A great variety of Internet of Things devices is going to become a reality in the near future. The development of 5 G networks and the development of eSIM technology will enable the mass application of Internet of Things solutions across different sectors. The Communications Regulatory Authority and mobile communication service providers will implement the actions proposed in the eSIM promotion model through productive cooperation, and we will be proud as a country that is not only one of the first in the world to establish legal regulation conducive to the Internet of Things, but also to implement a breakthrough in this field, said Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Agn Vaiciukevi ii at the eSIM presentation conference in 2022.
The SIM card is physically changed by switching service providers. The user will not have to change the SIM card once the eSIM technological solutions are implemented, and the service provider will be changed remotely by using the pre-installed eSIM pre-installed in the device by the manufacturer or a physical eSIM.
The model for promoting the use of eSIM in Lithuania is based on international practice, detailed analysis of technical standards and the current situation in Lithuania, providing a clear operating scheme for services based on eSIM technology, which includes technical, security, legal and organisational measures to be implemented by state authorities and providers of electronic communications services.
In this model, the State would not be directly involved in the provision of services, and operators would use separate subscriber management systems for the provision of services and remote switching of the service provider. Completing the study and creating the model is one of the steps.
We are pleased to say that a month ago, another step was taken leading to the adoption of the Law on Electronic Communications, which allows for the right for consumers to receive communications services with eSIM and to change the communication service provider remotely. The law will come into force in 2023, according to the Deputy Minister. Lithuania is one of the first countries in the world to regulate the implementation of eSIM.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications will launch a new Sandbox initiative for transport innovations next year, which will promote testing and practical application of innovative solutions in various fields under real-life conditions, according to the Deputy Minister. Business, academia representatives, and their consortia interested in implementing 5 G, Internet of Things and eSIM-based solutions will be invited to participate and receive the necessary funding.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications initiated the regulation of eSIM services in the Law on Electronic Communications and the eSIM study. The study was prepared by Ernst Young Baltic UAB together with a team of Lithuanian and foreign experts led by the Communications Regulatory Authority. The full eSIM study will be available on the Communications Regulatory Authority website, www.rrt.com.