Nordic Semiconductor has made available its new nuSIM for the nRF91 Series of cellular IoT modules. The software SIM solution eliminates the need for a physical SIM card and socket, allowing product developers to reduce device size, simplify manufacturing, and enhance the robustness of their cellular IoT designs.
“Making cellular IoT as simple and accessible as possible is a core mission at Nordic. By integrating the nuSIM standard into our nRF9151 and nRF9160 modules, we are removing the physical barrier to creating ultra-compact, robust, and cost-effective cellular IoT products. Developers can now manage connectivity entirely in the digital domain, from manufacturing to deployment. This is a significant step forward for the industry,” said Oyvind Birkenes, EVP Long-Range at Nordic Semiconductor.
nuSIM is an open standard approach to integrated SIM (iSIM) where SIM credentials are encrypted and managed within a secure, protected area of the device. By operating as a dedicated software component inside the secure Arm TrustZone of the nRF91 Series’ application processor, nuSIM removes all external SIM hardware, directly reducing the bill of materials (BOM) and saving valuable board space. This is ideal for cellular IoT devices deployed in harsh environments—for example in water metering or smart farming irrigation applications—as removing the SIM socket eliminates a common point of mechanical failure and protects against corrosion and vibration. The fully digital provisioning process streamlines the supply chain, allowing SIM profiles to be securely delivered to devices during manufacturing, simplifying logistics and reducing operational costs.
“While Nordic’s nRF91 Series is already the most power-optimized and highly integrated cellular IoT module series on the market, nuSIM is another way we can enhance the field life of our customers’ end products that may be expected to last years without battery replacement,” said Birkenes.
Integrating nuSIM on an nRF91 Series module is a one-time software integration process using Nordic’s powerful nRF Connect SDK (Software Development Kit) together with the Redtea Mobile nuSIM integration library, the code to integrate the nuSIM operating system in accordance with the open nuSIM specification. Once the nuSIM integration library is included in the device firmware, the factory provisioning workflow is straightforward.
After the application firmware containing the nuSIM is loaded onto an nRF91 Series module, a specialized software tool made by Redtea prepares the device to securely receive its SIM profile, then the tool connects to a selected network operator to securely download and install a unique SIM profile onto each device. The nuSIM implementation on the nRF91 Series has been security-evaluated and certified by the independent testing institute TÜV Nord in Germany, ensuring it meets the highest standards for security and reliability.
The nuSIM solution for the nRF91 Series is available now. The first mobile network operator (MNO) providing commercial profiles for nuSIM is Deutsche Telekoms, with more to follow. To access detailed documentation, software, and the necessary tools for development, Nordic customers and developers can see here.
