News

Barcelona, 28th February 2012.-Telefónica, through its recently created unit Telefónica Digital, and China Unicom, with the collaboration of Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), have proved a secure, pre-standard solution for remotely managing M2M SIMs subscription data based on the principles of the embedded SIM. The solution allows transferring subscriptions between Telefónica Spain, Telefónica UK, Telefónica Germany and China Unicom over the air.

This solution will enable Telefónica and China Unicom to provide global services to their customers based on a unique SIM quite adapted to the local requirements. Secure profiles from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) can be loaded later in the supply chain, including post-sale, and their profiles can be revised during the lifetime of the device. It will, among other things, allow a simple swapping of MNOs to support a change of subscription, a network upgrade or swap out, a change of device ownership or long term relocations.

With this type of remote subscription management, device makers can manufacture devices with M2M SIMs on a cost optimised production setup, while MNOs can customize their M2M connectivity offerings for this specific target market.

This successful test will also provide important input for the ongoing standardization in order to improve the subscription management concept.

Main cornerstones of this trial are the subscription management enabled M2M SIMs, a subscription management platform -hosted in a secure G&D environment- and an MNO specific portal developed by Telefónica and China Unicom.

This project derives from the strategic agreement signed by the two companies in October 2011 to develop M2M and the internet of things.

About Telefónica

Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation and number of customers. From this outstanding position in the industry, and with its mobile, fixed and broadband businesses as the key drivers of its growth, Telefonica has focused its strategy on becoming a leading company in the digital world. 

The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 306 million accesses around the world. Telefonica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.

Telefonica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, New York, Lima, and Buenos Aires.

About Telefónica Digital

Telefónica Digital is a global business division of Telefónica. Its mission is to seize the opportunities within the digital world and deliver new growth for Telefónica through research & development, venture capital, global partnerships and digital services such as cloud computing, mobile advertising,  M2M and eHealth. Telefónica Digital will deliver these innovative products and services to Telefónica’s 300 million customers as well as leveraging the power of the internet to enter new markets. It is headquartered in London with regional centres in Silicon Valley, Sao Paolo, Spain and Tel Aviv. Jajah, Terra, Tuenti, giffgaff and 48 are all part of the Telefónica Digital group of companies.

About China Unicom

China Unicom is a company with a leading position in the telecommunication industry in the world and provides comprehensive and integrated telecom services within the territory of Peoples’ Republic of China. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.  Through its affiliate, China Unicom is engaged in the businesses of GSM and WCDMA mobile telecommunication, domestic and international long-distance communications, domestic telephone service, Internet services, data communications and other related value-added telecommunication services in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. Furthermore, China Unicom has established operational entities in Hong Kong, the United States, Japan and Europe to engage in relevant international business.

About Giesecke & Devrient (G&D)

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a leading international technology provider headquartered in Munich, Germany. Founded in 1852, the Group now has a workforce of over 10,000 employees and generated sales of EUR 1.7 billion in fiscal 2010. 61 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 32 countries ensure customer proximity worldwide.

In all its markets, G&D is a global leader and pioneering innovator in the production and processing of banknotes and banknote paper, security documents, identification systems and smartcard-based solutions. As an end-to-end provider of mobile security applications, G&D develops and sells hardware, software, and services for banks, mobile network operators, public transportation companies, business enterprises, and OEM. For more information, please visit: www.gi-de.com