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The devil is in the details when it comes to IoT devices
Since April when we launched Works With Simplex program we have been testing different devices to see if they work with the latest eSIM for IoT Specification SGP.32. More specifically we have been testing if a Device (Modem + Hardware + Operating System) works with the “SIM only” implementation using the IPAe. This is where the LPAe Application running on the UICC is trying to establish a TCP/IP connection towards the EIM using the BIP STK command.
You can learn about our program here: https://www.simplexwireless.com/works-with-simplex/
What we have discovered during our testing is that BIP STK support is sporadic and unpredictable. It is difficult to predict if a Device will support it ahead of time. There is not a technology common denominator such as 5G, 4G LTE, CAT-M that makes a device compatible or the year that the device has been manufactured. The only certain method you can ensure the support is that you test the device for it behavior.
As we tested multiple various devices we ran into an interesting scenario. For a customer case we bought two Peplink MAX BR1 Mini devices for testing. They are almost identical with the one being model name LTEA and the other one LTE-US, so just a small indicator that there was a difference between the two devices. Upon closer inspection we noticed that the LTEA versions Modem was TELIT LE910-NA V2 and the LTE-US was Sierra Wireless MC7455.
We tested both devices with the same setup. eUICC with a IPAe with the SGP.32 specification. The LTE-US version with Sierra Wireless modem was able to establish a connection to the EIM while the LTEA with the TELIT modem was not able to open the channel.
We were quite surprised with these findings given that both devices are identical, make, model and firmware with the only difference the Modems on it. This shows you that the industry is sporadic when it comes to implementing the BIP support and you have go through the motion of testing the devices yourself.
What is your opinion on this? We’d love to hear from you at marketing@simplexwireless.com!
This article was written by Jan Lattunen, CCO, Simplex Wireless
