eSIM
An eSIM is a downloadable operator profile stored on an embedded chip, not a plastic card. Consumer devices use SGP.22 and IoT devices use SGP.32.
Definitions only — a term explained here is not a service we sell.
An eSIM is a profile stored on the eUICC inside a device, not the chip itself. The profile downloads from an SM-DP+ server once the device validates an activation code.
SGP.02 modules cannot move to SGP.32 over the air; the hardware cycle decides.
From device to subscription
- Device
- eUICC
- Profile
- Subscription
Text description
The four layers run from the device through the eUICC and the profile to the subscription. The eUICC is the secure element that stores the profile. The profile carries an operator's credentials. The subscription is the highlighted layer.
How a profile arrives
The device validates an activation code and contacts an SM-DP+ server to download the profile. A discovery service (SM-DS) can also signal that a profile is waiting. What is eSIM covers the full path.
Consumer and IoT split
Consumer devices follow SGP.22 and use an app. IoT devices follow SGP.32, which adds an eIM that manages profiles without a user interface. Confirm the specification family the device implements, whether it is GSMA-certified and whether a local profile assistant is present.