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Glossary

eSIM

An embedded SIM (eSIM) is a programmable chip soldered into a phone that replaces the traditional removable SIM card.

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a small chip permanently soldered into a phone, smartwatch or tablet. Unlike a traditional SIM card you slide in and out of a tray, an eSIM stays in the device — you provision it by scanning a QR code or selecting a plan from a carrier's app.

How it works

The eSIM chip can hold multiple carrier profiles at once. When you activate Fuse, the carrier's provisioning server (called an SM-DP+) sends a digital profile to your phone over the internet, and your phone stores it on the eSIM hardware.

Why it matters

  • Activate in minutes — no shop visit, no plastic in the post
  • Switch providers without changing physical SIMs
  • Run multiple lines on one device (e.g. work + personal)
  • One less component to break or lose

See also

  • EID — the eSIM's unique identifier
  • SM-DP+ — the provisioning server
  • Dual SIM — running two lines at once

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