eSIM
A remote SIM provisioning ecosystem in which operator profiles are securely downloaded to and lifecycle-managed on an eUICC without swapping a physical SIM.
Describing eSIM as merely a "SIM soldered into the phone" misses the important part. The engineering distinction is an eUICC that can securely receive, activate, switch, and manage operator profiles.
RSP Architecture
Consumer and IoT provisioning do not use one identical operational model. GSMA SGP.22 covers the consumer architecture, while SGP.32 defines the IoT remote-provisioning model. Current SGP.32 revisions target large fleets with limited or no local user interaction.
A profile download is not just file transfer; it carries subscription credentials and depends on authenticated, authorized lifecycle operations. eSIM is therefore as much a trust and provisioning protocol as a device form-factor feature.
Source
- https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/technologies/esim/esim-specification/