Activating eSIM with an SM-DP+
To activate an eSIM on your phone, mobile server providers leverage a system called an SM-DP+ (yes – it’s a catchy name)
When an SM-DP+ fails it’s the equivalent of shutting up shop for a mobile operator.
You can’t connect new customers, and it means any device trying to download a new esim profile will fail until things come back online.
What happens when it fails?
Flicking a switch to failover to another SM-DP+ is not trivial. Inventory is typically pre-ordered and stored in an outsourced platform that’s managed under strict security controls.
Deploying true multi-site, high availability hosting for an SM-DP+ is easier said than done…
You cannot have a scenario where an eSIM profile is accidentally cloned and installed to multiple devices so vendors must carefully manage data consistency in each platform.
Many vendors have shifted workloads to the cloud with Microsoft, AWS, Oracle and Google all offering GMSA certified hosting in multiple regions. This has enabled significant improvements to they way failover can be supported by eSIM platform vendors but has also created new challenges with coordinating software updates and configuration changes in a cloud environment.
When things go bad, remote access for support engineers can be challenging. Stringent requirements exist on providers to protect access to all hardware and software running an SM-DP+. This can lead to painfully long resolution times for major incidents as support engineers reach approved locations for conducting platform changes remotely…
The value of eSIM orchestration
For many mobile operators, a set of SLAs and faith in their eSIM providers to keep things running is their main hope…
As eSIM services become mission critical through the shift to become eSIM only devices the approach to eSIM availability requirements will need to mature. It will not be acceptable for an SM-DP+ to be down for routine maintainence or have failures for a few minutes.
The role of eSIM orchestration platforms in supporting multiple eSIM vendors and the impact of SM-DP+ failures is something we have thought a lot about at Mindszi.
Integrating with multiple SM-DP+ platforms and having the flexibility to dynamically determine which SM-DP+ should be used for a new eSIM order gives mobile providers the power to manage risk of failure.
It also means commercial flexibility with a single view of all eSIM inventory regardless of vendor and avoids re-engineering products integrated directly with an SM-DP+ APIs.
2024 has kindly reminded us of the importance of understanding and managing single points of failure. When it comes to eSIM there is no greater one than the SM-DP+…
