eSIM

How many times BICS eSIM profiles can be downloaded?

 By default, max Re-Downloads is 3 globally (regardless of the device/eid). 

Can I customize BICS eSIM profile? 

PRP Definition

PRP_0: Reuse allowed for any (other) eUICC, if profile deletion was confirmed via notification

PRP_1: Reuse allowed for any (other) eUICC, regardless the delete notification

PRP_2: Reuse allowed for any (other) eUICC, if profile deletion was confirmed via notification

PRP_3: Reuse allowed only for the same eUICC, regardless the delete notification

PRP_4: Reuse allowed only for the same eUICC, if profile deletion was confirmed via notification

PRP_5: Reuse not allowed 

Is the APN set automatically once the eSIM profile is downloaded? 

On Apple, since iOS/iPadOS 17.1 version (released in October 2023), SFT SIM cards will be automatically recognized by Apple devices, loading our carrier bundle:

• APN auto-configuration: bicsapn.

• “Data Roaming” toggle doesn’t need to be manually enabled to initiate a data session.

• eSIM menu is branded.

• BICS label within the Data Mobile settings

On Android, the carrier bundle concept doesn’t exist but Google has put in place a centralized online APN library opened to carriers, which is then directly integrated to Android OS. BICS APN is documented since 2017.  We have noticed (in rare cases) that some OEM have decided to use their own APN library version which might not contain BICS APN. If so, the end user will have to enter BICSAPN in the APN settings of his mobile phone.

How can you retrieve eSIM consumer profile status from SFT Portal? (RE: eSIM Status Feature Request) 

eSIM profile status notifications can be retrieved with the following Callback API: here 

Can I bypass the QR code scan to initiate the eSIM profile download? 

On Android, we will need to customize the metadata of our eSIM profile with your security credentials. The process will be done in 4 steps:

1. SFT Customer to provide Signature Hash of the Public Certificate used to sign the App in Android

   1. SHA-1 is preferred Hashing Algorithm as several keys can be provisioned (e.g. debug mode used during development & release mode used for distribution)

   2. SHA-256 is also accepted but we can only put 1key

2. BICS will request our SM-DP+ Provider to add this Signature Hash into the Profile Type to be used by SFT Customer.

3. This means that any eSIM subscription under the Profile Type will include in its metadata an ARF (Access Rule File) with the Signature Hash

4. Once added into the Profile Type, your App can request downloadSubscription to eUICC

5. Android will validate if the (caller) App Public Certificate Signature Hash matches with any of the included in ARF of the eSIM subscription under download to allow request

6. eSIM is installed in device by your  App

On Apple, a new feature “Apple Universal Link” has been introduced in IOS 17.4 which allows the app developer to bypass the QR code scanning by opening an URL containing the activation code + SM-DP+ servicer in any browser. This can be an alternative to the lengthy eSIM entitlement permission process subject to Apple’s approval. How does it work concretaly?

1. Apple has defined Universal URL for eSIM profiles:

   1. https://esimsetup.apple.com/esim_qrcode_provisioning?carddata=

   2. You need to append the string with SM-DP server name + Activation Code (e.g. LPA:1$thales3.prod.ondemandconnectivity.com$D7776F1E2190F917BCDC64985A1C7E9451E07D867CF38035F8F064B4FCEB1360) that can be fetched with SFT API

2. It’s simply as clicking on that URL

3. iPhone recognises it and transfer you directly to the same eSIM menu (where till now you only had the option to scan a QR code).

There is warning disclaimer: “Apple will share your device EID with your eSIM operator/provider”, which is an Apple security policy to keep the users aware 

4. From here, it is the regular process to install/enable eSIM profile.