The switch to eSIM technology will change the way we use our phones

The days of the SIM card are numbered. Pretty soon the hassle of fiddling with SIM cards to swap them into new phones and other devices will be behind us. This is thanks to the advent of eSIM technology.

“eSIMs are virtual SIM cards that are embedded and preinstalled on compatible devices, removing the need for the insertion of traditional plastic SIM cards,” explains Ciara O’Reilly, head of product, propositions and customer value management at Three Ireland. “Unlike traditional removable SIM cards, eSIMs enable customers to seamlessly transition from one Three device to another by eliminating the need to buy a physical SIM card from a Three store or wait for one to be delivered. This allows users to activate their devices digitally. All you need to do is scan a QR code to set up a new device with the same profile as your old one.”

There is also a reduced risk of SIM card damage. “Traditional SIM cards can be fragile and prone to damage if inserted or removed frequently,” she points out. “With eSIMs, there’s no physical card to worry about, reducing the risk of damaging the card or the device’s card slot.”

The technology offers considerable benefits for businesses as well as individual users. “It means that onboarding new people can be done remotely,” she says. “A business can configure its entire estate of phones and other devices remotely and they don’t have to get people to come back into the office for changes to the configuration of their phones. And there are more automated activation processes coming down the line.”

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She cites the example of a large company with 1,100 end users. “They would usually need to set up phones and SIMs on their premises if they are changing provider or configuration. Now they can configure all those devices remotely without the need for the service provider to be present. That delivers significantly reduced operational costs.”

The benefits don’t stop there. “They offer brilliant cost savings. All the costs of manufacturing, distribution and managing SIMs are eliminated. That’s great for manufacturers. They can come up with sleeker, thinner devices because there is no need for a SIM drawer on the side. There is an environmental benefit as well, as there is no need to ship or distribute physical SIM cards. That reduces plastic waste.”

Security is also improved. “One of the other things people might not be aware of is the added security offered by an eSIM,” says O’Reilly. “It can’t be tampered with or reset or wiped. Even a factory reset won’t wipe an eSIM. This makes the phone easier to track and trace as you can’t just take out the SIM. If someone does steal your phone, you can shut down your profile really quickly and wipe it and manage it remotely. That is an added security benefit that everyone will find useful. It also allows more security layers to be put on if you want. Also, because eSIM technology is industry standard, it is much easier for businesses to stay up to date with the latest security solutions.”

The technology has been used for a long time in internet of things (IoT) devices, she adds. “They simplify the process of managing a large number of remote connected devices. They offer lower maintenance costs as you don’t have to replace a SIM every few years in a device with a 10-year battery. It much more closely matches the SIM with the lifecycle of the device. Also, there are really small form factors in IoT and there is not a lot of space for a physical SIM card. This has applications for the automotive, healthcare and logistics sectors as well as for smart cities.”

Mobile phone users will be able to have multiple profiles on their device at the same time. “You can have a business profile and flip to your personal profile at different times. It will also be much easier to change carriers. That will change the model for the industry a bit. Customers will be able to go to a new carrier very simply. It could change how we all use our phones. In future you might be able to go to one carrier for data and another for voice. If you go abroad outside of the free roaming area in the EU, you will be able to go to a local carrier for mobile service for the period you are there and put a voice message on your Irish phone number to inform callers of your temporary overseas number. We’ve yet to see how it’s going to pan out. It will open up a fascinating set of possibilities.”