The collaboration will enable China Unicom and Singtel enterprise customers to perform eSIM changes over-the-air without having to manually configure their devices’ SIM cards to change networks.
“We are excited that under the new collaboration, mobile customers can extend their reach with the premier member operators across the Asia Pacific region while being enabled with multi-domestic connectivity, economies of scale and logistical efficiency,” said Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance.
“Together, we can help Chinese companies accelerate Internet of Things (IoT) deployment in Southeast Asia, simplify business negotiations through Bridge Alliance’s framework agreement, to bring market advantages so Chinese companies can land across the region.”
Under the terms of the collaboration, devices that are equipped with China Unicom eSIMs will automatically switch their profiles to Singtel’s when they enter Singapore. The devices’ embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) will also download and activate Singtel’s profiles through a GSMA-compliant subscription manager platform.
The news marks the first collaboration between two Bridge Alliance members and follows a successful eSIM swap trial carried out in early April 2020 where China Unicom managed to swap its eSIM profiles to Singtel’s using Bridge Alliance’s technical and commercial capabilities.
“IoT deployments are rapidly growing across industries and markets as enterprises digitalise processes to become more agile and efficient,” added Dennis Wong, vice president of enterprise mobility product and platform of Singtel Group Enterprise.
This collaboration with Bridge Alliance will help drive more seamless connectivity and broader IoT adoption, and augment Singtel’s IoT ecosystem of partners, enhancing our ability to support China Unicom's and other Chinese enterprises' rollout of IoT devices in Singapore and the region.”
“By leveraging our extensive, secure IoT connectivity services, enterprises can have greater control over mission-critical operations in real-time and increase business productivity,”
As a mobile alliance across 34 countries in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, the collaboration will also leverage Bridge Alliance’s current strategic IoT partnership with China Unicom and supports Singtel as it aims to facilitate cross-border IoT connectivity across China and Singapore.
“This is an exciting international collaboration we are embarking on. China Unicom will develop overseas markets with our partners such as Bridge Alliance and Singtel and provide top level services to our customers,” said He Fei, assistant general manager at China Unicom IoT Company.
