2026 brings the first fully-compliant SGP.32 eSIM IoT deployments, handing profile control to the eIM and onboard IPA rather than the MNO. IoT MVNOs are positioning as ‘eSIM orchestrators’, layering policy logic across RSP and Connectivity Management Platforms. But migration costs, multi-vendor interoperability gaps and non-portable orchestration logic mean an open ecosystem isn’t guaranteed.
IoT MVNOs are entering a pivotal phase as eSIM (SGP.32) and Single Pane of Glass platforms reshape how connectivity is provisioned, managed, and monetised. The technical advantages that once set many IoT MVNOs apart are increasingly being adopted by MNOs, forcing a strategic reassessment. This article explores where sustainable differentiation still exists—highlighting the continued relevance of multi-IMSI, the importance of deep core network integration, and the growing role of intelligent connectivity orchestration. For MVNOs serving complex, international IoT deployments, the future lies in moving beyond megabytes toward value-driven, policy-aware, and context-rich connectivity solutions.
Differentiation in IoT Connectivity Among Fierce Competition – Examining the market for leading IoT CSPs (Connectivity Service Providers) within the domains of CMP (Connectivity Management Platforms) and eSIM capabilities, it is immediately evident that some real innovation is being brought to market in response to the growing maturity and complexity of cellular IoT.
In the world of IoT, MVNOs passed a significant milestone in 2023, with over 200 connections managed globally. The ability to address ‘long tail’ IoT enterprise customers with the addition of being able to offer greater flexibility in addressing more niche requirements has meant that such players have seen significant growth since 2017, when only 47 million connections were under management.