Romain Durand, R&D Director and Co-Founder, Transatel (an NTT DATA Company) discusses the new GSMA SGP.32 eSIM standard, exploring how simplified, secure remote connectivity will empower global IoT deployments across industries and redefine scalable device management worldwide.
For readers unfamiliar with Transatel, could you start by explaining what your company does?
Transatel is a global cellular connectivity solutions provider and a Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) Enabler. Having our own full core network infrastructure, we’re securely connecting millions of vehicles and industrial devices to public and private cellular networks across the world. We also operate Ubigi, which is a travel eSIM service for consumers and workforces.
Transatel has been working with the eSIM standards. Could you tell us about the SGP.32 specification and why it’s important?
SGP.32 is the latest GSMA standard for eSIM management, designed specifically for IoT devices. It builds on earlier consumer and M2M eSIM standards but simplifies remote SIM provisioning. Essentially, it makes it easier for IoT devices to change operators over the air — something that’s crucial when you’re dealing with large-scale, global deployments.
What specific challenges does SGP.32 address compared with previous eSIM standards?
The earlier SGP.02 M2M standard required a fairly complex back-end infrastructure to switch profiles, which made it less suitable for low-power or low-cost IoT devices. SGP.32 introduces a new, streamlined architecture — the IoT Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) architecture — that reduces integration complexity and costs. It’s more flexible and more scalable for OEMs, device makers, and connectivity providers.
How will this new standard benefit IoT businesses and enterprises?
It will make global connectivity management simpler. Device manufacturers can produce a single SKU for all regions, and then remotely download operator profiles depending on where the device is deployed. It reduces logistics costs, accelerates time-to-market, and helps companies avoid being locked in with one operator. It’s also more secure, as the eSIM never needs to be physically replaced.
Could you share how Transatel has been involved in developing or implementing SGP.32?
We’ve been working closely with the GSMA and various ecosystem partners to shape the SGP.32 standard. Transatel has developed a complete solution that’s compliant with it — from eSIM hardware and subscription management platforms to integration support for MVNOs and IoT service providers. We also took part in early trials with key partners to validate the interoperability and performance of the new standard.
You mentioned interoperability. How important is collaboration across the industry for eSIM adoption?
It’s absolutely essential. The success of eSIM depends on strong collaboration between SIM vendors, MNOs, MVNOs, and device makers. That’s why standards like SGP.32 exist — to ensure that all players speak the same language technically. Transatel has always championed open standards and interoperability testing, which is what enables smooth, global connectivity.
From a business standpoint, where do you see the biggest opportunities for eSIM in IoT?
There’s huge potential across industries — logistics, automotive, energy, healthcare, and smart cities, to name a few. Any application that needs reliable, secure, and scalable connectivity can benefit. For example, connected cars need to operate across borders seamlessly, and utility meters often remain in the field for more than a decade. eSIM and SGP.32 make managing connectivity for such long-lived and distributed assets far more efficient.
Q: Security is always a concern in IoT. How does Transatel address that with eSIM solutions?
Security is at the heart of everything we do. Our eSIMs are designed with certified secure elements and follow the strictest GSMA and Common Criteria standards. With remote provisioning, the SIM credentials are encrypted and transferred securely, and we provide lifecycle management to ensure that the device stays trusted throughout its operational life. In addition, we support GSMA IoT SAFE standard, which allows to use the SIM as a secure element for cryptographic operation and secure storage of sensitive data.
Q: Finally, what can we expect next from Transatel in this space?
We’re focusing on making eSIM adoption easier for the entire IoT ecosystem. That includes user-friendly tools for managing profiles, partnerships with MVNOs for ready-to-use connectivity, and innovations around eSIM — integrating the SIM functionality directly into the chipset. The goal is to make secure connectivity as seamless and scalable as possible for our customers.
Author biography:
Romain Durand is R&D Director and Co-Founder of Transatel. Prior to co-founding Transatel, Romain was responsible for Value Added Services at Alcatel, where he focused on subjects related to security, mobile Internet, and m-business.
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