Introduction

With the spread of IoT devices, there is a growing need for remote management of SIM cards.

eSIM​ ​remote provisioning is a technology that remotely and securely rewrites a SIM 's communication profile, reducing on-site work and increasing communication flexibility and efficiency.

In this column, we will organize the differences and characteristics of the three representative models: the M2M model, the consumer model, and the IoT model, and provide a detailed explanation of the IoT model, whichthe mechanism of is attracting particular attention.

M2M model

Target: IoT devices managed collectively by a company (e.g., factory equipment, surveillance cameras, in-vehicle devices, etc.)
Features:

• ・Contract directly with telecommunications carriers and build a dedicated management system
• ・Profiles are distributed via SM-DP (Subscription Manager Data Preparation)
• - Devices automatically receive and apply profiles, eliminating the need for manual intervention

merit:

• ・High operational efficiency due to the ability to deploy and manage a large number of devices at once
• ・It is easy to maintain a stable communication environment, making it suitable for long-term use by businesses.

Consumer Model

Target: Personal devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches
Features:

• - Users can download the profile themselves using a QR code or a dedicated app.
• - Flexible profile management is possible using SM-DP+ (Subscription Manager Data Preparation Plus)

merit:

• - Users can easily switch carriers
• ・Flexible support when traveling abroad or changing rate plans

IoT model (SGP.32 compliant)

Target: Various IoT devices for agriculture, logistics, smart cities, etc.
Features:

• ・A design concept that is intermediate between M2M and consumer
• ・Operate in combination with SM-DP+ and LPA (Local Profile Assistant)
• ・In some cases, direct contracts with telecommunications carriers are not required, making implementation easy

merit:

• -Excellent flexibility and scalability, enabling it to be used in a variety of use cases
• ・It is expected to become a mainstream model in future IoT developments.

Summary

There are three remote provisioning models available depending on the application and operation mode:

• ・M2M model: This model is designed for IoT devices that are centrally managed by companies and is suitable for mass deployment and stable operation. It requires a direct contract with a telecommunications carrier and allows automatic profile application.

• Consumer model: Ideal for personal devices such as smartphones and tablets. Users can download their own profiles and switch carriers flexibly.

• IoT model: Designed to be positioned between M2M and consumer, it is compatible with a wide range of IoT devices, including those for agriculture, logistics, and smart cities. With excellent flexibility and scalability, it is expected to become a mainstream model in the future.

Each model requires unique components and operational design, so when implementing it, it is to select a model that suits the use case and to prepare the telecommunications carrier, equipment, and operating conditions​important .

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About Connect SIM by macnica

Connect SIM by macnica is a communication service for IIoT (Industrial IoT) provided by Macnica.

We offer customized communication plans for NTT Docomo lines and multi-carrier SIM cards tailored to your needs.

We contribute to optimizing communication costs by proposing flexible communication plans that suit our customers' usage.

We also provide samples for verification free of charge, so please feel free to contact us.