With network sunsets rapidly advancing, globalisation required a unified approach to deploying connected devices, developing network technologies coming online, and a desire to maximise ROI on new technology advancements, eSIM can help support these challenges for enterprises and verticalised industries. But when searching for an eSIM that can meet the requirements of unified, future-proofed connectivity, it is important to understand the various misconceptions or misinformation around eSIM.
Even though the term eSIM stands for embedded SIMs, eSIMs are available in removable form factors as well. eSIM technology offers remote SIM provisioning capabilities which allow the user to remotely provision their eSIM cards with the required carrier profile without ever changing the physical SIM card. The physical SIM card could be embedded or removable. The key differentiator between traditional SIM technology and today’s traditional SIM technology and today’s eSIM card is the ability to provision carrier profiles remotely.
Both eSIMs and Soft SIMs require remote programming capabilities in order to switch operators. In both cases, you can add, remove, or replace SIM profiles without physically swapping the device or module you’re using. With eSIMs, you have a physical chip that holds the SIM profile information. Soft SIMs have no associated hardware – all the SIM related information is integrated into the device or modem hardware as software.
Soft SIMs involve no physical SIM card. They are 100 percent software-based and integrated inside the modem or device, whereas eSIMs have an actual physical element, which is either a removable plastic card (like a traditional SIM) or soldered onto the device, as is the case with embedded SIM cards.
The physical nature of the eSIM (compared to an all software-based approach of the soft SIM) is that this can provide a secure element within the device. IoT SAFE is a GSMA standard that creates chip-to-cloud security by using the SIM card (traditional or eSIM) as the secure hardware element.
Multi-IMSI connectivity solutions are similar to eSIM in the sense that they are capable of switching to multiple carrier networks, however with a Multi-IMSI solution this is achieved by replacing or updating the IMSI within the profile as opposed to downloading a new profile in case of an eSIM. Unlike eSIM, Multi-IMSI solutions are proprietary, with no interoperability among carriers and service providers. eSIM is a GSMA-defined remote SIM provisioning technology that is interoperable among different carriers/SIM vendors.
Built with Multi-IMSI and embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) technology, KORE OmniSIM simplifies the complexity of achieving network access for truly resilient global coverage, navigating evolving network technologies, and managing complex logistics processes for your IoT deployments with a single eSIM.
KORE OmniSIM provides global connectivity across 500 networks in 215 countries with resilient coverage through multiple available networks per country. Powered by centralised Multi-IMSI technology, you can deploy a single SIM SKU globally that supports failover connectivity by switching to another network when one is unreachable.
Want to learn more about eSIM? You can test it out for yourself by requesting our eSIM starter kit.
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