In the realm of industrial IoT (IIoT), machine-to-machine (M2M) communication makes manufacturing facilities smart and digitized for comprehensive control of all, or nearly all, production processes. By using sensors to capture shop floor data, manufacturers gain an overview of their facilities to optimize processes, improve machine performance, reduce waste and energy consumption, and reduce unexpected downtime.
These are spectacular advances when compared to the processes of just a couple of decades ago. But how do you do that? What is the technology behind connecting and sending data between systems and the extensive monitoring capabilities we have?
Connecting manufacturers
Connecting IoT devices over a mobile network has come to be called cellular IoT/mobile IoT, as the use of existing mobile networks eliminates the need for a separate, dedicated infrastructure. Instead, a range of existing networks and systems can be used in most countries and locations around the world, whether 3G, 4G, 5G or IoT-specific networks.
Of the latter, for example, LTE-M and NB-IoT systems are networks designed specifically for IoT connections and are widely deployed around the world. LTE-M, which includes eMTC, is a type of low-power wide area network radio technology standard developed by 3GPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and services. While LTE- M offers lower price and support for voice and SMS, NB-IoT on the other hand offers lower power and low data usage for long range and reliability. Whichever network is used, connecting devices to mobile IoT via traditional SIM cards presents several challenges for manufacturers.
Deployment difficulties
Traditionally, the IoT device or sensor SIM card has been responsible for connecting a device to the network. But this is not without its difficulties.
IoT SIM cards typically only allow a device to connect to a single carrier’s network. When deploying devices globally across multiple networks, or working with devices that are involved in supply chains or logistics that move across the world, this creates a logistical nightmare. Manufacturers must obtain and distribute physical SIMs from a local network for each device, depending on the route or locations where that device will be operational
Because SIM cards must be removable for maintenance or carrier changes, IoT devices cannot be sealed, which means that harsh operating conditions are more likely to damage it, fail more regularly, or the lifetime is substantially reduced. There is also the added concern that having a removable element exposes IoT devices to risks of theft of services and other possible attacks or unauthorized tampering.
eSIMs are the future
So while SIM cards for IoT networks serve their purpose, these challenges are difficult to ignore when there is a solution at hand. In this case, this solution involves the use of eSIMs, or embedded SIMs, which are a digital alternative to physical SIM cards, and which connect devices to a network via the assigned frequency spectrum. In the IoT, eSIM refers to the software component and the ability to change mobile network operator profiles over the air (OTA). Initially adopted for tracking devices and autonomous cars, eSIMs are now also a key component of the IIoT and, in fact, already exist and come configured in all the physical form factors that may be required, from the classic 2FF or mini SIM card, ubiquitous in cell phones and their smaller “siblings,” to the MFF2, a solderable chip SIM. The difference lies in the software embedded in the SIM card itself, whether it supports OTA provisioning or not.
Unlike physical SIM cards, eSIMs offload network credentials onto a chip on the printed circuit board of an IoT device. Thus, eliminating the physical component of a SIM makes the entire network onboarding process remote, which has a host of benefits for manufacturers.
Advantages of eSIM
Over-the-air (OTA) carrier profile switching is especially important when it comes to devices that are deployed around the world, as switching physical SIM cards is very expensive and time-consuming, not to mention time-consuming, not to mention inconvenient for the user(s) of the device. Thus, the underlying functionality of being able to switch carriers over the air offers several advantages, such as, for example:
- Simplified manufacturing process
- Tamper and environmental resistance
- Protection against network downtime and price changes
- Global solution for LTE-M and NB-IoT
Solution for permanent roaming restrictions
With the use of eSIM in the manufacturing phase, it becomes irrelevant in which country the device ends up and the manufacturing process becomes more streamlined and less complicated. Once the device is in the country of deployment, the most appropriate mobile network profile to use can be downloaded, whether the decision is based on local roaming restrictions or the profile provider’s pricing.
Without the need to remove the eSIM from the device, the module can be completely sealed at the manufacturing stage. This can make the product itself more secure against physical tampering by malicious persons and increase tolerance to environmental factors such as temperature, vibration and humidity.
Since telecommunications companies have also been shutting down 2G and 3G networks for some time to free up resources for 5G, it is becoming increasingly urgent to enable all IoT devices to connect to new network technologies through these systems. As the eSIM has a standardized format for this access, the project is future-proofed in case current networks become obsolete and new technologies emerge, including NB -IoT and LTE-M enhancements, and, of course, a future mobile sixth generation.
Another important use case for eSIMs is to avoid roaming restrictions. Countries such as Brazil and Canada, to name a few, impose these restrictions for 60-90 days, depending on the country. After that period, the devices are kicked off the network. One way around this is to take the device out of the country and connect it to another network. However, it is unreasonable and expensive to transport 10,000 e-scooters or wind turbine modules across the border simply to be able to make a grid change on the devices they imbue. For these cases, the answer is to load a local profile where roaming restrictions do not apply, and eSIM can easily facilitate this.
eSIMs eliminate the problems associated with IoT SIM cards
As noted, in the eSIM the network to which the IoT element is to be connected is determined after a device is produced, shipped and deployed, so manufacturers can easily change connectivity providers as and when needed for maximum flexibility based on device location or subscription cost.
Managed network credential provisioning in this way means that eSIMs are connected and maintained remotely. There is no need to physically manipulate a device to make changes to its connectivity, making devices more durable and less prone to environmental damage.
And in terms of security, the location of an eSIM on a small chip on the circuit board means it is not removable. Being physically soldered to the device eliminates the risks of physical theft of the card, as it is difficult to identify and impossible to remove. In this way, IoT devices can be deployed without any local human control of connectivity: all responsibility lies with the manufacturer’s service provider (SP), and this means that service providers take responsibility for managing subscriptions, removing the difficulties of cellular connectivity for industry users.
While IIoT device connectivity is nothing new for manufacturers, making it more agile, convenient and digital is key to its continued success. Adopting eSIM technology alleviates some of the pain points manufacturers experience, making operations simpler and opening up a world of opportunity for more efficient processes.
