Japan's NTT Communications has launched the nation's first pilot of embedded SIMs (eSIMs) for connection and remote provisioning for MVNOs.
The operator said it has built an environment for remote SIM provisioning on its MVNO platform in Hong Kong supporting both M2M and consumer devices.
NTT Com will now launch verification tests in Japan in light of the GSMA's efforts to promote the standardization of eSIMs for M2M and consumer models.
Embedded SIMs can be remotely rewritten or changed for specific purposes without needing to replace the card. This can support providing customers with access to preferred mobile networks while traveling overseas and reduce the influence of overseas communication restrictions such as permanent roaming prohibitions.
Updates or overwrites can be sent over the air through an operator's subscription manager server (the M2M model), or can be set up to download a profile on receiving a request from the consumer, such as after selecting a mobile service and plan (the consumer model).
The trial will involve verification of both methods of remote provisioning, as well as the evaluation of embedded technologies that could be combined with eSIMs to enable functionalities including secure communications, NTT Com said.