Commenting on the IoT eSIM orchestration rankings and competitive landscape, Senior Analyst Varun Gupta said, “eSIM penetration in IoT is accelerating steadily, driven by growing demand across automotive, utilities, logistics and connected devices that require remote provisioning and long-term lifecycle management. While early IoT eSIM adoption was largely concentrated in automotive and other high-value enterprise deployments, penetration is now expanding to broader, cost-sensitive IoT segments as enterprises seek global scalability and operational flexibility. This growth is pushing the market toward more automated, orchestration-led platforms designed to manage connectivity at scale, with automotive and utilities emerging as early adopters of SGP.32-based IoT eSIM architectures.”

Counterpoint CORE: IoT eSIM Orchestration, 2026

Gupta added, “As IoT eSIM deployments scale, the market is moving beyond basic remote provisioning toward more advanced orchestration platforms capable of managing connectivity through policies, automation and built-in resilience. The emergence of GSMA SGP.32 is accelerating this shift by introducing a standardized IoT eSIM architecture that reduces vendor lock-in and enables flexible multi-profile and multi-network strategies across long device lifecycles. Collectively, these developments mark a transition toward platforms designed for operational robustness and seamless integration into enterprise environments at scale.”

Commenting on the research findings, Research Director Mohit Agrawal said, “Cisco and IDEMIA emerged as Pacesetters in our eSIM Orchestration CORE Rankings with market-leading platform capabilities and execution. Cisco has executed with clear strategic focus, building early momentum around SGP.32 while delivering well-rounded IoT eSIM orchestration capabilities. IDEMIA leads the orchestration rankings on the strength of its deep technical capabilities, particularly in SIM lifecycle management, eIM functionality and cloud-based orchestration.”

1NCE, Aeris, Eseye, NTT-Transatel, Tata Communications, Emnify, Redtea Mobile Group, Telefonica, Valid and Kigen all emerged as ‘Leaders’ in this year’s CORE rankings. The Leaders group spans eSIM specialists and IoT MVNOs, each contributing distinct strengths.

eSIM specialists stand out for their deep technical expertise in remote provisioning and standards implementation, particularly around SGP.32 readiness and automation. IoT MVNOs leverage their network ownership and commercial flexibility to deliver resilient, globally scalable connectivity with integrated orchestration, strong operational maturity and proven deployment scale.

Linksfield, 10TTech, Trasna, BICS and Airlinq were ranked as ‘Challengers’, demonstrating strong, agile orchestration platforms that increasingly rival those of market leaders. While their current market footprint remains more limited, their depth of capabilities, technical maturity and execution focus position them as well-placed contenders for accelerated adoption and stronger market influence as IoT eSIM deployments scale globally.

Velos and 1oT were ranked as ‘Upstarts’, showing early market momentum and growing visibility. With continued enhancements to their platform capabilities, they are well-positioned to progress rapidly along the maturity curve.

Background on capability and execution parameters

We have analysed and evaluated key companies in the eSIM value chain using our proprietary CORE framework, which maps active players according to their capabilities and success in the ecosystem. The capabilities cover criteria such as eSIM lifecycle management, SM-SR, eIM, integration, authentication, analytics and monitoring, while the ecosystem part covers criteria such as geographical reach, partnerships, financial metrics, pricing models, platform deployments and transactions. Parameters such as analytics, automation, authentication and integration are increasingly becoming important for orchestration players to offer best capabilities through their platforms.

About Counterpoint Research

Counterpoint Research is a global market research firm specializing in products across the technology ecosystem. We advise a diverse range of clients – from smartphone OEMs to chipmakers and channel players to Big Tech – through our offices located in the world's major innovation hubs, manufacturing clusters and commercial centers. Our analyst team, led by seasoned experts, engages with stakeholders across the enterprise – from the C-suite to professionals in strategy, analyst relations (AR), market intelligence (MI), business intelligence (BI), product and marketing – to deliver services spanning market data, industry thought leadership and consulting. Our core areas of coverage include AI, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Displays, eSIM, IoT, Location Platforms, Macroeconomics, Manufacturing, Networks and Infrastructure, Semiconductors, Smartphones and Wearables. Visit our Insights page to explore our publicly available market data, insights and thought leadership, and to understand our focus, meet our analysts and start a conversation.

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