I recently switched from a Pixel 7 to a Pixel 9 and chose to convert my physical SIM into an eSIM during the transfer. This made me curious about how eSIMs work, particularly because I learned that they still require specific hardware in the device. My question is: why is that necessary? If my Pixel 9 was able to clone the data from my physical SIM, couldn't it just store and use that data without needing dedicated hardware for eSIMs? This seems like it would allow older phones to be updated to support eSIMs as well. I know that one concern could be that if it were stored in the user data partition, it would vanish on a factory reset, but it seems it could be saved on the system partition during setup since it would be handled by a system-level app. Can someone explain why hardware is a must for eSIM functionality?
3 Answers
Think of eSIMs like hardware security modules—when something needs to be particularly secure, dedicated hardware really helps. It’s less prone to bugs or data leakage since it’s kept separate from the phone’s main processor.
The technology behind SIM cards is more complex than just a document stored on a phone. eSIMs are stored in a secure element that’s designed specifically for protecting data like carrier credentials and SIM profiles. This separation from the main operating system helps defend against malware and other security threats. Carriers also have regulatory requirements that necessitate this high level of security.
The primary reason eSIMs require hardware is due to security and encryption. While it's true you can replicate some of the functions through software, that opens up risks like being vulnerable to copying or modification by other software. Having dedicated hardware ensures a more secure environment for storing the sensitive data involved, such as SIM profiles and encryption keys.
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