Global industry association Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA) has announced the launch of an eSIM Interoperability Service to promote increased confidence and trust across the eSIM ecosystem. Delivered by test solution provider COMPRION, the new service enables mobile and other network operators to test how their eSIM profiles interact with an extensive range of consumer eSIM devices. This will help identify and address individual interoperability and compatibility issues.
The eSIM ecosystem is enabled by an established infrastructure and global specifications, and all individual eSIM products and components are tested extensively prior to deployment. Due to variations in the interpretation and implementation of industry specifications, however, some interoperability issues only emerge when solutions are deployed live in the field and interact with other participants and components across the ecosystem. Consequently, an insufficiently tested eSIM profile may not be compatible with a specific device on the market. This impacts consumer confidence and has commercial and reputational costs for eSIM industry players.
By curating a test portfolio of eSIM devices currently deployed in the market, including smartphones, wearables, tablets and laptops, the TCA eSIM Interoperability Service – delivered by COMPRION – helps operators address this challenge by proactively testing that their eSIM profiles are interoperable with a wide range of commercially available devices prior to deployment. This is particularly beneficial for Tier 2 and 3 operators with more limited resource for comprehensive in-house testing.
The service is also anticipated to evolve to support additional testing scenarios that will enable eSIM Subscription Management (SM-DP+) providers and eSIM consumer device manufacturers to improve the interoperability and compatibility of their respective services and products.
“As a global industry association, TCA has a proven pedigree over decades promoting interoperability across the SIM ecosystem and is committed to supporting the development of eSIM technology,” comments Claus Dietze, Chair of the TCA Board. “The launch of this industry-led testing initiative will help operators address and mitigate individual interoperability challenges. With eSIM awareness and adoption continuing to build, this is key to promoting consumer trust and realising the full, transformative potential of the technology.”
Marcus Dormanns, Lead Innovation Manager, COMPRION adds: “We are proud to team with TCA to deliver the eSIM Interoperability Service. For maximum flexibility and convenience, testing can be performed on a self-serve basis either on-site at COMPRION or remotely. Testing can also be conducted independently by our team of experts, with the customer receiving a full test report.”
This initiative complements TCA’s extensive engagement and collaboration with various industry bodies to promote a secure, interoperable and scalable eSIM ecosystem. This includes GSMA – the global organisation representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries – which develops and publishes global standards for the development and secure operation of eSIM in consumer and IoT devices.
“GSMA is very pleased to see the emergence of a service that promotes interoperability between eSIM hardware, operator profiles and servers,” comments Ian Pannell, Chief Engineer, GSMA. “With the emergence of eSIM-only smartphones in some markets, this service is essential for consumer confidence.”
For further information, contact info@trustedconnectivityalliance.org and visit the TCA and COMPRION websites.
ENDS
For further TCA media information, please contact Yash Raveendra – Tel: +44 113 3501922 or email: yash@iseepr.co.uk
For further COMPRION media information, please contact Kathleen Knievel – Tel: +49 5251 6859 154 or email: KKnievel@comprion.com
About Trusted Connectivity Alliance
Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA) is a global industry association working to enable trust in a connected future. The organisation’s vision is to drive the sustained growth of a connected society through trusted connectivity which protects assets, end user privacy and networks.
TCA members are leaders within the global Tamper Resistant Element (TRE) ecosystem and work collectively to define requirements and provide deliverables of a strategic, technical and marketing nature. This enables all stakeholders in our connected society to benefit from the most stringent secure connectivity solutions that leverage TCA members’ expertise in tamper proof end-to-end-security.
TCA members are: Card Centric, COMPRION, Eastcompeace, Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security Germany GmBH, IDEMIA, Kigen, Linxens, NXP Semiconductors, Oasis Smart SIM, Qualcomm, STMicroelectronics, Thales, Valid, Workz Group and Wuhan Tianyu.
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About COMPRION
COMPRION is the worldwide leading manufacturer of test solutions for the interfaces of the connected world. The tools are used to test smartphones, eSIMs, IoT modules and NFC devices according to the latest industry standards and beyond. In this way, COMPRION helps companies in the telecom, automotive, and payment sectors avoid problems in the field and costly recalls and allows them to equip their products and services with the highest possible quality and interoperability.