Introduction

As IIoT devices become more widespread, there is an increasing demand for more flexible and efficient communications. In this context, one technology that is attracting attention is "remote provisioning."
Remote provisioning is a technology that remotely and securely rewrites the communication profile of a SIM card or eSIM.

This eliminates the need for physical SIM replacement, and allows you to change carriers and update settings without visiting the site.
This is an innovative system that will greatly improve operational efficiency, especially for devices such as IIoT devices that are installed in remote locations or in the hands of end users.

Conventional issues

Conventional SIM management has the following issues:

-Local work required: SIM card replacement requires local work, which incurs labor costs.

-Difficulty in responding to remote locations: If the equipment is located in a remote location, the human and time costs become a significant burden.

-It is not flexible to change carriers: It is not easy to change contracts or switch to the most suitable carrier plan, and you may need to reconfigure your equipment.

How remote provisioning works

Remote provisioning is compliant with GSMA (global mobile communications industry association) standards and works as follows:

-Store multiple profiles on an eSIM: A single eSIM can store profiles from multiple carriers.

・ SM-DP+Carrier profiles delivered from: The required profile is securely sent from the server (SM-DP+) provided by the carrier.

​- Received and applied by LPA (Local Profile Assistant): The LPA on the device receives the profile and switches appropriately.

Benefits of Remote Provisioning

Remote provisioning offers the following benefits:

-Reduced operational costs: By eliminating the need for on-site support, personnel and time costs are significantly reduced.

-Flexible switching of telecommunications carriers: You can select the optimal telecommunications plan depending on the situation.

​-Improved security: Secure communication profile management is possible in accordance with GSMA standards.

Summary

Remote provisioning is a technology that has the potential to dramatically improve the operational efficiency of IIoT devices.
This system, which eliminates the need for physical SIM card replacement and allows users to switch telecommunications carriers remotely and safely, will likely become an essential element in future IoT deployments.
In future blogs, we will delve deeper into more practical topics, such as the GSMA's latest standard, "SGP.32," specific use cases, and key points for implementation.
Please continue to read and use this information to help you implement and operate IoT.

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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.