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.
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 you can properly identify Super SIMs and distinguish them from other KORE SIMs that use a similar ICCID prefix.
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.
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.
Additionally, if you use other KORE SIMs in addition to Super SIM, you may need to use additional information, such as the SIM's ICCID prefix, to distinguish Super SIMs from other KORE SIMs. For example, the APNs used for Super SIM are different from other KORE APNs and are not interchangeable. Ensure you can distinguish Super SIMs from other KORE SIMs that may also use the KORE SPN.
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.
SIM applets & local AT commands
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, all Super SIMs produced with the new ICCID range indicated above will be produced as industrialized eUICC SIMs (eSIMs). This will apply for both the plastic SIM cards, MFF2 embedded SIM hardware, and all other form factors.
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.
Query SIM Status
Query SIM Information particularly the SIM status
AT+CSIM=26,"80C2000008CF06020282814C00"
Coming soon
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.
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF07020282814E0101"
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001AA"
Return To Automatic Switching
Set the SIM to automatic switching mode.
AT+CSIM=36,"80C200000DCF0B020282814F050190000000"
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001EE"
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
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001BB"
Switch to Last Working IMSI
Will return to Automatic mode at Return to Priority Timer or the device is rebooted.
Not available
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001CC"
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
AT+CSIM=28,"80C2000009CF0702028281A001DD"
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"
Coming soon
Last updated
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