Gemalto’s Benoit Jouffrey says these are exciting times in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) marketplace because of a variety of innovations including selfdriving vehicles, car-sharing applications, smart office solutions and more. In fact, the sector has witnessed enormous growth in M2M connections of nearly 40% year over year according to the latest report from the GSMA. However, although connectivity technology continues to evolve and new data plans adapted to M2M solutions are being launched, barriers to growth still exist.
A long-time bottleneck in M2M development and deployment has been the complexity of providing connectivity for enterprise solutions that are mobile network operator (MNO) specific and that also work reliably across various geographic areas and networks. For instance, a global distribution company needs a different fleet management solution variant for each MNO region or country where it operates – making technology designed to streamline processes cumbersome to activate. It gets more complex when embedded components are needed. Traditionally, the end user or service provider manages the process of physically inserting an MNO-specific SIM card – or MIM in the M2M context – into a connected device at the time of purchase, after deciding on a preferred carrier. However, many M2M solutions and an increasing number of IoT consumer devices require the benefits and durability of embedded UICCs (Universal Integrated Circuit Cards), which are integrated deep inside the device during manufacturing to help extend product longevity for 10-15 years. As a result, a greater number of MNO-specific variants need to be produced requiring complex manufacturing and delivery logistics, tight margins for OEMs and, often, expensive roaming fees for implementers.
On-demand connectivity provides the key
Imagine the simplicity of deploying connected devices and managing service plan changes anywhere in the world without ever physically touching a UICC. Where the specific credentials governing mobile network use are beamed ondemand to a UICC already securely-embedded in the device. This is precisely what Gemalto’s On-Demand Connectivity (ODC) solution achieves. In doing so, it also provides an exciting opportunity for the entire M2M and IoT value chain to overcome traditional challenges, create new revenue streams and greatly speed and simplify deployment.
New standard, new solutions
As the global leader in digital security with extensive expertise in secure provisioning for MNOs, banking cards and financial services, Gemalto collaborated with the GSMA and other industry leaders to define the specifications for industry-wide remote provisioning standards. With security as its cornerstone, the GSMA recently specified an architecture that allows the secure remote provisioning of MNO subscription profiles over-the-air on embedded UICCs. It is comprised of a secure bootstrap connectivity solution to initiate the process along with an advanced subscription management system. To allow clear separation between profiles distinct to individual mobile operators, fully encapsulated security domains within the embedded UICC are required. Adding to the complexity, globally deployed solutions require a fully automated process that identifies not only the embedded UICC but also the country where it is operating before the MNO profile can be downloaded and activated.
Gemalto’s solution for simplicity
Gemalto’s secure On-Demand Connectivity solution satisfies all of the GSMA requirements and when used with embedded UICCs, it greatly simplifies the supply chain. Comprised of three components including On-Demand Provisioning Services, On-Demand Subscription Manager and an On-Demand Provisioning Program, portions of the solution are already used by MNOs around the world to support service provisioning programmes.
To kick start the use of embedded UICCs in the industry, Gemalto is offering a dedicated bootstrap On-Demand Provisioning Service (OPS) to enable both device manufacturers and solution providers to initiate secure over-the-air provisioning. This bootstrap infrastructure can reach any global embedded UICC that is prepared for remote provisioning, regardless of the manufacturer. The OPS initiates a subscription profile download by sending a request from the On-Demand Subscription Manager directly to the embedded UICC, using HTTP technology.
With its On-Demand Provisioning Service, Gemalto acts as the interim provisioning service provider on behalf of the solution provider. After the preferred MNO subscription profiles and security credentials have been downloaded, the Gemalto solution follows the GSMA protocol for seamlessly handing off services to the MNO. From that moment on, the device operates the same as any other MNO-specific device.
The advantages of new specs
The benefits of the GSMA’s new specs are multifold with advantages for stakeholders across the entire wireless ecosystem. Device manufacturers gain reliability and improved quality and durability of embedded MIMs without customisation impact during manufacturing. They also improve processes and cost efficiencies by producing a single device that can be used by all customers and with all MNOs.
Solution providers greatly simplify distribution logistics by eliminating the need to ship MNO specific device variants to each end user. And they improve customer service by offering simplified deployment with the preferred MNO partner via a process that is invisible to the end user.
MNOs gain customers, in this case connected devices operating on their networks, as the marketplace expands in response. And they eliminate direct UICC costs as well as the indirect costs associated with purchasing, ordering, inventory handling and distribution to customers. MNOs can fully focus on their core competency of providing connectivity services to meet customer needs, big or small. And end users receive improved service and support from their MNO partners who can provide same day connectivity without UICC logistic-related delays.
Gemalto’s On-Demand Connectivity solution truly provides the security and flexibility to help the
IoT and M2M market place reach its full potential. Device manufacturers can drastically improve their production processes with only one embedded UICC as a single stock unit. And solution providers can simplify and fully automate deployment of their regionally preferred connectivity providers after the device is deployed and activated in the field. As a result, On-Demand Connectivity solutions are revolutionising cellular connected M2M device production and deployment, enabling flexibility in MNO services while simplifying manufacturing processes.
