Peter Basil - BazTel

Peter

Founder, CIPM, MBA

About

I’m Peter, the founder of BazTel. I built this company at the intersection of two things I know well: finance and travel.

Before starting BazTel, I worked in investment analytics at State Street, one of the world’s largest custodian banks, and later at TCorp, the New South Wales Government’s investment fund.

I hold a Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) from the University of Technology, Sydney, an MBA from Macquarie University, and the CIPM designation from the CFA Institute. That background gives me a way of looking at the telecom industry that comes from investment research, not just personal frustration with roaming charges.

I’ve travelled to more than 70 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and I’ve lived abroad in both Hong Kong and Singapore. Along the way I’ve tested eSIMs and physical SIM cards from dozens of providers — in major cities and in places with patchy signal — and that hands-on testing directly shapes how I build BazTel’s product, including one-click installation with no QR code required.

I launched BazTel on 1 July 2024 to solve a problem I kept running into myself: finding reliable, affordable mobile data in a new country shouldn’t be this complicated. BazTel is a single-founder company, and I write every article on this blog myself, drawing on my own trips, my own SIM testing, and my finance and telecom research background.

Professional Accomplishments

Former Head of Investment Analytics at State Street
Senior Manager at TCorp, the NSW Government's investment fund
Travelled to 70+ countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
Lived and worked abroad in Hong Kong and Singapore
Personally tested eSIMs and SIM cards across all major travel regions
Founded BazTel on 1 July 2024

Education

Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours), University of Technology, Sydney
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Macquarie University

Certifications

CIPM — Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement, CFA Institute

Recent Posts

How to Use WhatsApp With a Data-Only Travel eSIM

Quick answer: Yes. WhatsApp works fine on a data-only travel eSIM, as long as your account is already verified. WhatsApp only needs a phone number once, during setup. After that, […]

Vietnam’s 5G Rollout: Which Network Actually Reaches Your eSIM

Ask any Vietnam eSIM provider which network you’ll connect to. Most will say “5G/4G on Viettel, Vinaphone, and MobiFone” without blinking. That’s technically true and slightly misleading at the same […]

AIS vs DTAC vs True: Thailand’s Three-Way Network Race Explained

AIS wins on raw coverage, especially outside Bangkok. True, which absorbed dtac, sits close behind in the cities and now shares a good chunk of AIS’s rural reach too. That’s […]

Dual eSIM vs. eSIM Plus Physical SIM: Which Setup Is Right for You

Quick answer: if your home carrier’s eSIM implementation is solid, run dual eSIM. It’s cleaner, and you can drop a local data plan next to your main line in seconds. […]

48 Best Things to Do in Dubai: A Traveler’s Honest Guide to the City, the Desert, and the Coast

Why This Guide Is Different Most lists of things to do in Dubai read like they were written from a hotel lobby. I’ve landed at DXB more times than I […]

Currency Swings and Street Vendors: The Real Cost of a Local SIM in South America

A prepaid SIM in Buenos Aires or São Paulo looks cheap on the receipt. Two dollars. Five dollars. Sometimes less than a coffee back home. That number is the trap. […]