Glossary · eSIM & RSP
SM-DP+
Subscription Manager Data Preparation (plus)
Also known as: SM-DP plus, SMDP+, profile server
SM-DP+ (Subscription Manager Data Preparation plus) is the server that creates, encrypts and delivers eSIM profiles. An operator orders a profile on its SM-DP+, and the SM-DP+ hands that profile — bound to one specific eUICC — to the device during download. It is defined in GSMA SGP.22 and reused by the IoT specification SGP.32.
What the SM-DP+ does
- Profile preparation: the operator orders a profile over the ES2+ interface, optionally tied to an EID, and gets back a matching ID for the activation code.
- Mutual authentication: when a device connects, the SM-DP+ and the eUICC verify each other’s certificates against a common certificate issuer.
- Binding and delivery: the SM-DP+ encrypts the profile for that one eUICC, producing a Bound Profile Package that no other chip can install, and sends it over ES9+.
- Notifications: the device reports the installation result and later events such as deletion, so the operator knows the profile’s real status.
The “plus” distinguishes it from the SM-DP of the older M2M specification SGP.02, in which the SM-DP prepared profiles but an SM-SR delivered and managed them.
Who talks to the SM-DP+
| Architecture | Client of the SM-DP+ |
|---|---|
| SGP.22 consumer | The LPA on the phone, tablet or watch |
| SGP.32 IoT, direct download | The IPA in the device |
| SGP.32 IoT, indirect download | The eIM, which relays the package to the IPA |
A device finds the right SM-DP+ from the address in an activation code, from a default address configured on the eUICC, or through an SM-DS lookup.
Why it matters for testing
The SM-DP+ is where many eSIM failures surface: a matching ID that was already used, a profile bound to a different EID, an expired order, a certificate the eUICC does not trust, or a TLS connection the device cannot complete over its current network. Each returns a distinct error, and the error only makes sense when you know which device, eUICC and network path produced it. SimCheck.ai installs profiles onto real modems — through an SGP.22-style LPA or an SGP.32 eIM — so each download runs on real hardware. See eSIM profile download errors.
Last updated · SimCheck.ai team