The evolution of the SIM card over time

Tomek from Pixabay

GUEST OPINION: From old-fashioned SIMs the size of a credit card to the modern eSIM for Thailand that does not need a physical card at all, the technology has evolved considerably since it made its debut in the early 1990s. Here is a look at the main advances in SIM card technology and at some future developments.

The origins of the SIM card

The basic concept of incorporating a silicon-integrated circuit chip into a plastic card dates back to the 1960s. However, the first commercial subscriber identity module or SIM was only introduced in 1991, at the same time as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) was implemented in Finland. The SIM was developed by Germany’s Giesecke+Devrient to offer secure access to the mobile network. The company initially sold 300 of the cards to Radiolinja, a Finnish wireless network operator, which launched the first GSM network. Back then, the SIM was the size of a credit card and had 4 KB of memory space. In comparison, modern SIM cards have between 8 KB and 256 KB of memory.

Key SIM developments

Following the launch of the SIM, one of the key developments came four years later with the SIM Toolkit, which allowed the SIM to communicate with the user and the network.

Another evolution of the SIM happened in 1996 with the launch of the mini-SIM. Now called the standard SIM, the mini came in at 15 mm x 25 mm, which significantly shrank down the original credit card size version (around 54 mm x 86 mm). In 2010, the micro SIM made its appearance in the iPhone 4, which was the first smartphone to support the smaller version. The micro SIM measures 12 mm x 15 mm. The SIM shrank even smaller in 2012, when the nano SIM debuted. Most modern phones still use the nano version, which measures 8.8 mm x 12.3 mm.

An important thing to note is that while the size of the SIM has reduced over the years, the actual chip remains the same size. The reductions have been in the size of the plastic border. As a result, the nano was pared down to essentially the chip without a border. Among other things, a smaller SIM card means a smaller slot is needed in the phone, freeing up space for other components.

A further evolution to mention is the development of devices with dual SIM functionality. This allows two SIM cards to be inserted into the same phone, giving the user the ability to switch between mobile networks. This has several advantages, such as having separate work and private phone numbers and being able to add a local SIM for travel. Devices that support a dual SIM have been around since 2000, with the launch of the Benefon Twin. Nokia, Samsung and Sony were among the makers to bring in dual SIM-compatible devices in 2010, while in 2018, Apple introduced dual SIM functionality on its iPhone XS models.

The future of SIM technology

One of the main recent developments in SIM cards has been the introduction of the embedded SIM (eSIM) or digital SIM. Unlike the previous iterations, the digital SIM requires no physical card. Instead, the SIM is embedded directly into the device. Introduced in the Samsung Gear S2 Classic 3G smartwatch in 2016, the digital SIM has been gaining significant traction in recent years. They are now featured in some of the latest handsets of big-name manufacturers like Samsung and Google, plus the Apple iPhone XS and later models.

The digital SIM has several advantages. For example, rather than have to worry about purchasing a physical SIM to get mobile data to use abroad, travellers with compatible phones can buy an eSIM that is activated remotely through a QR code. Scanning the code unlocks the plan, allowing the user to access mobile data via a local network. As well as convenience, this offers added flexibility. For example, travellers can buy an eSIM for Thailand or for the Asia region. This makes accessing the internet while crossing borders far easier. Travel eSIMs can also work alongside a physical SIM card.

Conclusion

Overall, the SIM card has come a long way since Giesecke+Devrient introduced them in 1991. Indeed, from those first 300 cards globally, the SIM market has been forecast to grow to around $9.1bn by 2030, up from $4.6 billion in 2022. As innovative telecommunications technologies have been introduced, so too the SIM card has evolved to keep pace with increasing demands for accessibility, storage and connectivity on the go.

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