BICS has launched eSIM Hub, a platform to help IoT businesses, manufacturers and OEMs reduce the complexity of managing eSIM connectivity globally.

This is an orchestration platform that empowers IoT players with international deployments to manage devices globally and seamlessly. The platform works alongside BICS’ SIM for Things global roaming IoT connectivity to provision, manage and even switch connectivity for eSIMs. It will address problems such as permanent roaming restrictions and provide a unified option for roaming and local IoT connectivity with one eSIM, one platform, one contract and one invoice.

The launch coincides with the upcoming GSMA IoT standard SGP.32 for remote SIM provisioning. This standard will formalise the role of IoT connectivity providers, creating three distinct roles: network operator, reseller and a new entity, the eSIM orchestrator.

BICS’s eSIM Hub is purpose-built to play this role on a global scale, managing device profiles and connectivity from dozens of operators through a single pane of glass, supporting eSIM deployment on a technical, operational and commercial level.

IoT offerings are often not affected by permanent roaming restrictions, but in certain markets around the world, restrictions might apply. These measures are generally intended as an effective way of protecting local operators’ revenues in the case of traditional permanent roamers, disconnecting them after a certain period of time. However, in some global IoT use cases, they can impact the ability of enterprises to deploy their IoT devices globally. This in turn impacts local operators’ ability to monetise their networks for IoT. The eSIM Hub allows manufacturers to optimise device connectivity across various networks, while protecting local operator revenues.

“IoT promises to make businesses more connected than ever, but technical barriers and international borders add layers of complexity,” said Luc Vidal-Madjar, head of IoT and roaming at BICS (bics.com). “Our eSIM Hub combined with our global IoT connectivity, SIM for Things, removes these barriers, making it simple for businesses to seamlessly deploy and monetise IoT.”

The eSIM Hub delivers seamless global coverage, connecting IoT devices to the best available local networks across 190 countries and over 700 operators, including key regions such as North America, Mexico, Brazil and China. Using eUICC SIM cards and over-the-air (OTA) provisioning, devices can effortlessly switch between global and local networks, ensuring consistent performance and scalable, compliant and cost-effective deployments. Additionally, eSIM Hub simplifies operations with a single portal, a single API library, unified billing and single-contract management, eliminating the complexities of managing multiple platforms, agreements and regional contracts.

“The rapid expansion of IoT use cases presents an incredible opportunity for businesses to unlock new revenue streams,” said Rajdip Gupta, business lead at BICS’s parent company Proximus Global (www.proximus.com/proximus-global.html). “The eSIM Hub is a game-changer, empowering enterprises to manage global IoT deployments effortlessly with advanced orchestration technology. Our mission is to push the boundaries of innovation in the IoT space, simplifying global IoT integration and making it more accessible for enterprises worldwide.”