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- IoT Knowledge Base
- SGP.22
GSMA SGP.22 Standard
Overview of SGP.22
eSIM technology is revolutionizing mobile IoT connectivity for both consumer and IoT devices. Users and enterprises can now download and manage digital profiles directly, eliminating physical IoT SIM swaps. The GSMA SGP.22 standard provides the framework that makes this possible.
While originally designed for consumer electronics, SGP.22 has become valuable in IoT deployments where devices have user interfaces and sufficient resources, such as connected vehicles, healthcare devices, and enterprise hardware. Its flexibility bridges consumer use cases and advanced IoT scenarios.
What is SGP.22?
SGP.22 is a key GSMA standard for remote SIM provisioning (RSP). It defines how devices securely download, store, and manage mobile network profiles without physical SIM cards.
Designed for convenience, it allows fast activation and easy carrier switching. In IoT, it supports user-facing devices or scenarios that benefit from multi-operator connectivity.
SGP.22 examples:
Connected cars roaming across regions.
Smart health devices switching networks for better coverage.
Enterprise laptops or tablets with IT-managed connectivity.
How SGP.22 Works
SGP.22 enables mobile connectivity without a physical SIM through a secure architecture that protects both users and operators. Its core components:
eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card)
Stores multiple operator profiles securely.
SM-DP+ (Subscription Manager Data Preparation+)
Prepares and delivers profiles to devices.
SM-DS (Subscription Manager Discovery Server)
Lets devices find and download available profiles.
For IoT, this means enterprises or users can provision devices remotely across regions or fleets, reducing logistics and accelerating deployment.
SGP.22 in IoT
While SGP.02 and SGP.32 are often seen as IoT-specific, SGP.22 excels for:
User-facing devices: Vehicles, appliances, wearables.
Enterprise-managed deployments: IT teams control connectivity remotely.
Cross-border use cases: Supports roaming and operator flexibility.
SGP.22 simplifies profile switching, multi-operator support, and logistics, making IoT deployments more agile, even if it’s less suited for low-power, constrained sensors.
Benefits of SGP.22
Convenience: Fast activation without physical SIMs.
Flexibility: Store and switch multiple operator profiles.
Seamless roaming: Ideal for connected cars or border-crossing devices.
Compact design: No SIM tray allows smaller, durable devices.
Reduced logistics: Remote provisioning avoids shipping SIMs.
Enterprise control: IT teams manage profiles remotely.
SGP.22: Challenges and Solutions
Challenge | IoT Solution |
Complex integration: Infrastructure needed | Use managed connectivity providers or pre-integrated platforms. |
User awareness: Low familiarity with eSIM | Provide onboarding, training, and simplified provisioning tools. |
Ecosystem coverage: Limited device/operator support | Choose vendors with mature SGP.22 implementation. |
IoT limitations: Less efficient for low-resource, large-scale deployments | Use SGP.22 for user-facing devices; SGP.02 or SGP.32 for constrained deployments. |
Comparing SGP.22, SGP.02, and SGP.32
Standard | Ideal Use |
SGP.02 (M2M) | Operator-driven IoT; no user interaction (e.g., smart meters, industrial sensors). |
SGP.22 (Consumer + IoT) | Consumer electronics and user-facing/IT-managed IoT devices (e.g., connected cars, smart appliances). |
SGP.32 (IoT) | Large-scale, constrained IoT deployments needing cost-efficient, flexible eSIM (e.g., logistics trackers, city sensors). |
Summary: SGP.02 = operator-driven IoT, SGP.22 = user/enterprise-driven IoT, SGP.32 = IoT at scale.
Choosing the Right Standard
SGP.02: Resource-constrained, operator-managed devices.
SGP.22: Higher-resource, user-facing, or IT-managed devices.
SGP.32: Large-scale, low-power IoT deployments requiring efficiency and scalability.
SGP.22 drives mainstream eSIM adoption in smartphones, wearables, and laptops. Its value extends to IoT, particularly for connected cars, enterprise devices, and smart appliances needing flexibility, user control, and global connectivity. While SGP.32 is suited for massive, low-power IoT, SGP.22 remains a practical choice for agile, adaptable deployments.