How Google’s Discovery Service is accelerating eSIM adoption with Entitlement Server technology

What’s a Discovery Service? 

One of the main drivers of eSIM adoption is just how easy it makes getting any device connected to a cellular network, whether that’s migrating between providers or brand new from the box.  

Here at 1GLOBAL we’ve provided some deep dives into the specialist architecture that enables the most powerful eSIM features, of which one of the fastest developing is the Discovery Service.  

At its most basic level, a Subscription Manager  – Discovery Service (SM-DS), sometimes called ‘root discovery’, comes into play when an eSIM-capable device is first switched on, and needs to find and activate its cellular connectivity.  

The device knows the Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (eID) of the SIM it woke up with and uses default or local connectivity to query a server for a match between the eID and a network operator profile. From there, the eSIM will download all the necessary data and config from the relevant operator and connect directly and automatically.  

A crucial intermediary step in getting that data and config from the SM-DS to the device is via a Subscription Manager Data Preparation (SM-DP+) service, of which there are only a dozen provider partners in the entire world – and 1GLOBAL is at the forefront. It’s with this insight that we’re providing a closer look at one of the most recent entries to the Discovery Service sector by Google, along with what these services mean for business and eSIM technology as a whole.  

The original SM-DS 

The first successful way of conveniently automating eSIM subscription downloading and config was by supplying a QR code. It’s still a very useful system, and 1GLOBAL facilitates QR-based provisioning around the world for, among others, the hospitality, travel, aviation, and fintech sectors. While this remains effective, there is still more that ‘one click’ required of the user, whereas a SM-DS can fully automate the journey. This approach also widens the types of devices able to be onboarded to include those that do not have the capability to scan a code. 

Ever the technological trendsetter, Apple launched the first proprietary Discovery Service back in 2018. Called the Apple Lookup Service (ALS) for eSIM, it came online in conjunction with the release of the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.  

The almost magical way that customers could get their iPhones connected to the network was the envy of the industry, and delivered a huge boost to the Apple brand and to the public profile of eSIM tech as a whole. It’s hard to overstate how much Apple’s continued presence in the device industry is thanks to using a Discovery Service to extend the same intuitive user-experience of its iOS to the formerly slow and frustrating process of connection. A success that was in no small part due to 1GLOBAL providing millions of eSIMs for that slick, out-of-the-box connectivity.   

The GSMA commercially launched its own manufacturer-agnostic SM-DS two years later in 2020, although it had been testing pilot programs since 2017, and then Google announced in early 2024 that it too was launching its own SM-DS to automate and streamline activation of Android devices worldwide.  

What SM-DS did Google launch? 

When an eSIM in an Android device is first activated, it needs to locate its assigned mobile operator and download the relevant credentials and config to activate a cellular connection. The chief goal of Google’s Discovery software is to make this sophisticated and multi-phased process a fully automatic one-click (or even zero-click) experience.  

The eSIM Discovery software that Google uses is cloud-based, which is an essential strategic consideration given Google’s truly global market. While Apple’s sleek devices are ubiquitous in our homes and among consumers, particularly in the West, it’s worth remembering that iOS is still a minority system.  

Market reports from 2025 indicate that iOS has around 58% of the market in North America and 68% in Europe – but on a global scale Android remains far in the lead with over 72%. For context on its explosive market growth, back in 2009 Android only accounted for 2% of all global installs.    

While a standardized, simple, and secure way to activate eSIM subscriptions is certainly a nice quality-of-life improvement for the average Android user, what this means for a global market context is far more impactful. 

Whereas iOS runs exclusively on Apple’s own devices, Android has a much broader manufacturer base. Thousands of different manufacturers produce Android devices, from relatively small regional brands up to heavyweights like Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus.  

Being able to make all these devices connect with that enviable iPhone ease is a huge leap forward in the realization of eSIM tech. Any mobile operator using the relevant subscription management platform can now offer one-click eSIM activation experience on virtually any Android device.  

What does Google SM-DS mean for the telco market? 

One of the key advantages for mobile network operators (MNOs) of Google’s SM-DS is that it’s virtually universally Android compatible and a fully digital way of activating eSIM subscriptions. A single standardized method is far more cost-effective for MNOs and manufacturers, because it means they don’t have to develop or maintain their own subscription manager data prep systems. 

This represents not only a cost-effective and engaging solution, but also a secure one as it provides top-down cybersecurity by Google from end to end.  

This streamlining reduces the overall number of vulnerable surfaces while reducing scope for user-error and accidental exposure to cyber threats. When a user’s Android device connects to a mobile network for the first time, they receive a simple one-button notification saying that a profile is available for download, and upon acceptance the subscription is immediately downloaded. This significantly reduces the opportunities for incorrect configuration, putting the connection at risk.  

Additionally, due to its cloud-based nature and scalability, Google SM-DS ensures worldwide availability and expandability to accommodate new Android devices and carriers globally, future-proofing carriers and MNO offerings.  

