with memory issues and children. Apple need to consider widening this access

Re: andyarcher:

It could also be a contract issue such that EE, Vodaphone and O2 do not want to allow NVMOs to support the Apple Watch, when they can use that premium service to attached customers to their higher paid plans.

In the U.S. the NVMO Xfinity (Comcast cable wireless service), supports the Apple Watch. Most likely because they have signed a contract with Verizon to allow the Apple Watch via Xfinity to use the Verizon network. Xfinity is one of the few NVMOs in the U.S. that offers Apple Watch support. Many others, including the various Pay-as-you-go brand names that are really just the T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T alternate brand names.

Apple wants to sell hardware. Cellular Apple Watches make Apple more money, so why would they want to limit the cellular providers that offer their Apple Watch.

If you do not want to switch carriers, then the GPS only Apple Watch can do Everything the Cellular model can do AS LONG AS your iPhone is nearby, where nearby is generally somewhere in the same moderately sized home. The Cellular model allows you to leave your iPhone at home while you go for a walk, run, bike ride, otherwise, you get the same functionality from both models.

Businesses rarely share the details of contracts they sign between companies. And few employees of those companies know the details either. The company lawyers, company executives are the ones that know what is in the contracts.

But everyone speculates. In the case of a cellular carrier that has a differently named pay-as-your go service, there is nothing to stop them from offering Apple Watch support, but they do not. Rather they only offer Apple Watch support via their higher priced services.

The providers all sight Apple contracts as the limiting factor on providing access to eSims. I’d love to know the truth of the matter so I can identify who needs to be lobbied to make the changes. I do wonder now, that it’s raised, if the parent companies who sub contract the NVMO are setting the limits? The lack of transparency about this issue is frustrating, but I guess highlights the cloak and dagger nature of much of business contracting!

The cellular watch and phone have to share the same network provider,giffgaff don't support the apple watch.

Apple Watch - Carriers - Apple

In the UK it's EE,Vodaphone and O2.