eSIMs Changing The Customer Experience In 5G Era
The GSMA forecasts that by 2025, 35 per cent of all smartphone network connections will be made using eSIM technology. With a traditional SIM card, the subscriber must insert a physical element into their device. With eSIM technology there is no need for physical manipulations: the eSIM is soldered into the device’s motherboard during manufacturing. Rewritable and compatible with all leading carriers, eSIMs enable interoperability and remote eSIM profile provisioning on any device. Today, most recent high-end phones are eSIM-enabled and the numbers have been growing at a faster pace.
These days, it is much easier to find a mobile network that supports eSIM services. It is just a matter of time before eSIM becomes the standard. In the UK, for example, you can choose eSIM from EE, O2, and Vodafone; in the US, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless all support eSIM.
As the eSIM takes up less space, it allows for thinner devices, permitting more durability, simpler form-factors, and water-resistance. Beyond these practical considerations, eSIM technology brings a lot of benefits: enabling new connectivity services and further digitisation of the subscriber journey.
eSIM is powering a shift in how consumers get connected. Since the eSIM is embedded into the device, the setup of the eSIM device is much simpler: no need to insert a SIM card, no need to retrieve it at a retail store or to wait for it to arrive in the mail; the device can be instantly and remotely activated, and provisioned with an eSIM profile.
eSIM brings subscribers a true out-of-the-box experience, especially if combined with remote identity verification techniques. Subscribers can browse different subscription plans directly on the device
through the carrier’s app or web page, complete the enrolment process and provide proofs of identity, by scanning ID documents and submitting their biometrics with the phone camera (no need to go to a shop to prove one’s identity), then instantly download the eSIM profile onto the device for remote eSIM activation.
Instant connectivity
As a result, consumers can contract a mobile connectivity plan and use it immediately, anytime and anywhere—from the comfort of their home or on-the-go, such as in public transportation, or when travelling abroad.
“Just-in-time” management of eSIM profiles enables subscribers to dynamically manage eSIM profiles and modify them until the last moment prior to the download on the device and the eSIM activation. This means that subscribers can choose their PIN code or phone number at the very moment they enrol and activate a new device for a truly personalised and instantaneous service.
eSIM technology also facilitates the addition of “companion” devices. When owning multiple devices (for instance a smartwatch, or a tablet, plus a smartphone), it can sometimes be complicated to activate them with a traditional cellular plan. With eSIM, subscribers can add other devices on a single contract more easily than with traditional SIMs, by quickly scanning a single QR Code, for example. This makes it easy for consumers to link other devices or phone lines to their main mobile subscription plan, such as opening a connection for their children. Each cellular connection remains independent but linked to the “master” subscription. It’s also an interesting opportunity to take advantage of bundle subscriptions under one offer.
When travelling abroad, connectivity can be an issue. Searching for a free Wi-Fi network is time-consuming and using paid Wi-Fi services in a hotel or a coffee bar can prove to be costly. Furthermore, public Wi-Fi networks are often less secure than cellular 3G, 4G, or 5G networks that provide data encryption, authentication, and cryptographic mechanisms.
But searching for a pay-as-you-go SIM in an unfamiliar country can be tricky. More than 25 per cent of business trips are just a day long: why waste time struggling to get a physical SIM card each time for such a short trip?
eSIM technology enables subscribers to stay connected globally, while ensuring simple, hassle-free and secure connection. Upon arrival in their destination country, users can get mobile connectivity by simply scanning a QR code linked to a local operator. The local mobile subscription is downloaded and activated in a flash directly on the device with remote eSIM activation.
This always-on connectivity is not only useful when traveling abroad. One of the core advantages of eSIM technology resides in the associated remote activation capabilities, which enables instant profile download on a device for always-on connectivity. Indeed, many situations—from work assignments to personal emergencies—require reliable connectivity.
Try before you buy
The “Try and Buy” business model allows customers to test a service for a fixed amount of time before engaging with a paid subscription. Until now, the mobile connectivity industry had not widely embraced this trend, but eSIM could make it easier for mobile operators to propose such services, thus enabling their customers to better understand their value and their additional benefits. “Try and Buy” connectivity offerings could support the adoption of 5G services such as streaming, gaming, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
Author
Matthew Foxton, India Regional President & Executive Vice-President, Branding & Communications, IDEMIA
