Matt Hatton, Founding Partner at Transforma Insights explore the emergence of the new role in the IoT connectivity ecosystem of the eSIM orchestrator (eSO) and what functions they should optimally be delivering.
In November 2024, Transforma Insights unveiled its 2025 IoT ‘Transition Topics’, a set of key themes that would significantly influence the market landscape during the year. One of those Transition Topics related to ‘eSIM orchestration vs connectivity reseller’, which was defined as follows: “The imminent arrival of the SGP.32 ‘IoT’ standard for remote SIM provisioning in 2025 promises to trigger a new phase in the provision of IoT connectivity and in the associated roles. Specifically, we expect to see the role of IoT connectivity provider (MNO/MVNO) fragment into three main roles: network operator, reseller, and a new role of eSIM orchestrator, handling profile management and potentially integrating with a role of single-pane-of-glass (SPOG) connectivity abstraction platform.”
This article, based on a recently published Position Paper ‘eSIM Orchestration: Driving the Next Wave of IoT Connectivity’ in collaboration with Eseye, explores some of the key drivers for changes in the cellular-based IoT connectivity landscape, the emergence of the eSIM Orchestrator (eSO) role and explores the key roles for such a function.
What is driving the emergence of the eSIM Orchestrator?
The cellular IoT connectivity landscape is undergoing rapid transformation due to emerging technologies, new standards, stricter regulations, and shifting commercial models. A key driver of change is the introduction of the SGP.32 standard, enabling easier and more flexible remote SIM provisioning. The main impact is that SGP.32 introduces a new role, which we will term the ‘eSIM Orchestrator’ (eSO), which handles the remote management of the profiles on the device. With earlier versions (SGP.02 and SGP.22) this function was managed by the mobile network operator or directly by the user on the device. With SGP.32 this now happens remotely and with much more independence for the customer, with the user downloading a profile from any participating mobile network operator or virtual network operator.
But that is just one change happening in the connectivity landscape. With the arrival of eSIM, mobile network operators (MNOs) are reacting to this shift by tightening access to eSIM profiles, establishing guard-rails on access and limiting it to trusted partners.
Also happening in parallel are a set of trends that will push greater use of remote SIM provisioning. Regulation is intensifying. Rules on permanent roaming persist, but are further being added to be requirements related to cybersecurity, national sovereignty, and data compliance. This adds complexity and compels enterprises to adapt localisation strategies, often involving eSIM-based solutions.
At the same time, customers are demanding more secure, compliant, and tailored services. The industry is moving from commoditised connectivity towards value-added services, SaaS models, and smarter middleware. The result is a shift from simple device-network pairings to sophisticated orchestration that considers regulatory, technical, and commercial factors in real-time, requirements that will need to be met by an eSIM Orchestrator, doing much more than just supporting simple eSIM profile switching.
What functions are required of an eSIM Orchestrator?
A fully capable eSIM orchestrator (eSO) is essential to managing the complexity of cellular IoT connectivity. It serves as a central player that handles multiple technical, commercial, and regulatory responsibilities across device fleets, networks, and regions. Transforma Insights has identified ten roles that such a function must perform.
At its core, the eSO manages eSIM profile downloads and swaps, ensuring they follow policy frameworks while handling tasks like service activations, cancellations, and restoring disconnected SIMs.
Beyond basic profile handling, eSOs must oversee the entire lifecycle of eSIM profiles. This includes optimal use, location-specific switching, and end-of-life deactivation. Such control reduces costs and aligns usage with regulatory and network constraints. Effective orchestration also depends on deep awareness of mobile network capabilities. eSOs must assess which networks and profiles are appropriate for different technologies, such as 5G, NB-IoT, or satellite systems, requiring close coordination with mobile network operators (MNOs).
Device awareness is equally important. An eSO must consider the hardware capabilities and conditions of the device, including certification compliance and power availability. For battery-powered devices, preserving energy might mean avoiding profile switches at critical moments.
From a business perspective, billing simplification is key. Enterprises managing devices across multiple networks benefit from a single point of billing and reconciliation. The eSO becomes the intermediary, handling usage checks and coordinating billing across MNOs. This benefits both enterprises and operators by reducing administrative overhead. However, tariff structures are likely to become more complex, driven by MNOs aiming to limit misuse of eSIM flexibility. eSOs help manage these tariffs and offer curated access to trusted third parties.
Trust-based partnerships with MNOs are vital. Operators are cautious about eSIM profile misuse and will reserve broader access for orchestrators they consider reliable. Therefore, building and maintaining trusted relationships is essential for an eSO to secure high-quality profile access.
Legal and regulatory compliance is another function of the eSO. In many regions, such as Turkey, there are laws requiring eSIMs to be localised to domestic networks. The eSO must ensure that all switching and connectivity management aligns with these legal frameworks, especially in jurisdictions concerned with data sovereignty and infrastructure locality.
Commercial considerations also influence eSIM profile selection. The eSO must evaluate pricing plans and features from MNOs to recommend or select the most cost-effective and performance-appropriate options for each device and region.
Customer support rounds out the eSO’s responsibilities. A single point of contact for support helps enterprises manage global device deployments more efficiently. This centralisation simplifies issue resolution, particularly when devices are spread across many jurisdictions and networks.
Overall, the most efficient and scalable approach is for eSIM orchestration to be delivered as a managed service. Most enterprises lack the scale or expertise to build and maintain the needed infrastructure. A specialised provider can deliver this functionality more efficiently, integrating network understanding, regulatory knowledge, and technical capability into a unified service. Orchestrators that only offer partial solutions risk inefficiency, while comprehensive providers will deliver more consistent and effective results.
Learn more
Transforma Insights, in collaboration with Eseye, recently published a Position Paper ‘eSIM Orchestration: Driving the Next Wave of IoT Connectivity’, which further explores the triggers for the emergence of that eSO role, the market landscape that will emerge as a result, and the functionality that might be delivered by such a platform.
