Glossary
eSIM, IoT and roaming testing glossary
Clear definitions of the terms you meet when building, launching and testing eSIM and cellular IoT products — from eUICC, EID and SM-DP+ to PLMN, RSRP and attach reject causes.
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- 5G NSA5G Non-Standalone
- 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) adds 5G NR radio capacity to an LTE network, using LTE as the anchor and the 4G core. Learn how EN-DC works and its limitations.
- 5G SA5G Standalone
- 5G SA (Standalone) is 5G with its own 5G Core and no LTE anchor, enabling network slicing and VoNR. Learn how it works and how it differs from 5G NSA.
A
- Activation Code
- An eSIM activation code tells a device which SM-DP+ to contact and which profile to download. Learn the LPA:1$ format, its fields and common errors.
- APNAccess Point Name
- An APN is the name a device uses to request a data connection, telling the network which gateway and service to use. Learn its format and common APN failures.
- Attach Reject Cause
- An attach reject cause is the code a network sends when it refuses a device's registration. Learn the common 3GPP EMM causes such as #7, #11, #13 and #15.
B
- Bootstrap Profile
- A bootstrap profile is a preloaded eSIM profile that gives a new device just enough connectivity to reach its eSIM manager and download an operational profile.
E
- EIDeUICC Identifier
- The EID is the permanent 32-digit identifier of an eUICC chip. Learn its structure, how it differs from the ICCID and IMSI, and how eSIM provisioning uses it.
- eIMeSIM IoT Remote Manager
- The eIM is the SGP.32 server that remotely manages eSIM profiles on IoT devices, triggering downloads and sending enable, disable and delete operations.
- eSIMEmbedded SIM
- An eSIM is a SIM whose operator profile is downloaded over the air to a secure chip in the device, instead of being supplied on a removable plastic card.
- eUICCEmbedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card
- An eUICC is the secure chip inside an eSIM device that can store and switch between multiple operator profiles downloaded over the air.
I
- ICCIDIntegrated Circuit Card Identifier
- The ICCID is the serial number of a SIM card or eSIM profile, defined in ITU-T E.118. Learn its structure, Luhn check digit and how it differs from the EID.
- IMSIP Multimedia Subsystem
- IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) is the 3GPP SIP-based core that delivers voice, video and messaging over IP for VoLTE, VoNR, Wi-Fi Calling and RCS.
- IMSIInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity
- The IMSI is the up-to-15-digit identity a mobile network uses to recognize a subscriber. Learn its MCC, MNC and MSIN structure and its role in roaming.
- IPAIoT Profile Assistant
- The IPA is the SGP.32 component that downloads and manages eSIM profiles on an IoT device on behalf of an eIM, taking the role the LPA plays in consumer eSIM.
- IPAdIoT Profile Assistant in the IoT Device
- IPAd is the SGP.32 IoT Profile Assistant implemented in the device itself, in module firmware or a host application, rather than inside the eUICC.
- IPAeIoT Profile Assistant in the eUICC
- IPAe is the optional SGP.32 IoT Profile Assistant built into the eUICC, letting devices without IPA software support remote eSIM profile management.
- IREGInternational Roaming Expert Group
- IREG testing is the GSMA end-to-end roaming test process that verifies a subscriber of one network can register, call, text and use data on a partner network.
L
- LPALocal Profile Assistant
- The LPA is the SGP.22 software on a phone or tablet that downloads, installs and manages eSIM profiles, and gives the user control through a local interface.
- LTE-MLTE for Machines (LTE Cat-M1)
- LTE-M (LTE Cat-M1) is a 3GPP low-power cellular technology for IoT that supports mobility, voice and higher data rates than NB-IoT, using 1.4 MHz channels.
M
- MCC/MNCMobile Country Code / Mobile Network Code
- MCC and MNC are the codes that identify a mobile network: a 3-digit country code plus a 2- or 3-digit network code. Learn their format and how they are used.
- MSISDNMobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number
- The MSISDN is the dialable phone number of a mobile subscription, in ITU-T E.164 format. Learn its structure and how it differs from the IMSI and ICCID.
N
- NB-IoTNarrowband Internet of Things
- NB-IoT is a 3GPP low-power wide-area cellular technology for IoT, using a 180 kHz channel for deep coverage and long battery life at low data rates.
P
- PLMNPublic Land Mobile Network
- A PLMN is a mobile network identified by its MCC and MNC. Learn how PLMN IDs, home and visited PLMNs, and PLMN selection affect registration and roaming.
R
- RATRadio Access Technology
- RAT (Radio Access Technology) is the radio standard a device uses to connect: GSM, UMTS, LTE, LTE-M, NB-IoT or 5G NR. Learn how RAT affects testing.
- RSPRemote SIM Provisioning
- Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) is the GSMA framework for downloading, enabling and deleting eSIM profiles over the air, in SGP.02, SGP.22 and SGP.32 variants.
- RSRP, RSRQ and SINRReference Signal Received Power, Reference Signal Received Quality, Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio
- RSRP, RSRQ and SINR are the core LTE and 5G signal metrics: received power, signal quality and interference. Learn their ranges and what good values look like.
S
- SGP.02Remote Provisioning Architecture for Embedded UICC Technical Specification
- SGP.02 is the GSMA's original M2M eSIM specification, in which an SM-SR pushes profiles to devices. Learn how it works and how it compares to SGP.22 and SGP.32.
- SGP.22RSP Technical Specification (consumer eSIM)
- SGP.22 is the GSMA technical specification for consumer eSIM, defining how phones and wearables download profiles through an LPA and an SM-DP+.
- SGP.31eSIM IoT Architecture and Requirements
- SGP.31 is the GSMA specification that sets the architecture and requirements for IoT eSIM, introducing the eIM and IPA. SGP.32 implements it technically.
- SGP.32eSIM IoT Technical Specification
- SGP.32 is the GSMA technical specification for IoT eSIM, letting an eIM remotely manage profiles on headless devices via an IPA and the SGP.22 SM-DP+.
- SGP.33eSIM IoT Test Specifications
- SGP.33 is the set of GSMA test specifications for SGP.32 IoT eSIM: SGP.33-1 for the eUICC, SGP.33-2 for the IPA and SGP.33-3 for the eIM.
- SM-DP+Subscription Manager Data Preparation (plus)
- SM-DP+ is the GSMA server that prepares, encrypts and delivers eSIM profiles to an eUICC. Learn how it works in SGP.22 and SGP.32 and where downloads fail.
- SM-DSSubscription Manager Discovery Server
- The SM-DS is the GSMA discovery server that tells an eSIM device which SM-DP+ has a profile waiting for it, so a download can start without an activation code.
- SM-SRSubscription Manager Secure Routing
- SM-SR is the server in the GSMA SGP.02 M2M eSIM architecture that manages an eUICC and routes profiles to it. Learn its role and why SGP.32 replaces it.
- Steering of Roaming
- Steering of roaming (SoR) is how a home operator directs roaming devices onto preferred partner networks, using SIM lists, signaling rejects or 5G signaling.
T
- TADIGTransferred Account Data Interchange Group
- TADIG is the GSMA group behind roaming billing standards such as TAP, and the name of the 5-character operator codes used to identify networks in settlement.
V
- VoLTEVoice over LTE
- VoLTE (Voice over LTE) carries phone calls as IP packets over 4G using IMS, replacing 2G/3G circuit-switched voice. Learn how it works and how to test it.
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