What tips and tools can operators use in order to integrate and deploy eSIM services—fast
By Michael Moorfield, Director of Product at Truphone
When we discuss eSIM, all too often the conversation still seems to focus on that age-old concept of the SIM itself, and how we might modernise it. But eSIM technology is far more than simply finding a way to transform a stock of plastic SIM cards into something you can deliver over the internet. This is just one small element of the much wider concept of mobile transformation.
In my experience, eSIM requires three key elements to work to its maximum potential.
The first is a competent technology partner. This may sound obvious, but what is less obvious to operators is exactly what to look for in a partner. Crucially, you need someone that is going to enable you to move quickly and keep up to speed with this fast-paced technology. The very DNA of eSIM is built around speed and efficiency—removing the barriers to global connectivity. We have long believed in the benefit of eSIM for operators and see that incumbent products make things clunky and inflexible, with little to no control for networks. Our digital first model provides a clear alternative in a market led by plastic SIM manufacturers with legacy business to protect. So, if your chosen provider is unable to support you in a global roll-out to tight timelines, you need to be asking why that is.
Similarly, with a rapidly developing technology like this, standards, requirements and regulations are constantly in flux. Your chosen provider should have its finger on the pulse of any changes in the trends and trajectory of this technology. For instance, it’s essential to keep abreast of the latest GSMA specifications, and also ensure any new, high-demand devices are compatible with your solution. With every Apple device having been eSIM-compatible since 2018, and Samsung, Motorola and Microsoft also recently launching their own eSIM devices, you want to be able to offer these kinds of products as soon as they hit the shelves.
Secondly, you need a simple way to integrate this technology into your business. eSIM is not just a simple chip—it comes with a whole host of platforms and capabilities that need to interlink with your enterprise in order to reap the full benefits. Integration is not simple, but neither should it be your headache. A vendor should have the means to integrate eSIM technology (as well as Bootstrap technology and remote SIM provisioning) across all your customer touchpoints, whether that’s a point of sales system, online channels or call centres.
And lastly, it’s imperative to have insight and control over your eSIM configuration. In understanding this technology, you can better respond to new targeted propositions, observe changing behaviour in the market and respond quickly to any anomalies that might happen during your rollout.
At Truphone, we’re incredibly proud of our end-to-end eSIM platform which not only offers all of the above but was recently heralded as the most complete end-to-end eSIM solution with the best platform in the industry by Counterpoint Research. Because of this expertise, our platform is now used and trusted by over 40 operators all over the world, and through this, we have been able to eclipse ten million eSIM downloads across five continents.
After some initial resistance, mobile operators are beginning to embrace the benefits of eSIM for both their own business and their customers. In fact, Truphone’s latest research, in partnership with Mobile World Live, found that 90% of operators are planning to offer eSIM by 2025. But while operators are understanding the benefits of eSIM more and more, we appreciate that any major shift in a business model can feel imposing. That’s why we’ve recently put together a buyer’s guide that can help operators navigate eSIM—as well as 25 key questions you should be asking a potential provider.
