By Manuel Nau, Lead Editor at IoT Business News.
Recent figures from the Trusted Connectivity Alliance show a five-fold increase SGP.32-compatible eSIM subscription management platform during the first half of 2026, along with an increase in consumer eSIM adoption and continued growth in traditional SIM shipments.
For IoT device manufacturers deploying connected products in multiple countries, managing mobile subscriptions remotely remains a critical operational challenge. Changing connectivity providers, activating devices after deployment or managing carrier profiles in large fleets can introduce complexity and costs beyond the initial hardware installation.
The industry’s transition to the GSMA SGP.32 specification is intended to address these limitations. Recent market data from the Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA) shows that the infrastructure supporting this transition is developing rapidly.
According to TCA’s October 2026 market snapshot, the global number of eSIM Subscription Manager (SM) platforms that support profile download under SGP.32 increased fivefold in the first half of 2026 compared to the full 2025 figure.
SGP.32 Developing Infrastructure as an IoT Provider Prepares for Scale
The fifth increase is significant because it measures the expansion of the subscription management infrastructure rather than just the number of eSIM-enabled devices entering the market.
SGP.32 introduces a remote SIM provisioning architecture designed specifically for IoT devices, where conventional consumer-oriented provisioning mechanisms are not always practical. The specification is intended to simplify remote subscription management between connected devices operating with different levels of connectivity, processing capabilities and user interaction.
For OEMs and enterprises, the availability of compatible platforms can increase the options for managing mobile connectivity throughout the operational life of the device. This is ideal for applications such as industrial monitoring, asset tracking, connected vehicles and smart infrastructure, where devices can be used for years without convenient physical access.
However, the distinction between platform availability and actual deployment adoption is important. A five-fold increase in compatible subscription management platforms does not necessarily translate to the same growth in connected devices using SGP.32. The TCA announcement did not reveal the absolute number of compatible platforms or the number of active IoT devices provided through it.
However, these figures indicate the investment in infrastructure required to support the use of these standards.
What the Shift Means for IoT Connectivity Providers
For connectivity providers and system integrators, the expansion of infrastructure compatible with SGP.32 changes the practical considerations of eSIM deployment.
When additional subscription management platforms are available, companies evaluating connectivity solutions have other reasons to check interoperability, remote provider capabilities and long-term subscription management along with traditional criteria such as network coverage and price.
The development also highlights an important architectural consideration: using the eSIM standard does not automatically eliminate integration complexity. Device compatibility, platform implementation and operational processes still need to work together to deliver reliable remote connectivity management.
Consequently, the growth reported by TCA should be seen as progress in ecosystem readiness rather than evidence that the operational challenges of large-scale eSIM deployment have been fully resolved.
Consumer eSIM Adoption Accelerating, Led by China
Beyond IoT, TCA’s latest figures show a clear acceleration in consumer eSIM adoption. Downloads of consumer eSIM profiles worldwide in the first six months of 2026 are almost the same volume recorded throughout 2025.
China is a major contributor to this increase, following the approval of regulations for leading domestic operators to offer eSIM services by October 2025. The subsequent introduction of eSIM-enabled devices and the availability of travel eSIM plans are helping to drive adoption.
Growth also continued in North America and Europe, as well as emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa and South America.
Acceleration is built on an already developed market. TCA previously estimated that global eSIM shipments will reach 605 million units by 2025, an increase of 18% year-on-year, while downloads of consumer eSIM profiles will increase by 43%.
Despite this momentum, the association warns that challenges affecting short-term smartphone shipments could hamper consumer demand for eSIMs in the coming year.
Demand for Traditional SIMs Remains Strong
One important finding is that the rapid adoption of eSIMs has not led to a decrease in demand for traditional SIMs.
TCA members reported a 6% year-on-year increase in the volume of traditional SIMs shipped during the first half of 2026, with continued growth in 2025.
This coexistence reflects the various requirements of the broader connectivity market. While eSIM offers remote subscription management capabilities, traditional SIM solutions remain relevant in many applications and deployment environments.
For the IoT industry, these findings reinforce the importance of choosing connectivity technologies according to operational requirements rather than assuming a uniform transition to eSIM.
TCA, whose members represent approximately 85% of the global eSIM hardware market, is based on monitoring member submissions, transactions and platform data.
The main takeaway for IoT stakeholders is the acceleration of the development of the SGP ecosystem.32. With more and more subscription management infrastructure available, the industry is meeting an important prerequisite for scalable remote connectivity management. The next measure of progress will be how effectively this emerging infrastructure becomes a commercially operable IoT solution.