According to a recent announcement, AT&T is working with Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security (G+D), collaborating with Altair Semiconductor (News - Alert), to integrate a SIM into the modem chipset for deployment across licensed Low-Power Wide-Area cellular networks.
Right now, manufacturers buy Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) cards for IoT devices. The SIMs securely identify and authenticate the subscriber for the mobile network -- just like for a smartphone.
With the integrated SIM, this model changes. The integrated SIM is designed to securely embed SIM functionality into the chipset, processor and other module components to enable modules to power smaller, less costly and more energy-efficient IoT devices.
This solution integrates G+D’s industry-leading SIM solution with Altair's ALT1250 chipset and AT&T (News - Alert)'s nationwide U.S. LTE-M network. We expect to make the integrated SIM commercially available by the first half of 2019.
“This advance represents the next generation of secure SIM solutions for the IoT,” said Cameron Coursey, VP, IoT Solutions, AT&T. “We expect the design to enable wide acceptance by other operators and to become mainstream as the IoT takes off globally.”
“The combination of G+D's Secure SIM Operating System, coupled with AT&T's global leadership in the IoT space and Altair's ALT1250 chip will pave the way for the accelerated deployment of IoT devices.” said Bernd Mueller, Head of the Connectivity & Device Solutions Division, G+D Mobile Security.