BICS has partnered Thales to simplify eSIM integration for the IoT.

The partnership takes the simplicity of consumer eSIMs to the broader IoT while further streamlining connectivity activation for enterprises.

This should unlock the potential of IoT for enterprises by removing barriers to eSIM adoption within IoT devices. Thales has engineered eSIM activation for IoT devices and is working with BICS as a connectivity provider.

Despite eSIMs growing increasingly common in modern smartphones, enterprises have struggled to adopt eSIMs for IoT devices, such as smart meters or smart appliances, due to the level of integration required with mobile operators. To solve this, Thales and BICS are removing the need for complex integrations with mobile network operators, allowing the eSIM to connect directly to an operator’s remote SIM provisioning platform.

This approach is proven in the consumer electronics space and is now bringing ease of use to IoT implementation. Therefore, the eSIM connectivity activation service allows for simplified logistics and manufacturing due to the need for only a single SKU. Installation, too, is faster and less complex. Particularly, locations with uneven coverage will benefit from the flexibility connectivity activation offers. Enterprises developing IoT-connected devices can now integrate eSIMs with less investment, effort and deployment time.

“This new IoT eSIM solution will be a major turning point in the industry,” said Thierry Uguen, head of product portfolio management IoT at Thales. “With our IoT connectivity activation service, we have drastically optimised the costs and efforts needed for the mobile industry to manage the SIM profiles on IoT devices. We are excited that BICS is joining us as a partner for connectivity activation. Together, we aim to pioneer an open ecosystem of eSIM for IoT, finally enabling enterprises to unlock the huge potential of eSIMs. BICS is the right connectivity partner to support our customers with international IoT deployments. They share our goal of unlocking the power of IoT for enterprises.”

As an essential global connectivity partner, BICS will support this ecosystem by enabling the provisioning of eSIMs inside Thales Cinterion modules. These modules can then connect to mobile network operators anywhere in the world with the Thales IoT connectivity activation service.

With a global coverage for any IoT technology (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE-M and NB-IoT) and its SIM for Things, BICS aims to make enterprises’ global IoT projects even more simple and reliable. Fostering easy, flexible global connectivity will help enterprises take that missing step to scale their international IoT projects towards success.

“This partnership is hugely exciting for BICS and the industry as a whole,’ said Luc Vidal-Madjar, head of M2M and IoT business at BICS. “Removing the obstacles for eSIM management with IoT devices will lead to far broader adoption of eSIMs in the industry and will finally allow eSIMs to deliver on their long-awaited promise of greater flexibility for IoT connectivity. Unlocking eSIM use in this way will be a critical step in supporting bigger and bolder global IoT deployments. For consumers and enterprises, this will ultimately bring massive IoT closer to becoming a reality. This in turn will mean large numbers of new smart products for end-users and promising new business opportunities such as for Industry 4.0, smart metering, smart cities or connected alarm systems.”