IIJ to Begin Verification of eSIM Devices and Full MVNO Services | News

Launched a testing environment to verify eSIM platforms, IIJ has tested Microsoft's "Surface Pro LTE Advanced" with the subscriber profile adapting to its full MVNO facilities

July 12, 2018

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Japanese Version

TOKYO-July 12, 2018-Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, NASDAQ: IIJI, TSE1: 3774), one of Japan's leading Internet access and comprehensive network solutions providers, today announced that it has begun verification of embedded-SIM (eSIM) devices and of the mobile data communication services it offers as a full MVNO(*1), as part of its efforts to promote the use of devices that support eSIMs.

As a full MVNO, IIJ has provided its IIJ Mobile Service Type I to enterprise users since March 2018, and it has built a new environment for verifying eSIM platforms, through which a subscriber can remotely download the subscriber profile in bid to make a cellular connection, which is set up for IIJ's mobile core network including Home Location Register/Home Subscriber Server (HLR/HSS), into the removable or soldered SIM. This testing environment complies with Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) Phase 2 technical standard of the GSMA(*2), an industry organization representing international mobile network operators.

During the first round of verification, IIJ looked at operations on Microsoft's eSIM available PC, Surface Pro LTE Advanced. After downloading a subscriber profile to its SIM, IIJ confirmed that it was possible to activate the profile and establish a connection using the profile. The eSIM platform is scheduled to be commercialized for spring 2019. (Surface Pro LTE Advanced is expected to be one of the supported devices.)

IIJ intends to continue actively verifying the inter-operability between its full MVNO services and eSIM devices from various international device manufacturers, and to strengthen its support for eSIM so as to provide even more user-friendly telecommunications services.

(*1)Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) operate by using the base stations and other wireless access equipment of mobile network operators (MNOs), while full MVNOs are operators that have and operate their own Home Location Register/Home Subscriber Server (HLR/HSS) that are a part of mobile core network facilities.
(*2)The GSM Association (GSMA) launched in 1995 as an organization for mobile network operators who use GSM (2G) mobile phone systems, and it now serves as the industry organization for more than 800 MNOs and more than 300 device manufacturers and network device vendors.

About IIJ

Founded in 1992, IIJ is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group companies provide total network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. IIJ's services include high-quality Internet connectivity services, systems integration, cloud computing services, security services and mobile services. Moreover, IIJ has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan that is connected to the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia. IIJ was listed on the U.S. NASDAQ Stock Market in 1999 and on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006.

For more information about IIJ, visit the IIJ Web site at https://www.iij.ad.jp/en/.

The statements within this release contain forward-looking statements about our future plans that involve risk and uncertainty. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents furnished by Internet Initiative Japan Inc. with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

For inquiries, contact

IIJ Corporate Communications

+81-3-5205-6310
+81-3-5205-6377
press@iij.ad.jp

(*) All company names and service names used in this press release are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.