Global shipments of xSIM-capable devices are projected to surpass 9 billion units between 2024 and 2030, with an annual growth rate of 22%, according to Counterpoint’s latest eSIM Devices Market Outlook report. This forecast encompasses all form factors, including hardware-based eSIM (eUICC), iSIM (iUICC), nuSIM, and Soft SIM.
The industry has passed a critical juncture following the launch of the US-exclusive eSIM-only iPhone in 2022 and is now poised for rapid growth. This is reflected in the increasing number of OEMs releasing eSIM-capable devices.
At present, smartphones exhibit the highest eSIM adoption rate among consumers. However, sectors such as Connected Cars, Gateways and Routers, and Drones, where managing physical SIMs can be challenging, are set to benefit significantly from eSIM or iSIM-based connectivity. In the long term, xSIM is expected to become the standard form factor for these industries. The growing adoption of this technology among global mobile network operators (MNOs) also supports this view. Over 400 operators now offer eSIM services worldwide, enabling more than 50 consumer devices on average.
Research Analyst Siddhant Cally said: “Key ecosystem players have started preparing to deploy eSIM beyond their flagship devices into mid-tier segments. The new eSIM-only iPad is another sign indicating that the future is eSIM. Other use cases such as Travel and Roaming will also greatly help in increasing eSIM adoption in the short term.”
By 2030, it is anticipated that iSIM-capable devices will constitute a substantial portion of the cellular device ecosystem.
Senior Analyst Ankit Malhotra remarked on iSIM’s expected rapid growth: “These are still very early days for iSIM. However, we expect iSIM adoption to pick up steam in the next three years. The technology has the potential to bring more efficiency to devices by lowering costs, size and complexity. This makes it ideal for use in a wide range of IoT applications, from smart home devices to industrial sensors.”
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