Abstract

This IDC Market Perspective discusses eSIM's opportunities and challenges for mobile operators. With the recent eSIM-only Apple iPhone 14 release in the United States, U.S. mobile operators are being forced to openly adopt eSIM and, as part of that process, openly engage in subscriber education around eSIM. All three U.S. nationwide mobile carriers have launched free service trials using eSIM in recent months. However, eSIM also has implications in the IoT cellular connectivity and managed services private mobile networks markets.

"High inflation and a threatening economic recession are coinciding with continuing growth in mobile and IoT services," says Sandra Wendelken, senior research analyst, Mobile and IoT Services, at IDC. "Higher eSIM adoption will bring even more changes in an already unpredictable, dynamic market. Mobile operators, IoT cellular connectivity providers, and PMN suppliers should all have eSIM strategies in place."

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