The days of SIM cards will soon be over. Well, at least in their current, physical form. Embedded SIMs, or eSIMs are taking over the market, with GSMA Intelligence forecasting that, by the end of 2025, there will be 2.4 billion eSIM smartphone connections globally. By the end of 2022, it estimates that there will behalf a billion eSIM smartphone connections — ten per cent of the market.
Apple, Samsung and Google Pixel are some of several smartphone brands that currently offer both eSIM and physical SIM card options with their latest devices. It won’t be long until the technology is rolled out for all new smartphones — but what are the benefits of getting ahead of the curve?
- Sharper logistics —Because eSIMs are provisioned directly onto a device, typically via a QR code or through an app belonging to the service provider, the set-up process is far sleeker. Gone are the days of waiting for a SIM card to arrive in the post, businesses can enjoy their mobile upgrades in an instant.
- Leaner and greener —They may be smaller than a fingernail, but SIM cards, their packaging and their required logistics have their environmental downfalls. 4.5 billion plastic SIM cards were produced in 2020 — that’s 4.5 billion plastic items that needn’t exist with eSIMs.
- Going global —eSIMs can support great flexibility among teams, particularly for those who travel frequently. Because eSIM lets you store multiple mobile contracts in one device, users can switch between plans if they’re working a