Resolving eSIM complexities will clear the way for mass-market implementation

Despite the embedded SIM (eSIM) being available for consumer devices for a decade, there has been some reluctance among telecoms operators to adopt the technology due to the impact it could have on the relationships with their customers. There are also technical barriers to eSIM implementation; the ability to switch from one network provider to another is not yet at a stage where it is both easy and instantaneous.

Yet these barriers to adoption have been coming down, not least because device manufacturers and OEMs are so keen on the technology. For example, Apple have been pushing eSIM adoption because it sees applications in wearable devices where the small form factor is not suitable for traditional plastic SIM cards. It has doubled down on the technology by making the recently announced iPhone 14 an eSIM device and other device makers such as Samsung are also committed to eSIM.

How eSIM can create economies of scale

This leaves enterprise and IoT markets assessing eSIM as a means to save costs and create greater flexibility in devices. eSIM means devices don’t have to have a SIM tray for a plastic SIM and local SIM cards do not need to be installed at the point of deployment. An eSIM can simply bootstrap its own connection and access the most suitable connectivity for the device application in the location where it operates. There are obvious for a large number of machines and devices such as vending machines that change location regularly - eSIM means these can be catered for as they shift location.

Similarly, for consumer devices, eSIM means people can change operator to optimize coverage, take advantage of cost saving or operator offers and minimize downtime. The arrival of eSIM has the potential to be transformative for IoT because the ability to remotely provision SIMs over-the-air enables great flexibility. This enables customers to change their tariff or profile without having to change a physical SIM, which will help the wider industry achieve economies of scale.

eSIM implementation

These advantages are the focus of a recent Quectel Masterclass on eSim implementation, which also provides information on Quectel’s eSIM offering, its protocols and how it’s implemented. The Masterclass reveals a clear business flow diagram and helps explain the back end, the SIM profiles and the role of the hardware. This webinar is ideal for the many organizations considering eSIM solutions or those who would like to learn more about Quectel’s eSIM offering and how it's implemented.