September 29, 2023
eUICC, IIoT, eSIM, iSIM, SIM, Connectivity
The embedded SIM (eSIM) and integrated SIM (iSIM) are the latest innovations in SIM technology, and they offer a number of benefits for IoT solution providers, including increased flexibility, ruggedization, security and lower costs.
The SIM card has been a staple of mobile connectivity for decades, but it has evolved significantly in recent years to meet the needs of the IoT market. The traditional SIM card is a physical, removable card that is inserted into a device. However, this design can be limiting for IoT devices, which are becoming smaller and losing the external SIM slot.
The eSIM is a digital SIM that is soldered onto a device's motherboard. This makes it more compact and durable than a traditional SIM card, and it also allows the SIM profile to be remotely updated over-the-air (OTA). In addition, it provides a degree of flexibility if a customer wants to change connectivity providers.
The iSIM is a newer technology that is still under development. It is like the eSIM, but it is integrated with the cellular modem and MCU on a single chip. This makes it even more compact and power-efficient than the eSIM. An MNO profile can be uploaded on the iSIM on the factory line, which further reduces the costs and deployment time. However, it also limits flexibility to change connectivity providers.
The eSIM is quickly becoming the preferred SIM technology for IoT devices. According to Juniper Research, the global number of IoT connections using eSIM technology will reach 195 million by 2026.
There are a number of reasons for the growing popularity of eSIMs in the IoT market. First, they are more compact and durable than traditional SIM cards, which makes them ideal for small, rugged devices. Second, they can be remotely updated over-the-air, which makes it easy to manage IoT devices in the field. Third, they offer more flexibility than traditional SIM cards, as they can be provisioned with multiple carrier profiles.
The iSIM is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize IoT connectivity. iSIMs are even more compact and power-efficient than eSIMs. In addition, iSIMs can be provisioned with multiple carrier profiles and security certificates, which makes them ideal for use in mission-critical IoT applications.
eSIMs and iSIMs offer a number of benefits for IoT solution providers, including:
• Increased flexibility: eSIMs and iSIMs can be provisioned with multiple carrier profiles, which gives IoT solution providers the flexibility to choose the best carrier for each application. This can help to reduce costs and improve performance.
• Ruggedization: eSIMs and iSIMs are more durable than traditional SIM cards, which makes them ideal for use in harsh environments. This is important for many IoT applications, such as industrial automation and asset tracking.
• Security: eSIMs and iSIMs offer enhanced security features, such as secure boot and secure storage. This helps to protect IoT devices from cyberattacks.
• Lower costs: eSIMs and iSIMs can help to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of IoT devices for large-scale deployments. This is because they do not require the use of physical SIM cards, which can be expensive to purchase and manage.
To learn more about eSIM and iSIM in IoT, you can watch the replay of our webinar, “ IoT Unlocked with eSIM and iSIM.” You can also download our whitepaper “ Unlocking the Power of eUICC for IoT Users” to learn more about the benefits of eUICC technology.
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