Context

Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released recommendations on ‘Usage of Embedded SIM for M2M Communications (Machine-to-machine Communications)’.

About M2M Communication

• About: Machine-to-machine communication involves direct communication between devices via any communication route, including wired and wireless.
• Exchanging Data without human intervention: It allows networked devices to share data and conduct tasks without the need for human intervention.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) enable computers to communicate with one another while also making independent decisions.
• Cost Effective: M2M systems frequently employ public networks and access methods to reduce costs.
• Other Terms: Aside from M2M, various words are used to describe such communication, including Internet of Things (loT), Internet of Everything, Embedded Wireless, and Smart systems (homes, cities, metres, grids, and so on), each with slightly different characteristics.
  • loT is a connected network of embedded devices capable of having M2M communication without human intervention.

Embedded Sim

• An embedded SIM is a SIM card that cannot be removed from a device. Traditional SIM cards are made so that they can easily be swapped out of a phone, so that core service information can get ported from one physical device to another. 
• With an embedded SIM, the chips are made to allow for information switching, so that the actual physical chip would not get removed from the device.

Advantages of Embedded Sim

• Convenience: 

  • It will also save you a trip to a telecom store/service centre if you travel another state or country and want to switch to another provider.

• Security: 

  • When a phone with a physical SIM card is lost or stolen, the SIM card can be used for illicit purposes.
    • An eSIM prevents this because there is no physical part to remove and use in another device.

• One less Opening on Your Phone: 

  • Having an eSIM implies one less opening on your phone’s frame, which should lessen the probability of factors like dust and water entering the phone through yet another slot. 

Application of M2M Communication

• Transportation & Automotive Uses: 

  • M2M Communication applications in transportation and automotive include monitoring driver performance, fuel consumption, GPS tracking, E-Tolls, theft prevention, traffic control, smart parking, and emergency calls.

• Utilities: 

  • M2M applications in this domain will be utilized to monitor and control generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption through the usage of intelligent devices.
    • For Example: This category includes smart meters for measuring water, electricity, and fuel use in homes and industries, smart grids for real-time load monitoring, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

• Financial Transactions: 

  • M2M modules are put in remote wireless or wired Point of Sale (PoS) terminals
  • Such as ATM machines, to provide online credit or debit card transactions (e.g., cash replacement, repair diagnostics, paper availability).

• Automation in Home and Buildings: 

• • Home/Building Automation uses M2M modules and sensors to monitor and regulate energy, health, HVAC, lighting, solar, wind, and building alarms (security, fire, incursion, and emergency).

• Security and Surveillance: 

• • Security and surveillance applications include alarm system monitoring, video surveillance, real-time monitoring, and video analytics for banking, retail, and buildings, as well as smart card and facility management.

• Healthcare: 

• • Smart body sensors, remote patient monitoring in residential/institutional settings that communicate with a smartphone and a central server. M2M technology can be employed in rural primary health care facilities to facilitate rapid diagnosis and treatment.

• Electronic Goods: 

• • Consumer electronics use cases include remote monitoring and control, as well as interoperability with devices such as e-readers, gaming consoles, picture frames, TVs, and refrigerators.

Steps taken by Government of India to Promote M2M Communication

• Providing Connectivity to Iot Networks: Guidelines, new licences, and an additional 1 MHz are made available to service and connectivity providers, allowing them to provide connectivity to M2M/IoT networks.
• Numbering Plan: A 13-digit numbering plan was released specifically for M2M/IoT devices connected via mobile networks.
• M2M Sim: SIM features specific to M2M Communication Services have been defined.
• Approval of Embedded Sim: The DoT has approved the use of embedded SIMs, allowing Telecom Service Providers to configure them over the air (OTA).
  • This has facilitated the availability of sufficient numbering resources, resulting in a strong framework for the country’s mobile M2M ecosystem.