For many IoT devices, maintaining connectivity throughout their entire operational lifecycle is one of their “lifelong pursuits”.

Recently, global telecom giants Deutsche Telekom and Tele2 IoT have engaged in a groundbreaking collaboration, which is expected to fundamentally change the network connectivity of IoT devices and support the provision of “always connected” services. Specifically, the two parties have innovatively released the world’s first resilient SIM card (rSIM), which effectively upgrades single SIM card devices to dual SIM card functionality.

It is reported that the launch of rSIM marks an important milestone in the development of mobile connectivity, providing a new flexible solution to address the challenges posed by network interruptions. By leveraging innovative technology and strategic partnerships, rSIM will set new standards for reliability and uninterrupted connectivity in the digital age, offering seamless communication capabilities for businesses and consumers.

How does rSIM achieve “always connected”?

The “r” in rSIM stands for “Resilient“, so rSIM card can be interpreted as Resilient SIM card.

When it comes to SIM cards, no one should be unfamiliar. Traditional SIM cards can only support a single mobile operator, but some smartphones allow consumers to use multiple SIM cards (dual SIM). Additionally, there is embedded SIM (Embedded-SIM) eSIM, which does not require insertion and removal like traditional SIM cards, but is directly embedded in the terminal and can be activated through software configuration and operation.

Technical Principles

Compared to the aforementioned types of SIM cards, rSIM is still based on a physical card (although it can be updated wirelessly), it uses new patented technology to check its network connection and automatically switch between mobile operator profiles when interruptions occur.

This technology allows two independent mobile operator profiles to be stored on a single SIM card, effectively upgrading single SIM card devices to dual SIM card functionality.

To ensure this implementation, rSIM also provides a brand new connection management platform, allowing customers to monitor real-time connections of devices through this unified platform, regardless of which mobile operator profile the device is connected to.

Commitment to Quality and Compliance

According to reports, rSIM is supported by the world’s leading SIM manufacturers to ensure the highest standards of quality and reliability. In addition to product manufacturing, manufacturers will also provide SIM systems that support wireless updates, prioritizing compliance with GSMA standards, including compatibility with the SGP.32 standard by 2025, to optimize compatibility with devices and operators.

Costs and Pricing

One of the main concerns for application developers regarding this new SIM card is the cost.

rSIM spokesperson stated via email that the team plans to fully launch rSIM devices in June 2024, but declined to comment on pricing, only noting that costs will be “slightly higher than standard IoT roaming SIMs”.

Due to the dual nature of the product, initial pricing will depend on cooperation with mobile network operators, with Austria’s Magenta, DT-IoT Global SIM, Tele2 Sweden, and Tele2 Estonia already signed on. Notably, the spokesperson did not disclose any information about partners in the United States.

Why is rSIM needed?

Why does the world of IoT need rSIM? This question was answered by Richard Cunliffe, Product and Innovation Director of rSIM.

“In 2023, the number of cellular IoT connections is approximately 2 billion, and this number is expected to reach about 7 billion by 2033. As more industries begin to rely on IoT, interruptions in mobile networks are becoming more common as more devices connect to them. This increasing disruption is affecting all industries, but the most impacted are critical sectors where lives and infrastructure are at risk, such as remote care and critical national infrastructure (CNI). We work with top global partners to develop, build, and launch rSIM; our innovative dual SIM, dual-core approach will provide a solution that can monitor interruptions and respond quickly.”

Richard’s words are not “alarmist” — the impact of interruptions in our daily phone communications is limited, but the loss caused by sudden disconnection of some IoT infrastructures could be immeasurable.

Unexpected downtime of interconnected devices in factories could lead to the waste of raw materials or semi-finished products, resulting in financial losses of hundreds of thousands or even millions; unexpected downtime of interconnected devices in hospitals could affect patient treatment and directly endanger lives; if the power grid system experiences issues due to network problems, it could directly impact residents’ daily lives and throw an entire city into chaos…

As mobile network operators (MNOs) invest in upgrading their core networks from 2G/3G to 4G/5G, unexpected downtime is becoming more common. The rSIM press release mentioned two cases:

One was on June 25 last year, when emergency service calls 999 were temporarily unavailable across the UK, prompting police, fire, and ambulance services to advise the public to dial 101 and other numbers. The UK communications regulator stated that regulations require “British Telecom and other operators to take all necessary measures to ensure that the public can contact emergency services without interruption when providing any call services.” At the same time, “operators are also required to take all necessary measures to ensure that as much as possible, calls and internet services are provided in the event of catastrophic network failures or force majeure.”

