The number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices using eSIMs is poised for a 30% jump in 2026,rising from 1.2 billion in 2025, according to new research-a clear signal that this technology is rapidly becoming essential for connected devices.
eSIMs Gain Traction in IoT and Beyond
Two recent studies confirm the growing momentum of eSIM technology, especially in sectors like logistics, oil & gas, and smart infrastructure.
- The GSMA’s eSIM iot Architecture and Requirements SGP.32 standard is driving adoption.
- connected logistics,oil and gas,and smart street lighting are expected to be the fastest-growing sectors.
- UK consumer awareness of eSIMs has surged, with nearly 75% now familiar with the technology.
- iPhone users are leading the charge in eSIM adoption, spurred by Apple’s eSIM-only models.
A report from Juniper Research, eSIMs and iSIMs market 2025-2030, highlights the increasing adoption of eSIMs, particularly within the IoT landscape. This growth is being fueled by the GSMA’s eSIM IoT Architecture and Requirements SGP.32 specification,launched in 2025. This global standard enables scalable, server-driven remote SIM provisioning, offering benefits like streamlined activation, lower operational costs, and greater versatility for connectivity providers.
Juniper Research anticipates that connected logistics, oil and gas, and smart street lighting will experience the most important growth in eSIM adoption in 2026, collectively accounting for 75 million new eSIM connections. The firm emphasizes the need for eSIM platforms to transition from “pull” models-where devices individually request profiles-to “push” models, enabling simultaneous profile deployment to multiple devices. “Enterprise users demand a wholly different set of requirements, most notably a server-driven approach that enables centralised orchestration of deployments,” explained Ardit Ballhysa, senior research analyst at Juniper Research. “For enterprise IoT users, it is indeed inefficient to use a pull model to provision so many devices, and eSIM platforms must adapt.”
UK consumers Embrace eSIM Technology
Across a sample of over 1,000 respondents in the UK, CCS Insight found that awareness of eSIMs has dramatically increased, rising from 27% in 2022 to nearly 75% currently.Almost a third of those aware of eSIMs have used the technology to connect with a UK provider. iPhone customers are at the forefront of this trend, a result, according to CCS Insight, of Apple’s promotion of eSIMs, including the 2025 launch of the eSIM-only iPhone Air.
The convenience and potential cost savings are driving consumer interest in travel eSIMs, with almost three-quarters of survey respondents considering using one for their next international trip, including 86% of those who have used one previously. “We’ve seen a surge in awareness of eSIM, and also encouraging intention to use the technology,” said Kester Mann, CCS Insight director of consumer and connectivity. “Combined with rising compatibility in smartphones and support from operators, it won’t be long before eSIM becomes the de facto way to sign up to a mobile service.”
