According to a recent study by Juniper Research, the global count of IoT eSIM connections is set to surge to nearly 1.3 billion by 2028, up from 165 million in 2024. This significant increase is attributed to new eSIM specifications that offer enhanced flexibility, allowing enterprises to manage eSIM profile switching on IoT devices remotely.
The GSMA’s SGP.32 emerges as the latest technical standard for the remote provisioning of eSIMs for IoT devices, facilitating the remote activation of eSIM profiles through an eSIM IoT Manager (eIM). Prior eSIM standards faced challenges with network or user-interface restrictions for IoT devices due to reliance on SMS for profile activation.
The research highlights the automotive, logistics, and oil & gas sectors as primary beneficiaries of the new specification. These industries, which necessitate compact device sizes, are forecasted to represent over half of all eSIM-enabled IoT devices by 2028. The capacity to guarantee interoperable connectivity, made possible by SGP.32, is identified as a crucial driver for expansion in these fields.
Furthermore, the report anticipates the introduction of additional standards, notably SGP.42, which holds significant implications for iSIM devices by offering similar functionalities as SGP.32 but tailored for iSIMs. This advancement aims to further minimise device sizes while maintaining functionality. Elisha Sudlow-Poole, the report’s author, advises stakeholders to promptly prepare for SGP.42 as iSIM standards are finalised, emphasising the need for standard-agnostic platforms adaptable to future form factors, certifications, and usage requirements to leverage the growth of the eSIM and iSIM markets.
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