AT&T has teamed up with Belfast-based SIM specialist Kigen, spun-out of chip design company Arm at the end of last year, to allow cellular IoT device makers to source integrated SIM solutions earlier in the manufacturing process. This includes at the point of contract manufacturing, module supply, or chipset level.
Chipset level integration will be enabled by merging chip and SIM into a single component, as an integrated SIM (iSIM). Other options will be available to IoT makers via embedded SIMs (eSIMs) and standard SIMs. AT&T has extended the offer for IoT developers working with LTE, LTE-M, and NB-IoT.
AT&T is using Kigen’s SIM OS, data generation, and key management services. The pair said the deal will improve flexibility and reduce complexity for IoT developers, streamlining their supply chains and accelerating launch times. The movemerges SIM and chip procurement, to optimise production and raise SIM-level security, they argued.
Typically, device manufacturers have been required to purchase multiple SIM SKUs for each end-customer or market. A statement said: “Access to a new cache of SIMs that are compatible with cellular chipsets and secure IC vendors offers additional flexibility that results in supply chain optimisation.
“This streamlined approach also simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing suppliers, OEMs and licensees to identify the ideal SIM solution earlier in the design process, meaning device estates can scale sooner upon deployment.”
Vincent Korstanje, chief executive at Kigen, said: “Scale is both cellular IoT’s most significant opportunity and hurdle. Removing the complications of placing security at the heart of IoT devices so businesses can focus on accelerating their products is key. The combination of Kigen’s solutions across all types of SIM with AT&T’s connectivity simplifies how businesses choose the right security, tuned to their manufacturing needs; offering trusted IoT that scales.”
William Stovall, vice president of mobility, IoT and 5G at AT&T, said: “This collaboration will also offer AT&T customers the ability to bring more innovative and secure features to market sooner.”
