It is estimated that as of today, over 340 operators across the globe are offering commercial embedded SIM- eSIM services for smartphone users. Meanwhile, the consumer eSIM profile downloads have gone on to increase by 130% in 2023 alone, according to the Trusted Connectivity Alliance.
The accelerated eSIM momentum happens to be also underpinned due to the first eSIM-only devices hitting markets in the US- the iPhones 14 and 15- as well as the expectation for more original equipment manufacturers- OEMs to embrace an eSIM-only strategy in the coming future.
Apart from this, over three shipped smartphones are anticipated to support eSIMs from next year onwards. Moreover, OEMs such as Samsung also happen to be launching eSIM enabled smartphones within their mid-range devices.
All these combined developments make the eSIM strategy a must-have for communication service providers- CSPs such as MNOs as well as MVNOs, so as to stay ahead of the curve.
eSIM advantages as well as applications
eSIM solutions also go on to offer CSPs a distinct opportunity to fundamentally transform their business operations and, at the same time, generate new connectivity revenues.
Besides, the new wave when it comes to eSIM-enabled devices can go on to underpin telcos’ digital shift. Right from supply chain to profile management, the complete range of eSIM solutions as well as innovative end-user enrolment methodology goes on to mean that operators can now completely digitize customer journeys and also offer frictionless experiences with a range of devices.
It is well to be noted that for MNOs, eSIM technology happens to have the potential to expand subscriber acquisitions by way of allowing end-users to make sure to trial their network for free before completely committing. It can also go on to support service differentiation and, at the same time, help CSPs with a digital-first approach, i.e., placing digital tech at the heart of telecom operations as well as customers.
Throughout the wearables, the technology goes on to create a distinct opportunity for operators so as to build an overall ecosystem throughout an eSIM-enabled device having a strong opportunity for customer lock-in. With global travel back on track, eSIM goes on to create yet another opportunity so as to reactivate the silent international roamers.
The three major operational pillars
Due to this, there is indeed an increasing requirement for the telecom operators to proactively embrace strong eSIM strategies to be able to participate in the eSIM revolution and, at the same time, also meet the anticipated demand. Keeping this scenario in mind, there happen to be three key operational pillars through which one can address this growth as well as provide seamless connected experiences.
Make sure of seamless and fully digital end-user experiences
The fact is that with eSIM more readily accessible for end-users in this hyper-digital world, digital end-user experiences that are seamless happen to be imperative for MNOs in order to achieve customer satisfaction. These must go on to include rapid onboarding, seamless as well as immediate access to connectivity, along with customized services.
In order to achieve these with seamless ease, MNOs require seamless digital onboarding with electronic eKYC, and they also require efficient eSIM management solutions, thereby featuring speed when it comes to matching profiles such as mobile subscriptions with devices.
Rising market demand for eSIM will go on to quickly result in a rising number of different device traits with varying subscription profiles that may as well have to be dealt with. With regards to this, real-time profile adaptation capacity will enable the matching of the right profile with the right device. This need is even more crucial for eSIM-only devices.
For example, a 4G eSIM profile can go on to be generated from a 5G profile within the CSP’s inventory and be prepared.
Safeguard the high availability by way of scalable platforms
Given the progress in the volume of connected devices as well as the high traffic peaks, a business-critical pillar concerning the eSIM market readiness is to come up with a resilient, scalable, as well as a secure infrastructure. This can go on to be achieved with an eSIM solution that has high service level agreements- SLMs that are dependent, thereby offering continuity of operations as well as efficiencies.
By way of making use of a public cloud framework for remote SIM provisioning, operators can go on to provide subscribers the speed, comfort, along with efficiency of activating subscriptions in a remote way, specifically in cases where demand is at its peak, while at the same time keeping their secret management environment under control.
Make optimal use of supply chain management
Making sure to optimize the supply chain management systems as well as processes happens to be yet another key operational pillar that has in it efficient stock management when it comes to what is on demand by the market, and because of the many types of devices, this happens to be imperative. Without the adapted solutions, taking care of a host of different profiles for eSIM-enabled devices will go on to add cost along with complexity to the business.
Notably, as more eSIM-enabled devices hit the market, CSPs have to make sure to manage their stock of profiles in an effective way. This stock of profiles can be managed in sync with smart solutions that are especially designed to optimize use when it comes to profile stock and also, at the same time, match new profiles to e-SIM-enabled devices.
Smart profile stock management solutions that help with the reuse of existing subscriber credentials that are held on the operator’s system could go on to optimize inventory.
So as to further optimize the efficiency as well as effectiveness of their eSIM subscription rollouts, CSPs also require certain dependable and dynamic reporting on the deployment status along with their activations. In such a scenario, analytic tools can go on to help the CSPs track success rates, track device as well as service use, and also forecast stock levels along with customer behaviors.
Conclusion
eSIM Tech goes on to offer new use cases while at the same time drastically boosting the revenues of telco service. CSPs adopting the exact approach are likely to head to unprecedented success, thereby leveraging the complete potential of the evolving and also dynamic eSIM market.
The surge in the momentum behind this technology goes on to mean that it is time to prepare for the rising demand and ensure of a seamless as well as fully digital end-user experience.
In order to achieve this, CSPs require scalable and secured platforms that go on to offer high availability as well as resilient services. They also require optimized supply chain management, which offers them the right tools to manage, analyze, and optimize their rollouts and even the quality of their services.
Going forward, another area of the eSIM revolution will go on to include the IoT segment, which is anticipated to have an even greater range of use cases as well as devices, while at the same time introducing a plethora of opportunities for the telecom companies.
