Is One Throat to Choke Obsolete?

The traditional concern of relying on a single MNO is mitigated by the MVNO’s ability to provide continuous, optimized connectivity across multiple networks. This creates a more resilient and customer-centric service.

While we covered the story well at IoT Evolution last month with the likes of amop, Datablaze, floLive, iQSIM, and Kajeet representing the new paradigm, elsewhere there is serious eSIM myopia. The ability for MVNOs to leverage eSIMs and SGP.32 to dynamically switch between MNO networks based on real-time quality of service is a game-changer. This effectively transforms them from simple resellers to agile service orchestrators.

I was wandering around the web and came across a product analysis that seemed to be missing a major part of the innovation of eSIM’s adoption and the impact of SGP 32 on IoT. Mind you, I was guilty of this myself just a year ago when I was rating SIM Management Platforms. Using the analysis of the past, I missed the major change that eSIM enabled.

I believe eSIM has shifted the benefits of working with an MNO in favor of MVNOs. You see, the MVNOs, at least in the United States, are partnering with all the MNOs and are using their eSIM implementation as a kind of middleware to select the MNO by current quality of service. This means the customer gets the best solution at all times.

So, the old adage of wanting one throat to choke if the service goes down is no longer as much of a threat since the MVNO is moving traffic dynamically.  In theory, that means the MVNO has already solved the problem before your hands grasp the neck. This change is also what is enabling private networking to bring hybrid solutions to campus environments.

Why This Matters for IoT

• Reliability and Coverage: For IoT deployments, especially in critical applications, reliable and ubiquitous connectivity is paramount. eSIMs and MVNOs enable this by ensuring devices are always connected to the strongest available signal.
• Global Deployments: For companies deploying IoT devices globally, eSIMs simplify logistics and enable seamless roaming across multiple countries and networks.  
• Flexibility and Scalability: MVNOs can offer more flexible and scalable connectivity solutions tailored to the specific needs of IoT deployments, whether it’s low-bandwidth sensor data or high-bandwidth video streaming.
• Private Network integration: Private networks can now be augmented with public networks in a much more fluid way.

The eSIM Myopia

Many analyses focus on the technical aspects of eSIMs, such as the SGP.22 and SGP.32 specifications, without considering their broader strategic implications. There is a tendency to view eSIMs as simply a more convenient way to manage SIM cards, rather than a disruptive technology that is reshaping the telecommunications industry.

It is easy to get caught up in the technology, and miss the business implications of the technology.

Further Considerations

• The Role of Cloud Platforms: Cloud platforms are playing an increasingly important role in managing eSIM deployments and providing value-added services, such as device management and data analytics.
• Security Implications: While eSIMs offer enhanced security features, they also introduce new security challenges, such as the need to protect the eSIM profile from unauthorized access.
• Regulatory Landscape: The regulatory landscape surrounding eSIMs is still evolving, and businesses need to stay informed of the latest developments.

In conclusion, eSIM myopia often pervades discussions about this technology. By focusing on the strategic implications of eSIMs, particularly their impact on MVNOs and IoT, we can gain a more complete understanding of their transformative potential.