Migrating to the New Super SIM Hardware
Overview
With the current innovations, acquisitions, and our never-ending desire to improve user experience with KORE products and services, we will be making updates to our SIM hardware, eSIM profiles, and the applets that power Super SIM. Most changes below will only be on a go-forward basis for newly manufactured SIMs. The changes to our applets can also be made over-the-air and should be eventually applied to all active SIMs.
We plan to begin shipping new Super SIMs with the changes detailed below beginning in Q3 2025.
If you believe that any of the changes below will negatively impact your experience or ability to use Super SIM, please contact your account manager or email Support to discuss options.
What is changing?
New ICCID prefix
The ICCID is the unique identifier given to all physical SIMs or eSIM profiles.
Currently, Super SIMs are produced with ICCIDs beginning in 8988307.
Going forward, Super SIMs will be produced with ICCIDs beginning in 8910392.
If you use this identifier to manage logic in your device’s firmware or in other applications, you will need to update them. For example, you may use the SIM's ICCID prefix to automatically set your device's APN or to determine which connectivity provider API to make requests to to activate your SIM. If this is the case, you will need to update your firmware and applications to accommodate multiple ICCID prefixes for Super SIM. Learn more about how to use the ICCID prefix to identify Super SIMs here.
Additionally, if you use other KORE SIMs in addition to Super SIM, you may need to also make changes to distinguish Super SIM from other KORE SIMs. Some other KORE SIM products use the 890139 ICCID prefix. Note that this is a substring of the Super SIM ICCID prefix which has the additional "2" character. Ensure that you can properly distinguish Super SIMs from these other KORE SIMs so that you do not encounter issues configuring your devices or updating your SIMs.
Thoroughly review your firmware and provisioning workflows to ensure your devices or applications can distinguish Super SIMs from other KORE SIMs whose ICCID may start with the same 6 characters (891039). Use the first 7 characters (8910392) — including the "2" — to properly identify Super SIMs.
New Service Provider Name (SPN)
The service provider name (SPN) is a value that can be read from the SIM using an AT+ command.
Currently, the SPN on Super SIMs is Twilio.
Going forward, newly manufactured Super SIMs will have the SPN value set to KORE Super SIM.
If you have firmware that supports SIMs from multiple providers, there may be a lookup table within the firmware to set the APN based on the SPN, such as that used by Android. If this is the case, you will need to update your firmware to accommodate multiple SPN’s for Super SIM. Learn more about how to use the SPN to identify Super SIMs here.
Existing SIMs with the 8988307 ICCID prefix will continue to use Twilio as the SPN while new SIMs with the 8910392 ICCID prefix will use KORE Super SIM.
SIM applets & local AT commands
Within each Super SIM there are multiple SIM applets that manage functionality such as automatic IMSI switching and checking for over-the-air (OTA) updates. Refer to these pages to learn more about Super SIM's multi-IMSI approach and OTA updates. You can use AT commands passed via the modem to the SIM to trigger some applet functions. The SIM applets can be updated over-the-air so we intend to update all Super SIMs with the new applets.
Multi-IMSI applet
You can use AT+CSIM commands to have some control over Super SIM’s multi-IMSI applet from your device. For example, you can accelerate the IMSI failover process, forcing the applet to the next IMSI. This can reduce the time to reconnect in the event of an outage on the IMSI currently being used by forcing it to the next IMSI before the applet’s timer triggered this same change. You can learn about the current multi-IMSI functionality that you can control with AT+CSIM commands here.
We will be updating the multi-IMSI applet on all Super SIMs. We will start by manufacturing new SIMs with these updated applets but will then over-the-air update existing Super SIMs with the new applet. After this update, you will have access to additional functionality; however the AT+CSIM commands for the existing functionality will change.
If your device’s firmware uses these existing AT+CSIM commands, you will need to update your firmware to use the new commands. We recommend you update your firmware to try both the new and previous AT+CSIM commands until all devices have been updated with the new applets to ensure no disruption to your device’s capabilities.
Refer to the section below for a comparison of the current and future local applet functionality that can be controlled using AT commands.
OTA polling applet
You can use AT+CSIM commands to trigger the SIM applet responsible for over-the-air (OTA) updates to check if there are pending updates from your device. This can be especially useful if you have a battery powered device. If your device typically goes to sleep quickly after waking up and transmitting its data, this can prevent OTA updates from ever being delivered to your SIMs as the modem may be shutoff before the SIM applet’s delay timer expires. You can learn more about OTA updates and how you can trigger the applet with AT+CSIM commands here.
We will be updating the OTA applet on all Super SIMs. We will start by manufacturing new SIMs with these updated applets but will then over-the-air update existing Super SIMs with the new applet. When the OTA applet is updated, the AT+CSIM command to trigger it to check for updates will change.
If your device’s firmware uses this existing AT+CSIM command, you will need to update your firmware to use the new command. We recommend you update your firmware to try both the new and previous AT+CSIM commands until all devices have been updated with the new applets to ensure no disruption to your device’s capabilities.
Upgraded SIM hardware
To reduce the number of hardware variants we maintain and to improve the quality of the SIM hardware you receive, we intend to produce all new Super SIMs, starting with those produced with the new ICCID range indicated above as industrialized eUICC SIMs (eSIMs). This will apply for plastic SIM cards, MFF2 embedded SIM hardware, and all other form factors.
