BSNL joins Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, soft launches eSIM services in Tamil Nadu circle
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
(BSNL) on Friday soft-launched its eSIM services in the Tamil Nadu circle, joining the league of its private sector rivals
Reliance Jio
,
Bharti Airtel
, and
Vodafone Idea
(Vi) that already commercially offer these services nationwide.
BSNL said the eSIM service will enable customers to activate mobile connections without a physical SIM on compatible smartphones and wearables, adding that it will be rolled out nationwide in a phased manner.
The telecom PSU has nearly 9 crore mobile users.
The eSIM will enable remote provisioning via secure QR code, while digital know-your-customer (KYC) at
BSNL customer service
centres will facilitate quick onboarding.
The eSIM can be used alongside a physical SIM in supported devices, said BSNL, adding that the service works in leading devices, including recent models from major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
BSNL CMD Robert J Ravi said the eSIM launch underscores BSNL's commitment to secure, future-ready connectivity and Digital India, bringing customers instant, SIM-less activation, dual-SIM flexibility, and improved security versus plastic SIMs.
During the soft-launch phase, customers can visit the nearest BSNL customer service centre with an eSIM-capable device and a valid ID; BSNL staff will complete digital KYC and issue a one-time QR code to download the eSIM profile. Existing users may migrate from physical SIM to eSIM, and new customers can opt in directly.
Earlier, Gopal Vittal, vice-chairman and managing director, Bharti Airtel, had urged the telco's subscribers to use eSIM, citing that its eSIM can enable seamless connectivity on all devices, and also make it easier for users to track their stolen smartphones. 'We at Airtel want to do everything we can to ensure that you have as convenient and efficient a connectivity experience as possible,' Vittal had said.
London-based telco group GSMA, in a whitepaper, earlier said that eSIMs enable telcos to expand their business into emerging markets, such as automotive, wearables, and consumer electronics, while eliminating SIM card distribution costs and creating new distribution models for devices and for marketing of subscriptions.
The adoption of eSIMs has, however, been limited to some high-end Android smartphones and Apple devices, and premium smartwatches with the ecosystem being largely fragmented.
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