NTT Com Initiates Japan’s 1st eSIM Proof of Concept for MVNOs

NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), the ICT solutions and international communications business within the NTT Group has started conducting an embedded SIMs (eSIMs) PoC to confirm the connection and Remote SIM Provisioning on the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) in July 2017.

NTT Com has built an environment for the Remote SIM Provisioning on NTT Com’s MVNE platform in Hong Kong, and the environment compliant to GSMA architecture supports both M2M and consumer models.

The GSMA is promoting the standardization of M2M and consumer models for eSIMs. NTT Com, aiming at the early implementation of its own M2M and consumer models, decided to launch its verification tests before any other MVNO in Japan.

A traditional SIM cards used up to now have fixed SIM profile that operator/consumer cannot rewrite/change a SIM profile while they are using. With an eSIM technology, however, can be remotely rewritten/changed for specific purposes without having to replace the SIM card.

The advantages include:

•Access to preferred mobile networks when users travel overseas
•OEMs can optimize logistics and stocking by manufacturing connected devices independent of the country of destination
•Reduce the influence of overseas communication restrictions, such as permanent roaming prohibitions

M2M Model verification:

With the eSIM equipped IoT device/modem, the operator issues a command to the subscription manager server to control the eSIM remotely. OTA (Over-The-Air) is used to download, change, activate, deactivate and remove the profile on eSIM. The test is to confirm the significant benefit that eSIM on the device can be provisioned in any country after they have been shipped and sold.

Consumer Model verification:

With the eSIM equipped consumer device, the consumer selects the mobile service/plan for the device to download the specific SIM profile, and then confirms if communication is success. In actual use case, the consumer device could be a smart watch, mobile computer, etc.

Embedded Technology Verification:

NTT Com is conducting joint research with partners that offer embedded technologies which could be combined with eSIMs, for example, to realize secure communication.

eSIM-PoC-diagram

Going forward, NTT Com will leverage know-how attained with the verification test to consider developing highly convenient mobile services that support the global businesses of customers.

NTT Communications provides consultancy, architecture, security and cloud services to optimize the information and communications technology (ICT) environments of enterprises.