What makes eSIMs so special?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

While eSIM technology has been implemented in consumer devices since 2010, the eSIMs obtained public spotlight only recently. Despite all the benefiting factors these little chips have provided, there are lots of expectations on the technology – but are they worth it?

What is an eSIM

An eSIM, or Embedded Subscriber Identification Module, is a simplified version of the traditional SIM card with a few extra perks. Both types of SIMs are used to assign a phone number to your mobile phone, provide service to that phone, and, as the name suggests, identify you as a paid subscriber to your cellular service carrier.

This technology isn’t just for your smartphone, though. Consumer eSIMs debuted in 2010 for smartwatches, connected cars, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Seven years later, the Google Pixel 2 became the first eSIM-compatible smartphone, and in 2019, the Motorola Razr was released as the first eSIM-only smartphone.

Less Hassle Than Traditional SIM Cards

As the device manufacturers sought to optimize the space available, possibly by adopting thin SIM cards, they have reduced the sizes of these physical SIM cards to something less than the size of an index finger’s tip, or even less than the credit card-sized SIM card.

Although this design effectively eliminates problems associated with widespread use, the increasingly invulnerable dimensions of SIM cards are accompanied by the increased frailty and propensity of these plastic cards, their trays, and removal tools to become lost. For many, this can make the act of changing SIM cards – the soul of your device – more like mending a mini heart surgery.

With cellphone manufacturers incorporating SIM chips into their invents, they have been able to create more space than ever before and at the same time spare you lots of headaches. Since there is no physical card these eSIMs are provisioned remotely using one of the following approaches.

The most typical ways can be by simply scanning a QR code provided by your carrier, from your mobile carrier app, or on their website, or using Apple eSIM Quick Transfer, which is the process of transferring SIM cards without involving your carrier.

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More Flexibility With Dual SIMs

Whether you own a business, want to keep your work and personal life separate, or are an avid traveller abroad, having a second phone line available can come in handy. Before eSIM technology, this was achieved by carrying around multiple phones or finding a phone that touts dual SIM slots.

Neither option is particularly great, as having two phones quickly becomes cumbersome, and multiple SIM card slots means sacrificing battery size or other components like an SD card slot. For these reasons, dual-line phones are now typically either eSIM only or have an eSIM along with a traditional SIM slot.

The switch from physical SIM cards to eSIMs has also brought about a new perk for mobile network operators. Carriers such as MTN now offer free trials, so you can try out their services while staying connected to your current provider. You can think of it as a safety net, allowing you to ensure you get the coverage and reliability you need before making the big jump.

Improved Security

In addition to creating an easier process throughout, eSIMs has also had multiple security improvements on its side as well. When there is no readily accessible card, eSIMs cannot be removed and, therefore cannot be cloned or otherwise compromised by hackers. It also makes ‘illicit’ re-sale of the phone less rewarding as it will no longer be so attractive to the thieves to a phone that costs thousands to the owners with just a single ‘call’.

It is virtually impossible to guard any device that is connected to the internet or incorporated with the Transfer technology against hacking but eSIMs come with better security measures than legacy SIM cards. Thanks to the fact that eSIMs are remotely activated and deactivated, the networks need an encryption key as well as the IMSI number that can only be provided by your operator to update your SIM profile.

In addition to the mentioned digital protections, the eSIMs are built with secure to tamper hardware for vigor physical security. However, as discussed before the eSIMs have their weakness. It has been established already that traditional SIM cards and eSIMs can be prone to SIM swapping depending on the measures a network carrier has put in place. Furthermore, it is important to note that both choices equally also compromise location tracking via the unique, globally assigned number engraved on each SIM: the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI).