How Zero-Touch eSIM Provisioning Is Transforming Enterprise Connectivity

Enterprise connectivity via cellular network is becoming increasingly essential for business users, with a number of factors contributing to this growth.

Be it an increase in the use of mobile instant-messaging tools for business, the need to be online for a Zoom/Teams meeting, or the rising demand for connecting to your CRM platform/ bespoke apps on the go, in retail, there is a definite rise in the use of iPads and iPhones with mobile connectivity. This can serve as a fallback in case in-store connectivity and Wi-Fi go down, which can be catastrophic for a store in terms of missed payments, transactions, and accurate stock-keeping.

With a mobile connectivity service like 1GLOBAL SafeRetail as a fallback, that store doesn't need to close. Mobile connectivity is key to some of this. Getting connectivity to these outlets at scale and as simply as possible is key, and this is where eSIMs are having their moment.

Within the financial and legal sectors, organizations and firms are pushing iPads as a primary work device for employees, replacing laptops. This is chiefly so documents can be marked up in real time during what was previously dead time, but also because of how accessible and mobile they are. Of course, the latest generation of laptops also boasts impressive built-in mobile connectivity.

When assessing the current connectivity landscape for businesses, one thing becomes clear: there is a huge shift towards offering better-connected enterprise devices for employees. This is driven by a growing awareness that public Wi-Fi connectivity is increasingly off-limits for security reasons, and an understanding of how robust mobile connectivity can be a reliable means of keeping employees, users, and stores online.

Connecting eSIMs at scale

Accommodating this industry shift can be a complex undertaking for enterprises, not only in the expense of procuring numerous new mobile devices, but the logistics behind getting them all connected, managed, and monitored.

A question many enterprise IT heads or procurement managers ask is: How do we get the SIMs into the devices? Assigning physical SIMs can be a burden for corporate IT departments. It is a hugely labor-intensive task that can cause operational delays and painful revenue outlays, while there are also heightened cybersecurity risks to contend with.

A report published by the FCC in November 2023 found that SIM swapping was a major cause of identity theft. Even something more benign, such as a SIM being taken from a managed device to an unmanaged device, can unintentionally rack up huge fees if that SIM ends up roaming in a country where charges are steep. Such things happen surprisingly regularly.

The risks posed by deploying physical SIMs at scale are particularly acute for company-owned devices, which is why organizations must find a secure, scalable way to deliver the right SIMs to the right people, often at great volume and great speed.

The eSIM revolution

eSIMs are here to stay. Arriving as an option in the first mass market global device back in 2018 with the iPhone XS, Apple became the first company to leverage eSIMs’ potential at scale in multiple markets. However, many networks around the world have lagged this adoption curve. But an eSIM-dominant future is on the horizon.

By 2028, it is expected that the majority of mobile devices will support eSIM, either exclusively or as a digital alternative to a physical SIM. Apple introduced the first eSIM-only device in the US with the iPhone 14, and the rest of the world will likely follow suit in the years ahead.

The eSIM advantage

With eSIM-enabled devices, telco experts such as 1GLOBAL can start doing some very clever stuff with the deployment of eSIMs, leveraging remote install of the eSIM by integrating with Enterprise Mobile Device Management (MDM) platforms.

1GLOBAL provides enterprise customers with the telecom industry’s most seamless range of options for zero-touch eSIM distribution. The challenge of getting the right eSIM to the right user, in an instant, remotely and at scale, anywhere in the world, is handled by 1GLOBAL’s proprietary API integrations or MDM integrations – suitable for 1 or 10,000 users.

Once an eSIM is deployed via MDM to an enterprise-managed device, 1GLOBAL can support your business in embedding complete control of that eSIM. This means that the user does not have to actively install the eSIM – zero-touch capability ‘pushes’ the eSIM to the device – and it can arrive preconfigured in whichever way best suits the enterprise.

IT managers or similar professionals within an organization can then choose how the user interacts with their eSIM in advance of installation, such as disabling certain features that could pose revenue or security risks to the organization should they be misused or mishandled.

