Deutsche Telekom, Qualcomm Technologies, module maker Quectel and Redtea Mobile are introducing an implementation of NuSim, an integrated SIM for IoT applications.
 
NuSin has no physical SIM, making it suitable for mobile IoT applications when cost and power-efficiency paired with design advantages are important.
 
“The NuSim initiative was introduced by Deutsche Telekom at the beginning of last year and quickly adopted by leading IoT industry players around the world,” said Rami Avidan, responsible for IoT at Deutsche Telekom. “Meanwhile, it has moved from concept stage to real implementations from various partners. This is another exciting step forward, as NuSim will bring important cost and design benefits to our IoT device partners.”
 
The NuSim functionality has been fully integrated on a Qualcomm chipset in accordance with Deutsche Telekom’s open specification. It consists of a NuSim operating system from Redtea Mobile in a Quectel BG95-M3 module, which contains a Qualcomm 9205 LTE modem.
 
“NuSim provides an optimised SIM function integrated into the chipset itself, thus removing related logistics, stock keeping and feeding efforts and adding design advantages due to the saved space on the PCB and ultimately in the IoT device,” said Hamid-Reza Nazeman, country manager for Germany at Qualcomm. “The implementation also includes a dedicated provisioning process to help protect size-optimised operator profiles of less than 500byte that can be downloaded to the device anywhere in the value chain.”
 
Qualcomm is using its QTEE trusted execution environment to enable NuSim directly on its 9205 LTE modem.
 
“The NuSim operating system has been developed by us according to Deutsche Telekom’s open specification,” said Xiaodong Guo, vice president at Singapore-based Redtea Mobile. “It provides all functionality to receive an encrypted NuSim profile and securely process the contained elements so the result delivers the functionality of the classical SIM. An important aspect of our vision is to provide new and innovative features to IoT devices for easy deployment and ubiquitous connectivity. Together with our partners we have worked in this initiative to demonstrate our value in the shared ecosystem.”
 
Quectel Wireless has securely integrated the Qualcomm 9205 LTE modem and NuSim OS into its BG95-M3 LTE Cat M1, Cat NB2 and EGPRS module to create a low-power product.
 
“The result is ideally suited for a wide range of IoT applications such as wireless PoS, smart metering, tracking or wearable devices, where the removal of the physical SIM component helps to reduce device size and save on cost and power consumption,” said Dominikus Hierl, senior vice president at Quectel Wireless.
 
The integrated SIM offering is dedicated to the needs of the IoT market. It makes the usual SIM component obsolete by moving the SIM function into the chipset. This creates benefits for the device’s bill of material, power consumption and overall design. Mobile operator data are added in a secure process at the time of module or device manufacturing. The end user gets instant connectivity without any additional steps. Commercial availability of NuSim is planned for later in 2020.
 
Since the introduction of NuSim, Deutsche Telekom has partnered with companies in IoT chipsets, modules and digital security. An open specification set ensures interoperability for the secure provisioning of operator credentials during module or device production. Deutsche Telekom is ready to share the technology with other operators and vendors in the IoT segment to extend the growing eco-system.
 
With the spin-off of its IoT business into an independent company as of this month, Deutsche Telekom aims to accelerate its market entry. Competitors in the IoT environment are particularly agile and have lean decision-making structures. The independent Deutsche Telekom IoT (DT IoT) is intended to strengthen Deutsche Telekom’s position in this market.
 
“As an independent company, we are more agile and can better address the fast-moving IoT market,” said Avidan, designated CEO of DT IoT.