nRF9160 e-Sim option

[Ashiq Mohammed]

Hi Team,

Please let me know can we register Multiple e-sim in Thingy:91 and nRF9160/DK? What is the procedure for e-sim registration in Thingy:91?

Regards,

Ashiq Mohammed

[Didrik Rokhaug]

Hi.

What do you mean by "register multiple eSIM in nRF9160"?

If you mean the procedure you have to go through to activate the iBasis SIM card that came with the Thingy and DK, the answer is that those are not tied to a specific device in any way.

You can use an nRF9160 with as many and whichever SIM cards you want (as long as the SIM cards follow the necessary standards of course).

If you are talking about a SIM card with different profiles, that would depend on the SIM card, and your application firmware, not the nRF9160.

Best regards,

Didrik

[Ashiq Mohammed]

Didrik - Like our mobile phones are supported dual sims, in the same way, can we add more than one sim in nRF9160 using e- sim option? idea is if my assert crosses country/zone limit automatically another sim can support to ensure uninterrupted transaction during assert tracking.

[Didrik Rokhaug]

Ok, I understand what you mean now.

As the nRF9160 only has one SIM/UICC interface, so only one physical card is supported. Although, you might be able to add more using switches.

However, using eSIM, you can have multiple profiles on a single SIM card. In that case, there are two methods of remote SIM provisioning defined by the GSMA.

The first one is the "M2M solution". In that case, all the logic lies in the SIM card, and the servers the SIM card is talking to. The modem will provide the necessary communication channels to the SIM card, and which profile is used is managed remotely.

The other one is the "consumer solution". In this case, the user of the device can choose which SIM profile is being used. As this requires some form of interface for the user, this solution requires support in the application (specifically the LPA). Again, the modem will provide the necessary communication channels.

You can read more about the two solutions here: https://www.gsma.com/esim/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/esim-whitepaper.pdf

[Ashiq Mohammed]

Didrik thanks a lot for the brief. I understand that each nRF9160 SiP have unique IMEI number. Please let us know the process for e-sim in nRF9160 SiP. 

Regards,

Ashiq Mohammed

[Didrik Rokhaug]

It would depend on the SIM card, and which solution you use for remote provisioning.

In either case, the modem will provide the necessary resources when requested by the SIM card. If necessary can the application communicate with the SIM card via AT commands.

In other words, as far as the nRF9160 modem is concerned everything should "just work". Instead, you should look at the SIM card and network providers you want to use, and make sure that they provide a way to get the profile to the SIM card.

[Ashiq Mohammed]

My understanding is, for e-sim we do not require any physical SIM card am I right?

[Didrik Rokhaug]

No, you still need a physical card/chip. However, you will be able to store multiple profiles on that one card/chip.