If you believe this hardware change will introduce problems when designing, manufacturing, or deploying your devices (current or future), we want to hear from you. Please create a support case or email Support to share your concerns.
5G SA Readiness
A significant improvement to note is readiness for 5G standalone ("5G SA"), although it may take some time before it becomes the standard for IoT due to various factors such as network support, hardware costs, and the longevity of 4G LTE networks.
However, certain use cases, like vehicle cameras, can greatly benefit from 5G SA or have devices being designed to last in the field for many years or even decades. 5G SA introduces new challenges, particularly in terms of the SIM hardware's role in authentication with the network. This requires the SIM to have more processing power to handle the encryption and decryption of subscription data during the authentication process. Traditional UICC SIMs may not be capable of this, but our eUICC (eSIM) hardware variants have the necessary processing power for 5G SA.
SIM hardware manufacturing locations
Currently, Super SIMs are produced either in Mexico or China depending on their type and destination.
Going forward, Super SIMs will also be produced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Taiwan.
AT commands to control SIM applets
The following commands can be used with the existing and new SIM applets to take some control over IMSI switching and managing over-the-air updates.
Each AT+CSIM command can be used to trigger some action within the SIM. It instructs the module to relay to the SIM an embedded Application Protocol Data Unit (APDU) ENVELOPE command. This, in turn, contains proprietary instructions for the SIM.
Query SIM Status
Request details about the multi-IMSI applet such as whether or not the applet is in automatic switching mode.
AT+CSIM=26,"80C2000008CF06020282814C00"
Response: See Query SIM Status Responses below
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281B30100"
Response:
See Query SIM Status Responses below
Force IMSI Switch
Switch to the next IMSI. If the IMSI you switch to is not the Preferred IMSI for the current location, this will be a temporary change. Will return to automatic mode at Return to Priority Timer or the device is rebooted.
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF07020282814E0101"
Response:
+CSIM: 4, "910B"
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001AA
Responses:
+CSIM: 4,"9000"
or
+CSIM: 4,"6109"
if there is a response with 9 byte
Return To Automatic Switching
Set the SIM to automatic switching mode.
Request:
AT+CSIM=36,"80C200000DCF0B020282814F050190000000"
Response:
+CSIM: 4, "9000
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001EE"
Responses:
+CSIM: 4,"9000"
or
+CSIM: 4,"6109"
if there is a response with 9 bytes
Lock IMSI
Disables automatic switching. SIM will stay on the IMSI currently being used even if not the Preferred IMSI. Use the Return to Automatic Switching command to return to normal Super SIM automatic IMSI selection and fallback behavior.
Not available
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001BB"
Responses:
+CSIM: 4,"9000"
or
+CSIM: 4,"6109"
if there is a response with 9 bytes
Switch to Last Working IMSI
Will return to automatic mode at Return to Priority Timer or the device is rebooted.
Not available
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001CC"
Responses:
+CSIM: 4,"9000"
or
+CSIM: 4,"6109"
if there is a response with 9 bytes
Switch to Preferred IMSI
Switches to the Preferred IMSI for the current location.
Will return to automatic mode at Return to Priority Timer or the device is rebooted.
Not available
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001DD"
Responses:
+CSIM: 4,"9000"
or
+CSIM: 4,"6109"
if there is a response with 9 bytes
Check for OTA Update
Triggers the Super SIM to open a connection and check-in with the over-the-air update service to see if there are any pending updates for it.
AT+CSIM=30,"80C200000AFD08020282814F020900"
Request:
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001000"
Response:
+CSIM: 4,"9000"
or
+CSIM: 4,"6109"
if there is a response with 9 bytes
Query SIM status responses
Existing Applet
The crucial point is that you can use the returned data to check applet status. Look at the first hexadecimal byte of the response. This should be 80, which indicates that the SIM is set to switch IMSIs automatically. The value is a bitfield. Bit 7 should always be set; bit 0 indicates the applet's current operation mode: if it is clear, the applet will switch IMSIs automatically.
Some modems may require a second command to read the response you're after. If your modem returns +CSIM: 4, "6109" you will need to issue a second command to read the response.
If you get the SIM status after forcing the SIM to switch to the next IMSI, the first byte of the response should no longer be 80. Common values are A1 and 82 depending on the point in the process at which you complete the query, but other values may be seen.
A1 means that the applet's timer is in operation (bit 6 is set) and the applet is in Default IMSI mode (bit 0 is set). When the timer fires, the applet will switch to Automatic mode.
82 indicates that the applet has switched from Default IMSI mode to Automatic mode. Bit 1 is set when the applet mode changes.
If you query the SIM's status again after running the command to put it back into automatic IMSI switching mode, the first byte of the response will once more be 80 — IMSI switching will take place automatically.
New Applet
If you run the query SIM status command, you will get a response from which you can decode various settings on the SIM. Note that the response below is an example.
Use the table below to understand what different bytes of the response convey:
1
Automatic switch mode status
00 = Disabled 01 = Enabled
2
Current Active IMSI. Indicates the position of the IMSI in the IMSI list starting from 01
01, 02, 03, ...
3
Last working IMSI. Indicates the position of the IMSI in the IMSI list starting from 01
01, 02, 03, ...
4-6
Timer left for switch back to preferred IMSI. 3 bytes in swap format.
029500
7-9
First network latch time from TP
FF9575
Last updated
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