Are Multi-Network SIMs and eSIMs the Same Thing?
When it comes to IoT connectivity, the details matter. Devices can’t go offline, and downtime isn’t an option. That’s why many businesses exploring global IoT connectivity ask the same question: are multi-network SIMs and eSIMs the same thing?
The short answer is no—they’re related, but different. Both are powerful tools for keeping devices connected across regions, carriers, and borders. But the way they work, and the benefits they deliver, vary in ways that can make a real difference for your deployment.
At Solve Networks, we specialize in making IoT connectivity simple. Here’s how the two technologies compare—and how you can use them together for the most resilient solution.
What Is a Multi-Network SIM?
A multi-network SIM is a physical SIM card designed to roam across multiple carriers. In our case, for the USA, that includes AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and for Global, that includes hundreds of carriers. Instead of being locked to a single provider, it automatically switches to the strongest available network.
Benefits for IoT:
- Reliable uptime across regions, borders, and carriers
- Built-in redundancy when a single carrier has an outage
- No swapping SIMs when equipment moves between coverage areas
For industries with mobile or widely distributed assets—like logistics, utilities, or agriculture—multi-network SIMs provide peace of mind by ensuring devices stay online wherever work takes them.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded Subscriber Identity Module) is a newer SIM technology that lets you digitally load carrier profiles onto a SIM card—whether that SIM is built into a device or inserted as a removable card.
Despite the name, embedded doesn’t necessarily mean permanent. You can have an eSIM that’s soldered directly onto the hardware or one that’s removable, depending on the device design. What makes it an eSIM isn’t the form factor—it’s the eUICC technology that allows the SIM to be reprovisioned or re-profiled digitally, over the air (OTA).
Unlike older-style SIM cards (UICC) that are hard-coded to a single carrier, eSIMs can store multiple carrier profiles and switch between them without physically replacing the SIM.
In Solve’s case, this means the same eUICC-based multi-network SIM cards you already deploy can now support downloadable eSIM profiles, making your connectivity more flexible and future-proof. It also means that if you’re using a device with an internal SIM soldered to the board, you can leverage Solve Networks’ downloadable eSIM profile.
Benefits for IoT:
- Remote provisioning at scale—no need to touch every device
- Flexibility to re-profile or change carriers digitally
- Improved security (the profile can’t be physically removed)
- Faster deployment and easier lifecycle management
For organizations rolling out thousands of connected devices—across smart cities, energy infrastructure, or industrial automation—eSIM for IoT brings agility, scalability, and long-term control.
Do You Have to Choose One?
The real strength comes when you don’t treat it as an either/or decision. With Solve Networks, you can pair multi-network SIM technology with eSIM technology, giving you the best of both worlds. That means resilient connectivity across multiple carriers, combined with the ability to remotely manage and change profiles at scale.
Solve Networks now supports both physical eUICC multi-network eSIMs and downloadable multi-network eSIM profiles, allowing you to adapt as your deployment scales or as new specifications emerge. Our technology currently supports SGP.02 (IoT) and SGP.22 (consumer) eSIM specifications, ensuring compatibility as the new SGP.32 standard develops.
We’ve seen this approach make all the difference in the field. A fleet of connected devices can stay online through multi-network roaming, while your team can still provision, update, or switch profiles over the air—without pulling hardware or rolling a truck.
The Bottom Line
Multi-network SIM technology and eSIMs aren’t the same thing, but they’re complementary parts of a modern connectivity strategy. Multi-network SIM technology relies on physical roaming across carriers, while eSIMs use software to digitally manage or re-profile those connections—often on the very same SIM card. Together, they provide the coverage, flexibility, and control that industrial IoT deployments demand.
At Solve Networks, we don’t just provide SIM cards—we deliver complete connectivity solutions backed by expertise, service, and support. From provisioning and deployment to scaling across regions, we help industrial clients achieve reliable IoT connectivity without the headaches.
When it comes to multi-network SIM vs eSIM, you don’t have to pick one—we’ll design the right mix for your business.
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