Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Secure software implementation of an eSIM

Project description

A SIM card you don’t need to remove

Subscriber identity module (SIM) cards are currently used in all smartphones. These small cards contain a chip and are removable and transferable to other mobile phone devices. SIM cards must be placed into the phone in order to access the local mobile network and for the phone to work. The EU-funded Helios-Plugin project is developing an eSIM that cannot and does not need to be removed from the device. Serving as network authentication, it can provide multi-application operability and migration from hardware. What’s more, to avoid the use of multiple secure elements that are soldered to the device, the project’s eSIM plug-in software can be downloaded and updated. This means users can benefit from bug fixing and feature updates.

Objective

The eSIM is a form of integrated SIM soldered directly onto the circuit board of a connected or mobile device, and thus CANNOT and NEEDNOT be removed from the device. The eSIM has great potential in network authentication because of the immense benefits it offers to users. Its potential can be enhanced by synthezing its inherent features with further technological developments to ensure multi-application operability and migration from hardware. Current eSIMs are hardware dependant and can only be implemented as a soldered Secure Element (SE) in the device. As a result, they cannot be deployed on existing devices, making old devices obsolete. Additionally, each SE is currently linked to one application, meaning that a single user will need multiple eSE on different devices which is costly and inconvenient. An unmet opportunity has thus been identified for developing a multi-application software based eSIM that will enable maximum exploitation of the eSIM technology.
OSSE has identified this opportunity and has developed the Helios-Plugin, a GSMA compliant secure SOFTWARE implementation of an eSIM. The Plug-in will be combined in usage with a multipurpose, SE but can however be deployed on an SE mounted on an existing device. Helios-Plugin enables the use of the SE for multiple purposes e.g. payment or transport applications which reduces TCO of eSIM from €1 to below €0.85/unit for OEMs and also reduces cost of SIM replacement by 94% (€5 to €0.3). The eSIM plug-in software can dynamically be downloaded and updated, enabling the user to benefit from bug fixing and feature updates.
Helios-Plugin is at an advanced stage of development having been demonstrated with NXP. During Ph1, we will develop a road map to finalise Helios-Plugin and Ph2 will see us developing and validating the market version.
Our turnover will come from royalties for each device deployed with Helios-Plugin. We target to achieve a cumulative turnover of €12.5M by the 5th year of commercialisation.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

OASIS SMART SIM EUROPE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
145 RUE DU PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
78100 SAINT GERMAIN EN LAYE
France

See on map

SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Yvelines
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
My booklet 0 0