G+D and Sony Enable Remote iSIM Provisioning
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) and Sony Semiconductor Israel (Sony) are set to launch the first commercial iSIM solution 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 Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
The iSIM, or integrated Universal Integrated Circuit Card (iUICC), has the potential to revolutionize IoT and makes devices more flexible and efficient. It is cost-optimized, smaller, more adaptable and sustainable than previous generations of SIMs and will complement established solutions such as the pluggable SIM and eSIM. As the world’s first providers, G+D and Sony are now taking iSIM development a step further by introducing a secure solution that is specifically designed for remote SIM provisioning (RSP), enabling seamless over-the-air activation and management of SIM profiles. This allows for high flexibility to choose the respectively preferred cellular network throughout the long lifespan of an IoT device, while also offering the most cost-effective solution over its lifetime, according to a recent whitepaper from Transforma Insights.
The new solution is based on the iSIM-enabled ALT1350 chipset by Sony, which now supports standardized 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 that is combined with a baseband chipset to form a single connectivity module.
Bernd Müller, Head of Technology and Strategy in the connectivity & IoT business at G+D, said “As market leader in eSIM, G+D has been investing in the research and development of iSIM technology for a long time. 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-optimized connectivity. We are convinced that this will be another important milestone in the iSIM evolution.”
Dima Feldman, VP Product Management & Marketing at Sony Semiconductor Israel said, “This solution 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 solution, has led to a powerful, simple, and secure IoT connectivity management system that will drive the market forward.”
