Can IoT SIM Cards Switch Carriers? Exploring eSIM & vSIM Portability

What is Number Portability?

Our phone + SIM actually has three identifiers: MSISDN, IMSI and IMEI.

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is the hardware serial number of the phone; it can be found in the phone’s “About” page, and dual‑SIM phones have two IMEIs.

MSISDN (Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number) is the telephone number we dial, e.g., 135, 159, 185.

IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) is the SIM card’s ID, used to distinguish each SIM; on Android it can be displayed by dialing *#*#4636#*#*.

In number portability the MSISDN stays the same while the IMSI changes, requiring a SIM‑card replacement.

Can IoT SIM Cards Be Ported?

IoT devices only need internet connectivity and typically use only the IMSI, not the MSISDN, so the traditional number‑portability concept does not directly apply.

IoT SIMs come in three types: plug‑in SIM (Mini/Micro/Nano), eSIM, and vSIM.

eSIM (embedded UICC) is a programmable chip soldered onto the device board, smaller than a Nano SIM.

vSIM (virtual SIM) is a software‑only implementation that inherits eSIM functions and stores encrypted data such as IMSI and KI within the device.

For plug‑in SIMs, porting means physically swapping the card. For eSIM and vSIM, the SIM function and data are software‑based, allowing remote provisioning (“air‑write”) to change the IMSI and achieve porting without manual card replacement.

Cross‑Border Carrier Switching Made Easy

Replacing physical SIMs in global logistics devices is costly and cumbersome. Using eSIM or vSIM, operators can switch networks via an app or cloud service, enabling devices to connect to the best local network worldwide.

Huawei Cloud IoT offers a “Global SIM Connection” service that provides pre‑integrated eSIM/vSIM modules and a one‑stop device‑connection management platform covering over 100 countries, reducing integration cost and international data fees.