Looking to enable businesses to use the same internet of things (IoT) connectivity service across networks with local subscriber identity module (SIM) profiles, connectivity provider Aeris has unveiled its eSIM Orchestrator for its IoT Accelerator global connectivity management platform.
Among the key features offered by the system include support for the GSMA SGP.32 specification for IoT eSIM remote management, single SKU eSIM and Aeris eIM as a service (eIMaaS). The result of this combination, says the company, is to enable enterprises to scale global IoT deployments while minimising complexity. And, significantly, Aeris noted that the launch addressed the needs of business in the era of physical AI.
“The future of IoT is increasingly tied to the rise of physical AI, as connected vehicles, machines and infrastructure become more intelligent and autonomous,” said Aeris chief product officer Jon Connet. “That evolution demands connectivity that can adapt as devices move across markets and networks and requirements change. Our new IoT eSIM capabilities build on Aeris’s proven IoT platform leadership to make that possible at global scale.”
The eSIM developments are designed to strengthen the Aeris IoT Accelerator platform, which manages 110 million IoT devices, 44 million of which are eSIM-based, representing more than 40% of its installed base compared. A connection to Aeris IoT Accelerator now gives customers access to a community of 30 operators with pre-integrated support across all three generations of eSIM standards.
Support for the SGP.32 IoT eSIM specification for remote management is designed to elevate the product to an environment that already supports the SGP.02 M2M eSIM and SGP.22 Consumer eSIM specifications.
Created by the GSMA, the industry body responsible for mobile communication standards, SGP.32 is a global, next-generation eSIM standard for remote SIM provisioning (RSP) in IoT devices – especially those with no user interface. It is designed to enable the large-scale, hands-off management of eSIM profiles, making it easier to deploy and operate IoT without physical access. It also makes it easier to remotely manage IoT device connections, particularly constrained endpoints.
While eSIM technology has been available for consumer devices, managing these digital SIM profiles in IoT devices comes with unique challenges. For example, many IoT devices lack a user interface, making manual SIM management impractical. SGP.32 addresses such limitations and builds on existing eSIM technology, introducing a more efficient way to remotely manage IoT connectivity. It is intended to allow SIM profiles to be managed remotely through a centralised platform, enabling automated updates and provisioning – even for devices without user interfaces or located in hard-to-reach areas. Also, the SGP.32 standard also introduces the eSIM Orchestrator (eSO) role, which manages profile lifecycle, network selection, compliance and unified billing.
Aeris says it is introducing three capabilities to build on that foundation: SGP.32 eSIM orchestrator for automated profile management; single SKU eSIM for simpler global deployment; and eIM as a service (eIMaaS), a fully managed eSIM IoT remote manager (eIM).
As regards the former, the company notes that instead of managing profiles device-by-device, customers can use policies and events to automate which local profile a device holds, when it downloads it, what it’s permitted to do and what happens when something fails.
Second, it says it is attempting to allow OEMs to build and ship one device variant globally, while enterprises can deploy the same device model across markets and assign the appropriate local operator profile after deployment. That reduces the need for market-specific SIM or device variants and lets connectivity decisions happen closer to deployment.
Users are able to use eIMaaS, a fully managed eIM integrated into IoT Accelerator to provide a service for SGP .32 profile switching. Alternatively, users can bring their own eIM of choice from eSIM suppliers such Thales, G+D, Kigen and Idemia.
“For enterprises, the challenge isn’t changing a SIM profile on one device; it’s doing it reliably across thousands or millions of devices,” said Connet. “SGP.32 provides the foundation, but orchestration makes it work at global scale. Aeris enables customers to use the same IoT connectivity service across networks with local SIM profiles, combining the flexibility of roaming with the advantages of local connectivity.”
Aeris also believes that as connected systems become more intelligent and autonomous, their connectivity has to keep pace. Physical AI deployments such as autonomous vehicles, industrial robotics and smart infrastructure need to operate across markets and networks without manual reconfiguration as devices move or requirements evolve.
The company added that the expanded IoT eSIM orchestration offering gives IoT Accelerator another critical layer of control for the Physical AI environment. Policy-based management lets connectivity adapt remotely across markets and device lifecycles, while single SKU eSIM and eIMaaS reduce deployment and operational complexity.