Why is Google SM-DS important for business?  

With their SM-DS, Google has created an Android ecosystem in which all connected MNOs and their customers’ consumer device makers benefit from a unified platform that is… 

• Secure & tested 
  SM-DS is a proven way of streamlining subscription information delivery from mobile network operator (MNO) straight through to the consumer. Google hasn’t looked to reinvent the wheel, but rather leverage its massive network engineering expertise for reliability.   

• Digital & universal  
  eSIM adoption via Android is maximized by making the customer journey quick and easy with one-time setup on their chosen network, ensuring a true digital customer journey. 

• Smarter & greener 
  Fewer physical assets, even just a printed QR Code, means smaller print and distribution costs. No plastic or paper at point of sale is required as activation happens fully Over-The-Air (OTA). 

• Fewer hours 
  Even better than reducing material is reducing customer support enquiries by fully automating profile and subscription activation. 

Why is Google SM-DS important for IoT?  

Google SM-DS is a powerful tool for the IoT sector as so many more fleets run on Android than iOS. IoT devices are also typically constrained due to efficiencies in form-factor, and they rarely have a way to scan a QR code. Via Google DS, whole fleets running Android-based systems can be issued with profiles without needing a camera, interface or the capability to download an application. 

Each IoT device’s eID is matched with an eSIM profile simply by scanning its stock code at the factory, store or warehouse. As soon as it’s switched on, the device seamlessly acquires the linked eSIM profile and connects to the mobile network. With truly global connectivity partners like 1GLOBAL, an entire Android device fleet could be powered up anywhere in the world and be online in seconds.  

How Google SM-DS works 

Among the most essential architectural components for leveraging the full power and convenience of eSIM technology is the interface between the Subscription Manager  – Discovery Service (SM-DS), the Subscription Manager-Data Preparation system (SM-DP+) and the Entitlement Server (ES). Google’s own system works in exactly the same way.  

Essentially, Google SM-DS guides the eSIM-enabled Android devices to the correct SM-DP+ server for profile download, and the ES then validates which network services and features it is ‘entitled’ to, including the right to initiate provisioning. It’s this triangular interaction that ensures near-immediate and secure cellular connectivity for both MNO customers and IoT devices. 

Here at 1GLOBAL, we’ve got some excellent practical analysis of the pivotal importance of Entitlement Server, but for no,w it’s enough to remember that it’s a vital MNO backend component that orchestrates, activates, and deactivates network services and features on devices. It validates access to services like VoWi-Fi, VoLTE, eSIM Quick Transfer, and Wearables, enhancing the customer experience and ensuring compliance.

The Google SM-DS performs three essential steps:

• 1. Boot & discovery 
  Before a user acquires an eSIM-enabled device, the MNO scans its eID, prepares profiles, and registers the SM-DP+ address with Google’s DS. The device then automatically queries using its eID to find the correct SM-DP+ for profile download, even though it’s fresh out of the box.

• 2. Entitlement & activation 
  After Google DS directs the device, the ES verifies the device/user rights to services and to proceed with profile activation. The device requests an eSIM entitlement config from the ES, which validates the subscription and network readiness for services.

• 3. Secure download  
  Following entitlement verification, the device downloads the eSIM profile from the SM-DP+. This is secured via strong security, typically being encrypted at source and decrypted by the device’s own onboard Local Profile Assistant (LPA) management software or IoT Profile Assistant (IPA) in cases of industrial application. Once installed, the eSIM activates, connecting the device to the MNO network.

This automated exchange, going through multiple sophisticated expert systems, happens in just a matter of seconds.   

Google SM-DS & IoT  

For consumer devices, Google’s provisioning typically follows a ‘pull model’ where the device initiates the profile download. IoT devices tend to work differently, as they’re built to have less autonomy and waste less space and power with nice-to-have features.  

Googles SM-DS integrates the new SGP.32 eSIM IoT specification, which supports eSIM IoT Remote Manager (eIM) and IoT Profile Assistant (IPA) for flexible over-the-air management. This means compatibility with devices running on ‘push’ models, which are more suited for constrained and low-power designs.  

Next steps 

Google’s Subscription Manager  – Discovery Service, coupled with Entitlement Server tech provided by 1GLOBAL, is the next great accelerant of eSIM's global success. As Google’s service guides Android devices worldwide to the correct profile source, ES by pioneers like 1GLOBAL governs access to their services and provisioning rights.  

This precise orchestration, combined with compliance and robust cybersecurity standards, underpins the next evolution of efficient and reliable remote SIM provisioning for the world’s most popular and diverse mobile operating system.   

Android’s adaptability and market penetration across consumer and IoT sectors, facilitated by these backend systems, is empowering MNOs, OEMs and MVNOs to innovate, reduce costs, and expand into new markets, ensuring flexible, reliable, and secure cellular connectivity for an ever-growing array of Android devices. 

To give your business or organization a distinct technological advantage, and to learn more about how 1GLOBAL can help you augment your connectivity, contact us today.