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What is eSIM and which devices support eSIMs?
An eSIM is a standardised, remotely programmable digital circuit in a mobile device. Electronics with built-in eSIMs include phones and tablets, companion devices such as smart watches and other wearables, and also enterprise devices such as cellular-connected PCs, automotives and various IoT devices.
What are Entitlement Servers?
The Entitlement Servers, also known as Entitlement Configuration Servers (ECS), are used to communicate the availability of services such as eSIMs, VoWiFi and Voice-over-Cellular to the client devices. Most importantly, Entitlement Servers provide the applicable entitlement configurations enabling the services on the mobile devices.
How does eSIM provisioning work?
The process of activating an eSIM is called On-device Service Activation (ODSA) and it’s specified by GSMA. To initiate eSIM provisioning, the eSIM capable device requests eSIM entitlement configuration from the mobile operator’s Entitlement Server, which in turn starts EAP-AKA dialog with the 3GPP AAA server to authenticate the subscriber. The process may also include subscription transfer when switching to a new device, or a device check to prevent eSIM activation on stolen or fraudulent devices. When all the steps are successful, the Entitlement Server sends the entitlement configuration to the mobile device.
How Radiator fits in?
Radiator SIM Pack is a flexible 3GPP AAA solution that provides multiple interfaces for the EAP-AKA authentication. With the Entitlement Server, Radiator can use EAP over RADIUS, or EAP over Diameter, such as SWa, SWm, STa and Diameter-EAP applications. For connecting with the operator’s subscriber servers, Radiator supports Diameter SWx, Wx, Cx and S6a/S6d interfaces, SIGTRAN, REST API and other APIs.
This flexibility allows mobile operators to easily introduce eSIM support using their existing HSS or HLR, and also makes Radiator a great solution for MNVOs who rely on the authentication interfaces provided by the parent MNO.
How the authentication works
The above figure shows the eSIM provisioning flow (ODSA) and the various interfaces supported by the Radiator for the EAP-AKA authentication part. If you require yet another method, please contact Radiator team: we can often make it happen.
Radiator offering
Radiator Software provides on-prem software licenses for the Radiator SIM Pack 3GPP AAA solution, and expert services to assist with the customer specific configuration and integration with the other network elements. To learn more about Radiator SIM Pack and to discuss your use case, please contact the Radiator team.
