What is IoT eSIM
Quick definition
IoT eSIM is the eUICC SIM designed for headless devices. It inherits smartphone eSIM programmability but uses a Pull provisioning flow (SGP.32) where the device asks the server for a profile, without scanning a QR code or entering an activation code.
Why phone eSIM does not work directly
The Consumer standard (SGP.22) assumes a human scans a QR code. Impossible in IoT: a sensor in a manhole has no screen, no keypad, no user. That is why GSMA published SGP.32 with an IoT-specific flow.
What changes for the OEM
You ship with a bootstrap profile, no carrier picked. On first power-up or per policy, the device downloads the real carrier profile. One SKU for every country, one hardware throughout the product lifetime.
FAQ
Can I use IoT eSIM on any modem?+
Only if the modem ships eUICC plus LPA or IPA support. SGP.32-certified modems started arriving in late 2024.
Who manages the profiles?+
Your IoT aggregator (like iot.cards) or home carrier, through their SM-DP+. You control which profile is active per SIM from the portal.
Related terms
What is eUICC
An eUICC (embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) is a programmable SIM chip that can hold several carrier profiles and switch between them over the air. It is the GSMA standard underpinning every modern eSIM, in phones, vehicles, and IoT devices.
What is SGP.32
SGP.32 is the GSMA Remote SIM Provisioning standard built specifically for IoT, published in 2023. It supersedes SGP.02 (M2M) and removes the dependency on SGP.22 (Consumer) for headless devices. It introduces the IPA (IoT Profile Assistant) and a Pull model where the device requests profiles by country or event.
What is iSIM
iSIM (integrated SIM) is a SIM whose silicon lives inside the modem or SoC, not as a separate chip. It shares the same eUICC logic and the same GSMA standards, but takes zero extra board space and trims bill of materials.