Innovations and Disruptions: How eSIM may abolish international roaming

Uni-fi Roaming Solutions, the eSIM solutions provider for smartphones and IoT, has announced the results of the first global research project about eSIM in the context of international roaming.

The survey conducted among Mobile Network Operators globally gives understanding of the current strategic opinions and an estimated timeline for the roll-out of eSIM services.

Information on MNOs’ strategic plans for eSIM was collected from key roaming executives by ROCCO during October and November 2017 to understand the Roaming and Interconnect Industry today and to help the industry strategically with relevant and valuable findings on the position of processes, industry challenges and industry suppliers.

107 MNOs from 92 countries provided confidential data and analysed their plans and expectations for eSIM roll-out by device type and by region, as well as intentions regarding supporting eSIM for inbound and outbound roaming. The MNOs also described the opportunities and threats of consumer eSIM for the industry.

“It was important for ROCCO to gauge the reaction of MNOs to this industry initative which has effectively been introduced by device manufacturers, this change is not to be underestimated and brings into play a new way to think about mobile devices which cross international borders” says Jason Bryan CEO of ROCCO. The results indicate that from the MNO perspective consumer eSIM could eradicate the need for international roaming within the next 3-5 years suggesting that MNOs are aware of the evolution and involved in projects to bring the eSIM to the market.

Mika Alamartimo, eSIM Program Manager at UROS adds: "eSIM will provide great opportunities for MNOs to create new and innovative products and solutions for consumers. UROS is excited to be at the forefront of this ground-breaking new field, as a leading eSIM solutions provider for smartphones and IoT.