Vodafone’s connectivity has been directly integrated into Kigen’s iSIM Secure Package on the user’s selected chipset or module, making the process of scaling seamless for enterprises.

Vodafone worked with Irish integrated SIM (iSIM) technology company Kigen to reduce the time and operational burden involved for enterprises in developing IoT products and services. This has resulted in the two companies’ iSIM technology being commercially available directly on multiple chipsets, with delivery times faster than previous generations of SIM.

Vodafone’s global connectivity footprint of more than 180 countries adds to the speed at which businesses can manufacture once and ship globally. This optimisation is a direct result of learnings derived from the increasing demand for Kigen’s iSIM and Vodafone Business IoT managed connectivity (www.vodafone.com/business/products/iot-connectivity/managed-iot-connectivity) across numerous industries, such as wearables, smart health devices, asset tracking, water monitoring, and industrial and commercial metering, which require long battery life of around ten years or more.

Integrated SIM, or iSIM (kigen.com/products/isim), is step forward in the evolution of the SIM and is used in IoT devices to connect to the mobile network. ISIM enables the functionality of a SIM card to be securely integrated with the chip and delivers a time-to-market advantage for those looking to build connected devices, as well as allowing devices to be more compact with enhanced tamper-resistance and security.

Consolidation of chip components inherent to iSIM technology reduces costs associated with sourcing individual components of the SIM, export or import costs, and time invested in negotiating individual agreements with suppliers, which is often a significant proportion of product development. Streamlining iSIM integration during manufacturing automates connectivity upon deployment, reducing costs associated with manual installation and energy consumption, and helping reduce carbon footprint.

“We’re delighted to further our collaboration with Kigen, providing worldwide iSIM connectivity to more customers in more countries, as well as hyperscaling our managed connectivity service,” said Erik Brenneis, CEO of Vodafone IoT. “Vodafone Business IoT has built a best-in-class iSIM connectivity service which is especially beneficial for applications – such as smart meters and tracking devices – that use our low power, wide area [LPWA] IoT networks. Our integrated SIM can help businesses across almost every industry simplify their production processes, reduce their costs and help them to save on energy costs, as well as giving them access to secure and reliable connectivity wherever they operate across the globe. We look forward to scaling our iSIM service with new emerging technologies.”

Vincent Korstanje, CEO of Kigen, added: “Enterprises with a global focus are leading the charge for rapid iSIM integration, emphasising speed to market as a vital factor in their product strategy. With Vodafone Business IoT, Kigen’s innovative iSIM Secure Package empowers manufacturers to distribute devices at scale, eliminating the traditional wait for SIMs, setting a new benchmark in secure IoT.”

An Arm-founded company, Kigen (kigen.com) flexibly empowers OEMs with the digital delivery of secure iSIM packages for out-of-the-box LPWAN connectivity from network providers in more than 200 countries on trusted IoT chipsets and modules.

Vodafone (www.vodafone.com) provides mobile and fixed services to more than 330 million customers in 15 countries, partners with mobile networks in 45 more and has one of the world’s largest IoT platforms.

• Kigen has announced the availability of its eSIM IoT remote manager for managing large IoT and consumer eSIM fleets. This market-ready product complies with the latest GSMA SGP.32 v1.2 specification, and is compatible with Kigen eSIM consumer OS and with existing operator subscription manager data preparation services.