Zero-touch, complete control

In 2025, implementing a SIM distribution service should not impact cybersecurity or incur logistical delays.

For enterprises that opt for Apple iOS for their fleets, 1GLOBAL supports a range of MDM platforms to enable smooth eSIM integration and management. All a business requires are the EID numbers of each device. With these, 1GLOBAL can implement a zero-touch deployment plan at scale.

If security for your business is key, 1GLOBAL can leverage MDM and Refresh Cellular Commands with MS Intune to automate the process.

The gold standard solution for secure zero-touch deployment is Jamf Pro. Through a long-standing collaboration with 1GLOBAL, Jamf developed Jamf Pro to deliver the most secure and comprehensive eSIM distribution model on the market. The Jamf Pro eSIM distribution service is linked directly to an organization’s IDM to deliver fully automated out-of-the-box eSIM connectivity to any device, anywhere, at scale.

The 1GLOBAL eSIM integration capabilities encompass:

• Zero-touch distribution — great for IT departments and the end user.

• Multi-country support — Just one setup for multiple countries with a single API / integration.

• No more complex agreements with multiple carriers for voice and data or data-only services.

• Enhanced security — central distribution of eSIMs via MDM is key to protecting against cybersecurity threats.

Zero-touch eSIM distribution

While there are three main approaches to secure eSIM distribution, Jamf Pro integration represents the only solution that does not require an organization to already have the eID of the devices they want to enroll. With Jamf Pro, the process is much simpler for businesses.

Here are the most common enterprise eSIM deployment methods that businesses can employ with 1GLOBAL.

• Discovery service: Organizations can supply 1GLOBAL the EID and, once the device is switched on, it checks in to the eSIM server and installs. This is the simplest method, designed for the consumer, but it also works well in an enterprise. Note, however, that if you do this for a device that is already activated, the end user can abandon the install, and it also requires the end user to confirm the install.

• MDM EID preloading: With MDM EID preloading, a business supplies the carrier (1GLOBAL) with the EID and, in their own time (be it one by one or at scale), the IT admin uses the ‘Refresh Cellular Plan’ option in their MDM. 1GLOBAL then provides a URL for the device to check into, and because it is the MDM making the request, the install is zero touch and seamless.

• MDM push enrollment: Just as with MDM EID Preloading, an organization needs to share the EID in advance, but with MDM push enrollment, the check for the URL is baked into the pre-stage enrollment profile.

• Jamf Pro integration: This is the most secure, comprehensive approach to eSIM distribution. It requires no sharing of any devices’ EIDs. It is all controlled by the user profile and IDM. The process is simple: a user turns the device on, it automatically enrolls with the end user's credentials, and the rest is instant, anywhere in the world. Enterprises can add users one by one or at scale, and the right eSIM for the right country goes to the right user or device. The service is even billed from the correct country, and it is all driven out of a single API configuration. This setup is ideal for industries such as retail, healthcare, airlines, regulated industries, and many more.

1GLOBAL Enterprise

1GLOBAL is a leading international telco and digital-first connectivity provider, with a single core network comprising over 600 partner networks in 190+ countries. A single network means no roaming fees and just one agreement for all employees, devices, and countries of operation.

Employee device security needs are becoming increasingly sophisticated. In turn, mobile device management is set to become an increasingly essential role in IT departments, and evolving security policies are required to ensure organizations remain protected.

By streamlining the processes and enabling scalable mobile plans, zero-touch SIM deployment and management prepares multinational organizations for the future of telecommunications and cybersecurity.

As a telco ourselves, we’re keenly aware of the challenges and opportunities of international mobile connectivity. That’s why we’ve partnered with Jamf to deliver zero-touch eSIM plans for enterprises that deliver instant connectivity to team members around the world. 1GLOBAL clients include some of the world’s most recognizable brands across a variety of industries.

Speak to our team today to learn more about integrating 1GLOBAL Enterprise Connectivity in your organization.