German firm Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Sony Semiconductor Israel are launching the first commercial iSIM that supports remote SIM provisioning.

The integrated SIM (iSIM) is an important evolutionary step in SIM technology, empowering simple and cost-efficient connection, deployment and go-to-market for IoT devices.

The iSIM, or integrated Universal Integrated Circuit Card (iUICC), has the potential to makes devices more flexible and efficient. It is cost-optimised, smaller, more adaptable and sustainable than previous-generation SIMs and will complement established options such as the pluggable SIM and eSIM.

G+D and Sony are now taking iSIM development a step further by introducing a secure offering that is designed for remote SIM provisioning (RSP), enabling seamless over-the-air activation and management of SIM profiles. This allows for flexibility to choose the respectively preferred cellular network throughout the lifespan of an IoT device, while offering the most cost-effective option over its lifetime, according to a recent whitepaper from Transforma Insights (transformainsights.com/news/white-paper-esim-isim-cost-saving).

The capability to set profiles depending on the device’s location simplifies the global scaling of deployments. Additionally, RSP helps streamline production, storage and logistics processes to enhance operational efficiency.

The offering is based on Sony’s iSIM-enabled ALT1350 chipset, which supports standardised and future-proof RSP. G+D’s secure SIM operating system (OS) is stored in a tamper-resistant element (TRE) within a system-on-a-chip (SoC), unlike insertable SIM cards or soldered eSIMs. It acts as an isolated hardware component combined with a baseband chipset to form a single connectivity module.

With less hardware, the iSIM enables the production of small, lightweight and therefore cost-effective devices, and the optimised energy consumption increases device efficiency. Security is provided by the isolated hardware combined with G+D’s secure and certified SIM OS. Production and warehousing processes can be optimised because there is no need to solder different hardware components or plug SIM cards into the device. Finally, iSIMs also support higher sustainability requirements, with the absence of slots, additional housings or plastic.

Due to its low power consumption and small size, the iSIM is suitable for battery-constrained IoT devices operating in LPWANs through NB-IoT or LTE-M technologies. Wearables are also among the potential applications. Typical use cases can be found in market segments such as smart metering, agtech, smart health, tracking and tracing, and the entire spectrum of massive IoT.

With AirOn360 central SIM management, G+D provides a service for over-the-air administration of iSIMs. It supports both remote SIM provisioning of network operator-specific data and update management. This complies with GSMA RSP specifications for consumer, M2M and IoT applications and helps OEMs or device owners manage the iSIM lifecycle efficiently and securely.

RSP in accordance with the new GSMA SGP.32 standard for M2M and IoT use cases empowers IoT device operators with flexibility in their choice of mobile network operators. This allows them to choose the optimal provider in terms of cost, service quality or network coverage, for example.

“As market leader in eSIM, G+D has been investing in the research and development of iSIM technology for a long time,” said Bernd Müller, head of IoT technology at G+D. “Together with industry partners, we want to accelerate SIM innovation. A good example for this is our cooperation with Sony, under which we are now announcing the industry’s first commercial iSIM with remote SIM provisioning. This pioneering achievement empowers our customers to unlock the full potential of the IoT with flexible and cost-optimised connectivity. We are convinced that this will be another important milestone in the iSIM evolution.”

Dima Feldman, vice president at Sony Semiconductor Israel (altair.sony-semicon.com), added: “This marks another joint success between Sony and G+D. The iSIM is poised to reshape the future of IoT in which everything is connected. Our ALT1350 baseband chipset combined with G+D’s SIM operating system and management, has led to a powerful, simple and secure IoT connectivity management system that will drive the market forward.”

G+D (www.gi-de.com) is a security technology group headquartered in Munich. It was founded in 1852. In 2022, the company generated with more than 12,600 employees a turnover of €2.53bn. G+D is represented by 103 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 33 countries.