The other was in November 2023, when Australia experienced a 12-hour network outage due to a power outage, affecting over 10 million people. This incident not only caused chaos in the Australian transportation system but also led to the collapse of medical services.

Relevant spokespersons stated that rSIM could play a crucial role in similar scenarios.

Furthermore, sometimes preventing interruptions in IoT infrastructure can be of great significance for a country.

The Russian Ministry of Communications has conducted exercises with relevant government departments and enterprises to ensure the stable operation of the Russian Internet, IoT, and communication networks in all circumstances, aiming to ensure that the Russian network can operate uninterrupted even without access to the global DNS system and external internet. These tests included the stability of communications, security of cellular communications, protection of personal data and interception of traffic, as well as the security of using IoT.

As the importance of connectivity security and stability of IoT devices is increasingly emphasized at both national and enterprise levels, rSIM may play a more significant role.

Continuous Innovation of SIM Cards for IoT

As a medium providing data connectivity and communication functions for IoT devices, the importance of SIM cards is self-evident. To meet the growing connectivity demands, the form and function of SIM cards continue to evolve, giving rise to eSIM, iSIM, rSIM, etc. The author compares the three types of SIM cards in the table below:

eSIM

The so-called eSIM, or Embedded-SIM, does not require insertion and removal like traditional SIM cards but is directly embedded in the terminal and can be activated through software configuration and operation. eSIM offers many advantages, including low cost, smaller size, high stability, one number for multiple terminals, convenience, and security.

For users, using a phone that supports eSIM means they can freely choose operators, phone numbers, and plans, selecting the operator with the best rates/network/service, truly achieving “my network, my choice”.

For IoT, the application of eSIM is almost a “must-have option,” and its benefits include:

1. Space-saving, improved performance: The compact size of eSIM solves the high difficulty of industrial design in IoT hardware, reducing space by up to 90% compared to physical SIM cards. Related features, including increased battery life, enhanced waterproof capabilities, vibration resistance, and high-temperature resistance, contribute to improving the stability and reliability of IoT products. 2. Flexible deployment, convenient management: Due to the vast number of IoT devices, the installation and management costs of traditional physical SIM cards are very high, while eSIM can achieve remote configuration and activation, significantly reducing management costs for IoT devices, making deployment and management more convenient and faster. 3. Hardware overseas, international roaming: IoT devices often need to be used in different locations, such as different countries and regions, and eSIM can switch operators at any time, allowing devices to adapt to different network environments and choose the optimal network and pricing plans.

iSIM

iSIM can generally be classified as a type of eSIM, but it integrates a secure element UICC (iUICC) into a system-on-chip (SoC) or system-in-package (SiP).

According to Peter Jarich, head of the GSMA think tank, iSIM includes two main components: one is the integrated TRE (Tamper Resistant Element), which is a hardware subsystem within the SoC; the other is the eUICC operating system software executed within the TRE hardware, securely stored in its internal memory or in a remotely stored memory authenticated on that chip.

Thales writes on its official website that iSIM is the next revolution in the eSIM world. Considering the reduced size, iSIM is likely to become the preferred choice for smaller, more compact devices. As global enterprises embrace the IoT revolution, the adoption of iSIM will become increasingly widespread. iSIM will make it easier and more cost-effective for enterprises to deploy 5G private networks, which is crucial for supporting the connectivity needs of massive machine-type communication. For IoT device manufacturers, integrating SIM cards directly into devices may shorten product development time.

iSIM is expected to be widely deployed by 2024, changing the way enterprises connect devices and deploy IoT solutions.

rSIM

As mentioned earlier, rSIM stands for Resilient SIM card. The idea behind it is very simple: two independent mobile operator profiles can be stored on a single SIM card, and the rSIM module can monitor interruptions in each network, ensuring that IoT devices can stay connected even if the primary provider’s network encounters issues.

This technology aims to improve the mobile connectivity of IoT devices by extending uptime and minimizing the impact of connection losses. rSIM offers two levels of resilience, enabling seamless roaming outside the country/region where the device is located and providing proactive solutions for continuous internet access.

In summary, the pursuit of connectivity performance by IoT devices is endless, and SIM technology continues to evolve under market pressures. In the future, we may see new forms of SIM cards, or perhaps SIM cards will become a thing of the past one day~

Major references: https://betanews.com/2024/02/20/rsim https://www.networkworld.com/article/1308681/two-in-one-sim-offers-network-redundancy-for-iot-devices.html https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-first-resilient-sim-that-auto-switches-for-network-unveiled