India’s manufacturing sector is poised at the edge of a digital inflection point. With the government’s continued push on “Make in India,” smart factories, and export-led industrial growth, cellular connectivity, once seen as a supporting layer, is fast becoming central to how products are built, managed, and delivered globally.
Now, a quiet but powerful shift in the cellular IoT landscape could provide the boost Indian OEMs need to compete at scale. The ratification of new eSIM standards SGP.32 and the complementary SGP.41/42 promises to streamline connectivity provisioning and accelerate time-to-market for connected devices, including those manufactured for domestic use and international export.
Standards That Simplify and Scale
The GSMA’s SGP.32 standard redefines how embedded SIMs (eUICCs) are provisioned making it simpler, more power-efficient, and optimized for IoT deployment. Devices that were once challenging to connect, such as battery-powered smart meters or trackers, can now receive and manage cellular profiles with minimal energy and infrastructure requirements.
This is promising for India’s diverse manufacturing base, spanning automotive, energy, logistics, consumer electronics, and emerging sectors like agriculture tech and smart cities. With SGP.32, manufacturers can:
- Avoid the logistical complexities of physical SIMs
- Provision devices more securely and flexibly
- Support a wider range of network types, including LPWAN and 4G/5G
Importantly, all four major Indian MNOs, Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL already support eSIM technology, offering robust coverage for consumer and industrial use cases. The absence of MVNOs in India simplifies the ecosystem but makes direct collaboration with these major MNOs critical as OEMs seek to implement SGP.32-based strategies.
Why SGP.41/42 Matters in the Indian Context
The next frontier is In-Factory Profile Provisioning (IFPP), enabled by SGP.41/42. This advancement allows eSIM profiles to be securely installed during manufacturing, not just after deployment which aligns perfectly with India’s large-scale production lines and export ambitions.
By shifting provisioning earlier in the supply chain, Indian OEMs can:
- Provision devices in batch mode before shipment without relying on real-time connectivity.
- Avoid regional roaming complications, especially important as India increasingly exports to regulated markets like the EU and the Middle East.
- Eliminate the need for multiple SKUs, making production more efficient and cost-effective.
- Test and validate cellular connectivity locally, which is crucial for sectors like automotive, where in-country testing is regulatory.
This is particularly relevant in India, where telecom circles and spectrum policies vary across states, and manufacturers often face regional compliance requirements that impact rollout timelines.
Local Readiness, Global Opportunity
India is already well-placed to take advantage of this standards-driven shift. With strong operator support for eSIM, robust digital infrastructure, and growing investment in industrial automation, manufacturers here are uniquely positioned to leapfrog into scalable, secure, and globally competitive connected device production.
That said, aligning with new standards isn’t just about technology, it’s a strategic move.
OEMs must:
- Identify the right moment in their production flow to integrate provisioning.
- Partner with cellular solution providers who offer modular, pre-certified components.
- Plan for global certification needs while optimizing for India’s telecom regulations and manufacturing environment.
As global standards evolve, Indian manufacturers who align early will benefit from reduced certification lead times, simplified logistics, and seamless access to both local and global markets.
A Catalyst for Indian Connected Manufacturing
The advent of SGP.32 and SGP.41/42 is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a catalyst for the next phase of India’s connected manufacturing journey. From connected wearables and energy meters to telematics and smart infrastructure, these standards enable the kind of scalable, resilient, and export-ready IoT manufacturing India needs to lead in the global market.
In a country where policy, technology, and industry are converging at speed, adopting eSIM standards early—backed by expert implementation partners—could offer a decisive edge. This isn’t just about compliance; it’s about enabling India’s factories to become the world’s digital production hubs. See the latest on how these advances can support your connected product manufacturing on https://kigen.com/iot-connected-manufacturing/
