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eSIM vs. external SIM cards for IIoT device

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Martin F:
Hi all,

We're developing a compact data logger with cellular functionality. As part of this, we're discussing whether to go for an eSIM (integrated on the PCB) or a slot holder for external SIM cards.

About our setup:

We specialize in designing and offering "open" hardware tools, with open source software/API tools. We do not host servers or charge any subscription fees (and we do not wish to do so). Our devices target automotive engineers. In some cases we might sell a single device - in others a very large volume.


From a mechanical & PCB design perspective, the eSIM is attractive because it's compact and does not affect the IP rating. Further, we hypothesize that it may be attractive for users that need to easily deploy e.g. 100 devices (rather than having to source and manually insert SIM cards in each device).

However, we are unsure if we can keep the device "open" with an eSIM. Ideally we'd like to allow end customers as much freedom as possible. A user may buy 1 device in USA and wishes to use an AT&T subscription - if so, that should ideally be possible and fairly easy to setup for the user (e.g. by parsing relevant details via our device configuration). At the same time, another user in Germany may want to use a Deutsche Telekom subscription for deployment across 100 devices. In this case, ideally there would be a practical way for the user to do this via the config or some form of remote provisioning.

Our understanding is that eSIM options typically involve working with global roaming partners, though we are unsure if there is a way to make that "optional" for our users. Note also that our users typically have large data transfer requirements (uploading 0.5-5.0 GB per month per device).


Happy to hear any experiences/thoughts on this!

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