The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) today, in a statement, announced that it has granted approval for two mobile network operators (MNOs), MTN Nigeria and 9Mobile, to carry out a trial on the workability of embedded Subscriber Identification Modules (e-SIM) Service in Nigeria.
e-SIM is a small electronic chip inside a phone that serves the same function as the small plastic SIM cards we’ve used for years, and it allows subscribers to ditch the plastic SIM cards, easily switch between carriers, and have two phone numbers on one phone.
The statement, signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, explained that the trial, approved to run for a period of one year, will involve testing 5,000 e-SIMs by the two networks, subject to compliance with a number of regulatory conditions.
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According to Adinde, these conditions include full compliance by the MTN and 9Mobile with the Registration of Telecoms Subscribers Regulations 2011; the Mobile Number Portability Regulations and Business Rules 2015; Guidelines on SIM Replacement 2017; and non-degradation of the Quality of Service (QoS) experience by users of e-SIMs.
He quoted the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, as saying the primary objective of the e-SIM trial is to assess the technical performance of the e-SIM on telecoms service providers’ network towards eventual rollout, if satisfactory.
An e-SIM is a small chip that is embedded on a mobile phone or smart devices. It is designed for convenience, flexibility and simplicity.
The e-SIM makes it easier for subscribers to choose a pre-paid plan provider and switch between network operators.
The information on the e-SIM is rewritable by operators and the identification information can be updated over time.
According to the EVC, the e-SIMs is a technology that will eliminate the need for physical SIM card slots on mobile devices in the near future, adding that the trial is in line with the Commission’s forward-looking regulatory approach to ensure Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem is in tandem with global best practices.
Very few phones use eSIMs right now. Apple’s iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max all have an eSIM, in addition to the standard plastic SIM card. Google’s Pixel 2, 3, 3A and 4 also have a standard SIM card slot and eSIM support.
Samsung’s Galaxy Fold has an eSIM and a Micro-SIM card tray, while Motorola Razr is the first phone to launch without a physical SIM card slot, relying solely on eSIM.
Unlike carrier-locked SIM cards that restrict you from switching between carriers, an eSIM can be programmed and reprogrammed as needed, allowing you to hop between carriers or cancel and start service without having to get a new SIM card each time.
Without a removable SIM card tray and the precious space that it requires, phone-makers will be able to squeeze larger batteries inside a phone’s housing or use the extra space for additional cameras or new features.
Of course, no SIM card slot likely means no microSD card slot for adding additional storage, a change that phone-makers are also migrating toward.
