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How does an eSIM work? Does it require any special hardware (beside the cellular radio, of course) on the phone or is it a purely software thing? If there is sp

How does an eSIM work? Does it require any special hardware (beside the cellular radio, of course) on the phone or is it a purely software thing? If there is specialized hardware, is it a thing that can be later deconfigured/uninstalled or does it modify permanently my device? I would assume not, but this FAQ feels weird: "Unlike traditional removable SIM cards, eSIMs are built into devices during manufacturing and cannot be physically removed or replaced by users".

Pfhortune 3y ago
> How does an eSIM work? Does it require any special hardware (beside the cellular radio, of course) on the phone or is it a purely software thing? I am not an expert, but I believe eSIM-support is essentially a feature of the modem + the OS of the device. The eSIM itself is basically just a blob of data that serves the same function as a SIM card WRT identifying/authenticating a phone on a network. > I would assume not, but this FAQ feels weird Agreed, being completely pedantic, that really isn't quite accurate. The "eSIM" construct is completely manageable through software. Both iOS and Android allow adding/removing/disabling/enabling eSIMs once they are provisioned to the device through a carrier.
mras0 3y ago
Simplified: Traditional SIM card is "smart" card with a chip (exactly like modern credit cards) from your network operator that gives access to mobile network(s). The chip has software + data that allows this. eSIM: same (or similar) chip is soldered into your phone. Software is different, and allows storing the data part from multiple operators at the same time. You use your phone to switch between operators and add/remove potential operators (add part is over the internet via your phone, either via wifi or current active operator). By way of analogy you can download new "SIM cards" to your esIM, switch between them, delete them etc. It's a feature of your phone, either it supports eSIM (has such a chip and supporting software on the phone) or it doesn't. You can't add it later.

Pfhortune 3y ago

> How does an eSIM work? Does it require any special hardware (beside the cellular radio, of course) on the phone or is it a purely software thing? I am not an expert, but I believe eSIM-support is essentially a feature of the modem + the OS of the device. The eSIM itself is basically just a blob of data that serves the same function as a SIM card WRT identifying/authenticating a phone on a network. > I would assume not, but this FAQ feels weird Agreed, being completely pedantic, that really isn't quite accurate. The "eSIM" construct is completely manageable through software. Both iOS and Android allow adding/removing/disabling/enabling eSIMs once they are provisioned to the device through a carrier.

mras0 3y ago

Simplified: Traditional SIM card is "smart" card with a chip (exactly like modern credit cards) from your network operator that gives access to mobile network(s). The chip has software + data that allows this. eSIM: same (or similar) chip is soldered into your phone. Software is different, and allows storing the data part from multiple operators at the same time. You use your phone to switch between operators and add/remove potential operators (add part is over the internet via your phone, either via wifi or current active operator). By way of analogy you can download new "SIM cards" to your esIM, switch between them, delete them etc. It's a feature of your phone, either it supports eSIM (has such a chip and supporting software on the phone) or it doesn't. You can't add it later.