Why Apple Watch Cellular version is not available in Ireland?

I have an Apple Watch Ultra II, purchased in Ireland. I note that the network '3' in Ireland are now offering eSIM. However when I use the Watch App on my iPhone and select Mobile Service, I see the message 3 Ireland does not currently support Apple Watch.

Is there a work around where I can apply an eSIM to the watch please?

Afaik the reason cellular is not available in Ireland has to do with wording in the legislation produced for mobile phones back in the 1990s. Whereas other countries produced legislation for mobile “devices”, the Irish government of the day legislated for mobile “phones”. The legislation would need to be amended before watches and other devices can legally support cellular in ROI.

I am in the same position with my Ultra, I am a triathlete so would really like to train with the standalone Watch on cellular, I get the same message under mobile service on the Eir network, will this legislation get updated anytime soon to resolve this issue?

Brussels had nothing to do with it.

Vodafone still doesn't support Apple Watch, in Ireland 9/10/2023, watch when cellular in Ireland …waste money …

Please, someone answer this question; I am experiencing the same situation with Vodafone as well.

This is not correct. Vodafone offer mobile on Samsung Galaxy Watch. But only Samsung galaxy

No.

US Watch will only work in the wider Americas on cellular.

No Irish network providers will apparently support cellular Watch

Apple Watch - Carriers - Apple

You need three conditions

• 3 eSIM contract on the iphone
• 3 must support eSIM on Watch
• You must pay the additional contract fee

if any are not true you will not get cellular on the Watch. Talk with 3.

You can train using watch without the phone, it syncs when you get back

think they only sell the cellular version in countries where they have some eSim agreement with the carriers operating there, you can try to inquire status from your current carriers if there are something in the pipeline, with more and more iphones also having eSims

no, the usa, canadian and mexico versions does not work in other countries at all, also if you purchase it in another european country I don't believe it works unless the carrier you use have an agreement with apple, in the countries where they are sold when you begin the online purchase process it display what carriers they can be used with and it's by far all the carriers operating in the country in question.

Remember there is no international warranty either.

Watch bought in UK will have compatible cellular components but if no Irish providers are willing to provision the eSIM what is the point in getting one?

In any case paying around €10 extra a month just to be able to make calls without the iphone is of dubious value.

Eir are testing eSIM with a service that’s sells roaming data. Goworld.com

Why they are not releasing eSIM through eir is beyond understanding.

perhaps they don’t want to make it fast and easy to move between operators.