Thales Instant Connect: eSIM provisioning connectivity service for the IoT

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eSIM for IoT connectivity

With the demand for cellular IoT growing fast, enterprises need to scale up their capabilities by leveraging eSIM technology to streamline IoT deployment.

Currently, there are two main channels for deploying eSIM devices into the market:

#1. Consumer devices deployed without a mobile subscription loaded inside the eSIM.

When the end user purchases and powers up the device, it will not be connected to a network. The end user needs to connect the device to Wi-Fi or another device using Bluetooth and then download a mobile subscription to the eSIM.

#2. IoT devices with a mobile subscription preloaded.

In contrast, many IoT devices need cellular IoT connectivity from their first boot without human intervention.

For this reason, these devices are usually deployed with a mobile subscription preloaded (sometimes known as bootstrap) in the IoT eSIM. When the device is powered up, it will be connected to the cellular network and ready for use.

The main problem with the bootstrap solution is that the concerned IoT enterprise will likely end up managing multiple eSIM SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), one for each mobile network operator it uses.

There's more.

At the point of manufacture, the enterprise operating the IoT device needs to know where it will be deployed and preload the corresponding mobile subscription. This limits flexibility and introduces delays to the manufacturing process. Management of multiple SKUs also makes logistics more complex.

Introducing Thales Instant Connect

Thales Instant Connect removes these challenges: a single and generic subscription provisioning solution that supports all IoT devices.

Thales Instant Connect provides cellular connectivity during the first switch-on, so the device can download the final mobile subscription from a network operator once it has been deployed. 

Thales Instant Connect represents a highly convenient and innovative solution for any device.

• For IoT devices, Thales Instant Connect allows enterprises to wait until a device has been deployed before deciding which mobile network operator to use. Moreover, it enables them to serve all countries and markets with a single eSIM SKU, speeding up the manufacturing process and simplifying logistics.
• For consumer devices, it enables a straightforward user experience to access cellular connectivity, independent of either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Furthermore, thanks to Thales' innovation, Thales Instant Connect provides out-of-the-box connectivity without the need to preload a mobile subscription during device manufacturing. This helps to accelerate the build process.

The service is offered via a pay-per-use pricing model.

In other words, the enterprise pays only when the device has used the service. Therefore, if many months elapse between the device being manufactured and deployed, there is no service charge because the connectivity has not been used.

The best part?

The enterprise pays the same fee regardless of the device's geographical location.

This model is an advantage over alternative provisioning connectivity services, which typically include roaming charges plus a monthly fee for every device with a subscription.
 

Benefits for OEMs and other enterprises

• All devices can use the same eSIM SKU, simplifying manufacturing and logistics.
• The link between a device and a mobile network operator can be made during deployment, not manufacture. This improves the flexibility of logistics and helps to reduce manufacturing lead times.
• Eliminating the need to preload a mobile subscription during device manufacture further accelerates the build process.
• Provisioning connectivity costs are optimised
• Defective device costs are reduced
• The service is available worldwide via 372 roaming partners in 162 countries.

A multi-awarded mobile connectivity solution 

Thales Instant Connect won several industry awards in the past months.

2019

1. Juniper Research has been awarded the Future Digital Award 2019 for our solution.

2. Thales Instant Connect has won the IoT Global Award 2019 for Connected Health or Wearable Technology. 
3. 

The IoT Global Awards reward the most innovative IoT applications, or the apps that are most valuable or beneficial (to both user & provider) and which advance the cause of the Internet of Things.

 

2020

In January 2020, Thales Instant Connect was nominated at the GSMA's Global Mobile Awards 2020, the most prestigious award in the mobile industry, among the five finalists in the category "Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough".

Besides, Thales earned the prestigious "Global IoT Innovation Vendor of the Year" award in 2020 from the IoT Breakthrough Award program for its entire eSIM Management offer, including Thales Instant Connect. 

More resources on eSIM connectivity

• Thales Adaptive Connect
• GSMA IoT SAFE
• IoT Connectivity – Understanding the role of SIM and eSIM in IoT