Onomondo launches unique SoftSIM to transform the Internet of Things

• Onomondo’s SoftSIM is completely downloadable from the cloud, will reduce the cost of IoT deployment by 50-90% and reduce deployment time to virtually zero
• It is the only SoftSIM available for “plug and play” from a single vendor
• SoftSIM will help address growing supply chain complexity and acute chip shortages
• Available in the first quarter of 2023, the global launch of SoftSIM comes months after Onomondo closed its last $21 million growth investment round.

Starting an Internet of Things (IoT) project has always looked like this: you receive your IoT device, you choose a provider and data plan, the provider or carrier sends you a SIM card, and then you insert your SIM card. in your device to connect to your provider. However, if you want to switch providers, you will need to physically remove the SIM card from each device and repeat the same process with the new provider. For many IoT projects, especially those in remote or isolated locations, this is a friction-filled process, often resulting in vendor lock-in, hampering project adoption and scale.

So-called “eSIMs” have grown in popularity in recent years to combat this friction. With eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) standards, users can now load new operator profiles digitally, wirelessly, eliminating the need to physically swap SIM cards. Although this solution offers more flexibility than traditional SIM cards, commercial agreements can be just as restrictive via bootstrapped network profiles, and hardware still needs to be installed on each device.

The Onomondo SoftSIM offers a new path without friction. The SIM is downloaded from the cloud on chipsets already found in devices, reducing IoT deployment time to virtually zero. Onomondo’s carrier-neutral approach, which gives customers the ability to choose their network and exactly the type of service they need based on the product they’re tracking, means customers don’t suffer from any hidden locking or unnecessary costs. Making the SIM card downloadable also means that customers only start paying to track their devices when they need it, rather than paying for a SIM card and the associated costs of installing it upfront. For users, this means a 50-90% reduction in the materials bill of companies deploying IoT, depending on the size of the fleet.

Onomondo has redesigned the existing IoT connectivity architecture by integrating over 700 operators at the Radio Access Network (RAN) level in over 180 countries, as well as layering its own API-based IoT platform. With the new SoftSIM, as soon as the SIM card is downloaded, assets can cross national borders seamlessly without the inherent complexity of roaming. Onomondo customers can also get real-time, granular insight into the performance of each connected device, allowing them to access their global network and troubleshoot IoT devices from anywhere. Data is transferred directly through Onomondo’s virtual network to one of the company’s cloud partners (Microsoft Azure, AWS, IBM Watson, etc.), so companies can easily understand what is happening between devices and network, to the core network, and to the IoT cloud from a single interface.

Michael Karlsen, Co-Founder and CEO, and Henrik Aagaard, Co-Founder and CTO of Onomondo commented: “The move to a plug and play SIM card is the catalyst the IoT needs to be deployed at scale and begin to reach its full potential.”

“In terms of significance, we view the development of a downloadable SoftSIM as comparable to the impact the Cloud has had on the Internet.”

“By eliminating the requirement for a complex physical connection, it removes a significant point of friction and opens the door for a wide range of people to bring true innovation and creativity to the IoT as customer needs evolve. The SoftSIM will also make a significant contribution to improving the sustainability of the IoT, eliminating the need to manufacture, transport and install billions of chips per year.

According to a report by the Trusted Connectivity Alliance, in 2021 the production of SIM cards resulted in 560,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and 18,000 tonnes of plastic. SIM card production is expected to grow rapidly, as connected IoT devices are expected to reach 27 billion by 2025. SoftSIM has the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions, while virtually eliminating plastic and polymer waste resulting from SIM card production . Innovations like these are important steps for the ICT industry to reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% between 2020 and 2030.

Earlier this year, Onomondo announced a new $21 million growth investment led by Verdane, a leading growth equity investment firm specializing in scaling digital consumer, software and and sustainable society. Onomondo will leverage the new funds to drive growth and achieve its planned projection of tripling its ARR in 2022 and 2023. The company also plans to grow its team from 50 to 100 over the next year, helping to expand its customer base. , which currently includes the likes of Bosch, Carlsberg and Maersk.