How Thales and Google Cloud are delivering a more sustainable approach to eSIM Subscription Management

Thales has reduced CO₂e emissions (Scope 2 and 3) by three to five times by switching to Google Cloud. 

Virtually all companies rely on some form of IT infrastructure. Today, many are turning to cloud-based solutions that leverage a new generation of data centres. Mobile operators are no exception, and a growing number are migrating to cloud-based connectivity and subscription platforms that provide greater flexibility, enhanced efficiency, and a smoother user experience. However, when selecting any such solution, careful consideration needs to be given to key issues that include data security and the potential impact on corporate low-carbon strategies.  

Combining security, innovation, and environmental responsibility to advance sustainable connectivity

Billions of people are already connected to mobile networks. As the IoT (Internet of Things) revolution gathers pace, billions more devices are set to join them. In the future, technologies such as the IoT and AI (Artificial Intelligence) will help tackle global challenges such as diagnosing serious diseases and addressing climate change. At the same time, there are growing concerns that digital transformation is actually driving up the output of carbon emissions, and undermining efforts to limit the rise in global temperatures.  

Data centres are part of that problem. In the US, they are expected to account for nearly half the growth in demand for electricity between now and 2030. Much of that will be driven by new AI technologies. However, any organisation using data centres needs to acknowledge its share of responsibility for the resulting CO₂e emissions.  

The Rise of the eSIM 

Before looking in detail at how Thales and Google Cloud are tackling the environmental impact of data centres, it’s worth considering another key driver of digital transformation - the eSIM. Increasingly, consumer products such as phones and smartwatches, as well as IoT devices, are using eSIMs rather than removable SIM cards to connect to mobile networks. By 2028, over half of all smartphone connections will be eSIM-enabled. On top of that, another two billion IoT eSIM connections will be added between 2024 and 2030.   

Rapid adoption of the eSIM opens the door to frictionless remote management of mobile subscriptions. And Thales On-Demand Subscription Manager is designed specifically to help operators harness those benefits – with full compliance to GSMA specifications and interoperability with any GSMA-compliant eSIM.  

Why Thales Chose Google Cloud 

So why was the Thales On-Demand Subscription Manager built to operate on Google Cloud, rather than the private cloud servers the company used prior to 2017?  

Part of the answer lies in Google Cloud’s support for a more sustainable approach to eSIM subscription management. But there’s more to it than that. While minimising environmental impact is embedded in the Thales mission, so is the company’s core value proposition: bringing trust and security to an uncertain world. In terms of eSIM connectivity, that’s reflected in Thales’ key role in establishing the GSMA’s Security Accreditation Scheme (SAS), which defines rigorous data security rules.  

Back in 2017, Google Cloud was the only cloud provider willing to take on the challenge of obtaining this demanding certification. “That played a decisive role in our choice of strategic partner,” says Pascal Di Girolamo, Product Marketing Manager for Mobile Connectivity Solutions at Thales.  

Since then, Thales and Google Cloud have worked together to implement a co-location infrastructure that meets the highest security requirements. Google Cloud provides the buildings and IT infrastructure, but only Thales employees can access equipment for updates. Thales therefore enjoys full control of security-critical processes.   

Cutting Carbon Emissions, Boosting Transparency 

When it comes to sustainability, Google Cloud data centres set the standard for energy efficiency. The best of them achieves an impressive PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) score – the standard measure for data centre energy efficiency- of just 1.1. As a result, Thales has cut its Scope 2 and 3 emissions by three to five times, following its move away from private cloud servers.  

Partnering with Google Cloud also provides Thales with greater transparency and accountability on its environmental performance. Since 2023, Thales has applied eco-design principles to all new product development. Estimating and understanding the environmental impacts is crucial to that process, and another area where Google Cloud is offering valuable support.   

“Google Cloud goes much further than other cloud players, notably by including Scope 3 in its estimates and providing customers with all the elements needed to calculate their impact and identify levers for action,” comments François Perticara, Sustainability Director for Mobile Connectivity Solutions. That data is made available via the Google Footprint Service, and entered into Jarvis, Thales’ in-house tool for monitoring the environmental impact of the company’s activities.  

“For years we have been developing independently-verified methodologies to translate our environmental ambitions into concrete actions,” François adds. “We were one of the first to do this for a digital service using a public cloud provider.”  

The Holistic Approach to eSIM Subscription Management 

Above all, Thales’ partnership with Google Cloud enables a truly holistic approach to subscription management. The Thales On-Demand Subscription Manager is a scalable SaaS (Software as a Service) solution that can manage millions of eSIMs and connected objects while ensuring maximum security through a flexible, hyper-resilient architecture and advanced cryptography. At the same time, it integrates eco-design principles that limit environmental impact. 

Working Together  

Perhaps the most positive aspect of the story is that this vision is clearly shared by many others.  

“In 2024, we received over 130 requests related to the environmental impact of our products and services. That’s a 30% increase on the previous year and confirms that environmental concerns are widespread among our customers,” says François.