It’s simply not realistic to replace SIMs in IoT devices every time you need a new network provider. Not only are devices often widely dispersed or located in remote areas, the fees associated with SIM swaps aren’t reasonable for growth-mode companies. This reality led to the creation of multi-IMSI and eUICC SIMs, promising multiple providers on one card to give businesses greater control and flexibility with their provider choices.

While multi-IMSI SIMs offer an advantage to traditional SIMs, they fall short in fully protecting your connectivity in the event of a major outage. That’s why Hologram created its Dual-Core SIMs, designed to deliver the industry’s first truly fail-safe connectivity.

But, how do they differ and which one is right for you? Let's look at both technologies, their differences, advantages and how you can choose the product most tailored to your business.

Multi-IMSI SIMs: The first step towards flexible connectivity

Multi-IMSI SIMs are embedded with multiple International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSIs) – all on a single physical SIM. It’s a cost-saving solution for devices that need international roaming profiles alongside their Tier-1 carriers. These SIMs allow businesses to switch between IMSIs based on factors like network availability or cost. As one key advantage, this means businesses with global devices can avoid sky-high roaming charges by simply switching to a local IMSI.

While IMSIs were a step in the right direction, it wasn’t enough. Sure, IMSI gave IoT businesses more flexibility but they were also pre-programmed, which means they lacked any freedom to dynamically add new operator profiles without physical access.

eUICC SIMs: The next evolution of SIM technology

IoT leaders wanted more from their SIMs. Enter eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) SIMs, allowing for the storage and management of multiple carrier profiles on a single SIM. These profiles aren’t just stored, they can be remotely managed, allowing for over-the-air downloading, updating, or deletion.

eUICC SIMs were a huge innovation, offering more flexibility and adaptability across regions and network conditions. But, they have one critical flaw: When a major provider goes down, devices would be locked out of both profiles, thanks to the single point of failure in the SIM technology that meant all paths to connectivity were blocked.

Why Hologram's Dual-Core SIM is the next leap forward

At Hologram, we knew the industry needed a SIM solution that wouldn’t derail devices with a single point of failure. That’s why we created Dual-Core SIMs, offering full route redundancy through two completely independent paths to the Internet. Unlike multi-IMSI solutions that rely on a single mobile core infrastructure, Dual-Core SIMs connect through two distinct mobile core networks, significantly reducing the risk of single points of failure. Plus, they include Fallback technology that allows for devices to automatically switch to the second profile, in the event of an outage. All of this means more reliable, secure and uninterrupted coverage for your devices.

How Dual-Core SIMs differs from multi-IMSI and eUICC:

• More paths to connectivity: Even if one major network goes down, you’ll have the ability to connect to another entirely different set of providers.
• Automatic Fallback tech: In the past, businesses would need to switch between networks on their own. With Hologram’s Fallback, our software regularly monitors your connection and switches your device when downtime occurs.
• Comprehensive, global coverage: Access to 500+ carriers in 200+ countries simply gives you more options than pre-programmed IMSIs, providing dependable coverage no matter where your devices are located.

The choice that’s right for you

One thing is true: The cellular connectivity space is never boring. We’re proud to be on the leading edge of innovation. To determine the right fit for you, start by evaluating the risk of downtime for your business and the level of protection you need. (Our latest e-book can help!) Your business deserves to experience uninterrupted connectivity, staying connected when it matters most.

More questions on the difference between SIMs? Get in contact with our Connectivity Specialists.