Home
...
Working Groups SIM Working Group
Embedded SIM

Embedded SIM

GSMA Embedded SIM background

The Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) and its applications and data play a fundamental role in ensuring the connectivity and security of the network, the subscriber’s account and related services and transactions. Based on the existing UICC technology used in today’s removable SIM cards, GSMA has defined a set of Embedded SIM specifications that allows the “over the air” provisioning of an initial operator subscription, and the subsequent change of subscription from one operator to another.

What is the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification?

The GSMA’s Embedded SIM Specification provides a single, de-facto standard mechanism for the remote provisioning and management of machine to machine (M2M). GSMA Embedded SIM is a vital enabler for Machine to Machine (M2M) connections including the simple and seamless mobile connection of all types of connected machines. In the M2M market the SIM may not easily be changed via physical access to the device or may be used in an environment that requires a soldered connection, thus there is a need for ‘over the air’ provisioning of the SIM with the same level of security as achieved today with traditional removable SIM.

More information about GSMA Embedded SIM

More information can be found in the GSMA Connecting Living Program on Remote SIM Provisioning for Machine to Machine

Key Documents

GSMA Embedded SIM Remote Provisioning Architecture

GSMA Remote Provisioning Architecture for Embedded UICC Technical Specification

GSMA Remote Provisioning Architecture for Embedded UICC Test Specification

GSMA Embedded UICC Protection Profile

GSMA SAS Standard for Subscription Manager Roles

GSMA SAS Methodology for Subscription Manager Role

Important definitions

UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) is the hardware used in mobile devices that contains SIM and/or USIM applications enabling access to GSM, UMTS/3G and LTE networks.

Embedded SIM is a UICC that supports “over the air” provisioning of an initial operator subscription and the subsequent change of subscription from one operator to another in accordance with the GSMA Embedded SIM specification. Use of the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification simplifies industrial and logistic processes for the distribution of M2M equipment.