Working of SIM & eSIM Distant SIM Provisioning

Courtesy: Infineon

Do you surprise how a standard SIM works? At the moment, by way of this weblog, I’ll speak concerning the working strategy of SIM in addition to eSIM Distant SIM Provisioning (RSP). So, let’s leap into the techy particulars.

Working of bodily SIM playing cards

Let’s first check out the determine 1 beneath:

Did you perceive something from this given determine? Effectively, I’ll clarify it now.

Conventional SIM playing cards had been owned and issued by a specific community operator. The Determine 1.1 above showcases that an finish consumer indicators up a contract with their chosen community operator, they pay the quantity for the service and will get the bodily SIM card (Case (a)).

Later, the identical finish consumer signs-up a contract with a unique community operator, pays the service costs and will get the brand new bodily SIM card (Case (b)).

Right here, we see that if the tip consumer has to make use of (a) community or (b) community, he must swap the SIM playing cards on their very own.

eSIM distant SIM provisioning

After studying about how bodily SIM works, you have to be questioning how an eSIM differs from conventional SIMs?

Check out the picture beneath:

For distant SIM provisioning, no bodily SIM card is required, however an embedded SIM in your handset/system (additionally referred to as eUICC) – a single eSIM can accommodate and securely retailer a number of profiles in a single system and every profile includes operators in addition to subscriber’s knowledge.

Let’s see what this determine 2 explains. ­­

At first, in step (a) the tip consumer signs-up a contract with their most well-liked community operator, pays the required costs, and as a substitute of getting a bodily SIM, he receives directions to hook up with operator’s Distant SIM Provisioning system (RSP) [e.g., QR code]. This QR code incorporates the tackle of RSP system (SM-DP+ (Subscription Supervisor Information Preparation) server throughout the GSMA specs), which permits the tip consumer to obtain and set up a SIM profile (as proven in step (b)). As soon as the profile is lively, the consumer can connect with the community efficiently (as proven in step (c)).

Essential observe: In Determine 2, the tip consumer can repeat the method to put in extra profiles on a single system as proven beneath in Determine 3. This permits customers to change between profiles 1 and a pair of as per their wants.

Some necessary phrases:

Profile: A profile includes of the operator knowledge associated to a subscription. It contains knowledge like – operator’s credentials and offered third-party functions.

eUICC: Embedded Common Built-in Circuit Card (eUICC) is a safe factor within the eSIM resolution which may accommodate a number of profiles.

Profiles are all the time remotely downloaded over-the-air right into a eUICC. Though the eUICC is an integral a part of the system, the profile stays the property of the operator because it incorporates objects “owned” by the operator (Worldwide Cellular Subscriber Id (ISMI), Built-in Circuit Card ID (ICCID), safety algorithms, and many others.) and is provided beneath licence.

Therefore, the eUICC acts as a safe factor to retailer the eSIM Profiles within the system.

We now understand how conventional SIM playing cards VS embedded SIMs (eSIMs) features otherwise. Within the subsequent weblog, I’ll talk about about GSMA M2M resolution – The primary RSP resolution developed by GSM Affiliation (GSMA) for Machine to Machine (M2M) connectivity.