Connected car solutions use IoT technology to expand the purpose of cars themselves by improving access to services and improving car performance and maintenance. But in order to do this, you need reliable, seamless, future proof global IoT connectivity with a SIM card that meets the demands of the automotive industry.

The connected cars of today – and tomorrow – require high-quality future-proof connectivity to provide everything from telematics and preventive maintenance to accident prevention (eCall) and enhanced infotainment systems.

What is an automotive SIM card?

An automotive SIM is an MFF2 SIM card that is designed specifically for the automotive industry. It comes in one form factor, and is soldered into place, which gives it an extra layer of security, as it is difficult to remove by a lay person, removing the possibility of unauthorized usage. The automotive SIM has even greater environtmental properties than the Premium Industrial eUICC SIM. You still enjoy Remote SIM Provisioning (virtual profiles), which allows car manufacturers to download profiles, switch operators, or even accommodate multiple operators on a single SIM.

How does an automotive SIM card differ from a Premium Industrial eUICC SIM card?

Both Tele2 IoT’s automobile SIM and premium industrial SIM are eUICC SIM cards. An automotive SIM has a longer data retention time compliant to ETSI Technical Specification 102.671, as well as higher minimum updates. The biggest difference between the two SIMs is the AEC-Q100 stress test. AEC-Q100 is a failure mechanism-based stress test qualification for packaged integrated circuits used in automotive applications, as established by the Automotive Electronics Council (AEC). An AEC-Q100-qualified device means that the device has passed the specific stress tests and guarantees a level of quality and reliability.

Why is it important the auto SIM can withstand high temperatures?

Cars in general undergo a lot of wear and tear over time, and when it comes to electrical parts, vehicles endure significant stress and must operate under constantly changing conditions. Automotive eUICC SIMs comply with industry-specific standards and can withstand extreme temperatures between -40°C and +105°C, as well as shock, moisture, reflow, humidity, vibration, and corrosion.

Why is a long lifetime important for the automotive SIM?

The auto SIM is soldered inside the telematics control unit, it’s not a SIM card that you can just pop in and out, so it needs to be in place for a long time. Because of this, auto SIMs have more write and erase cycles than a premium industrial SIM, so the memory is better and has longer retention – 17+ years – than a premium industrial SIM, which has around 15 years on average.

Common use cases for connected cars in the automotive industry include:

• eCall: A mandatory system used in vehicles across the EU which automatically makes a 112 emergency call if your vehicle is involved in a serious road accident.
• In-vehicle infotainment: a system that delivers a combination of information and entertainment content/services through audio and/or video interfaces, as well as control elements such as touch screens and voice commands.
• In-vehicle navigation: Connected navigation services that provide turn-by-turn guidance to destinations.
• Vehicle diagnostics: Leverages data to monitor a vehicle’s operation and health on performance and condition to identify maintenance issues and needs.
• Usage-based insurance: Calculates premiums – and offers personalized insurance rates – based on vehicle usage and driver behavior by gathering data through IoT devices.

If you have any questions or comments about Automotive SIMs or anything IoT-related, please get in touch.