Building vs. Buying an Enterprise IoT Connectivity Management Platform

Almost a decade ago, eSIM changed the game when it came to deployment and provisioning of SIM profiles. It paved the way for millions of new cellular IoT devices to come online with ease, while the world waits for GSMA eSIM standard SGP.32 to pave the way for billions more. Now, in 2025, this transition to massively scalable IoT is finally starting to happen.

But the value proposition of eSIM greatly oversimplifies the effort behind the trend. The actual process of ‘just switching eSIM profiles’ for thousands of IoT devices is incredibly complex, and while not an impossible task for a well-resourced enterprise, begs the question why they would choose to spend time and effort this way, rather than working with a specialist partner to handle complex IoT SIM orchestration via a commercial Connectivity Management Platform (CMP).

The complexity of the task should not be underestimated. Because IoT devices use a range of data plans or packages and may frequently need to change networks or carriers, an IoT connectivity platform - whether built or bought - needs to provide centralized oversight and management of your whole IoT estate, via a single view or portal.

Understanding CMPs in IoT connectivity

Enterprises that manage their own IoT estate, and mobile network operators (MNOs) that offer IoT connectivity management for their customers, need a way of provisioning and managing IoT SIMs and profiles, monitoring device connectivity and data consumption, and troubleshooting issues, among other things.  

This is where the Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) comes in, as an application designed to monitor, analyze, provision, and modify IoT and M2M device estates throughout their entire lifecycle, with more advanced CMPs supporting eSIM orchestration as a capability.

Key features and functions of an enterprise CMP

A Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) is used for managing the entire connectivity lifecycle of IoT devices, the key benefit being the ability to manage large numbers of devices in a flexible, reliable, and cost-effective manner. However, this somewhat oversimplifies the operational complexity involved. 

Global enterprises with complex, multi-region and large-scale IoT deployments, don’t just need to add and manage more devices, they need to maintain connectivity across the world, navigate complex regulations, and do it all without compromising on uptime, cost-efficiency, or control.

Simplified IoT management

Manage SIM activation, suspension and termination as well as ordering and billing management. Create configurable reports and alerts.

Advanced network switching

With an enterprise-ready advanced IoT CMP like Eseye Infinity, you can set connectivity rules using a combination of (eSIM) eUICC-orchestrated localization, network roaming and on-SIM switching logic.

This means you can switch your IoT devices between different connectivity providers OTA (over-the-air) to ensure maximum device availability – higher than 99.5% in the case of Eseye Infinity.

Bring your own contracts

If you’ve already negotiated a great deal with your existing MNO, there’s no need to leave it behind. With Eseye Infinity you can bring it with you and combine it with hundreds more options to extend your coverage options via the AnyNet Federation, which provides access to over 800 network providers, with all your SIMs in one place.

IoT estate visibility and reporting

Your CMP will give you a real-time view of device connectivity status, network usage, and location data to surface deeper insights for each device and across the estate as a whole.

Security and privacy

Some CMPs will provide Private APNs, VPNs, pre-allocated IP addresses, firewalls, and IMEI locking that can all be managed from a central location to provide complete security for your IoT deployments.

Cloud and API integration

The CMP portal may also provide integration options with a range of enterprise applications, APIs, cloud service providers, and other technology ecosystem partners for anything from IoT analytics to advanced security threat detection.

eSIM orchestration, provisioning, and the promise of SGP.32

What is eSIM orchestration?

Often mentioned in the same breath as CMPs, eSIM orchestration (eSO) is an advanced capability for managing eSIM profiles in large-scale, global IoT deployments, intelligently handling remote SIM provisioning (RSP), activation, network switching, and policy enforcement.

Does SGP.32 enable seamless eSIM management?

When the concept of an eSIM was launched in 2016, it disrupted the IoT market by enabling the SIM chip to be soldered onto the circuit board of the device, with support for multiple profiles, rather than a plastic card with support for one profile only.

The next evolution in eSIM technology, SGP.32, is just hitting commercial deployment today (late 2025) and is designed to enhance RSP and management across diverse IoT ecosystems.

Understandably, enterprises see SGP.32 as a panacea for deploying and managing IoT devices at scale with greater flexibility, security, and efficiency. Leveraged as part of a CMP, the standard can potentially simplify the management of the IoT device lifecycle.

The greatest temptation of SGP.32, however, is to pull enterprises towards self-managed connectivity for their IoT estates, due to the standard’s introduction of eSO, which manages profile lifecycle, network selection, compliance, and unified billing.

But this perception raises significant questions on whether enterprises are cut out to tackle the complexities and challenges involved in building a CMP in-house, or whether it makes more sense to buy a commercial CMP, like Eseye Infinity, and greatly simplify the process of switching connectivity between operators.

To build or buy a CMP?

Building a CMP is a lot more than a SIM management portal.

The main attraction of SGP.32 is that it conceptually allows an enterprise to switch IoT connections to any connectivity provider it chooses ‘at the click of a button’.

However, the reality of how this happens ‘behind the scenes’ is highly complicated, and the bulk of the work in creating a CMP is in managing all the back-end integration, settings, and processes, as well as commercial contracts with multiple connectivity providers.

Ultimately, the CMP would need to integrate SM-DP+ (Subscription Manager - Data Preparation), profile storing capabilities, and the SM-SR (Subscription Manager - Secure Routing) element that controls the provision of the profile onto the SIM. All operations that are typically run by an MNO and/or Subscription Management provider. 

With few exceptions, such as enterprises with very large IoT estates, like automotive companies, it’s anticipated that most companies will not want to operate complex SM-DP+ and eSIM functionality themselves.

Advantages of a custom-built CMP

• Full control and customization: Complete flexibility to design features and workflows that align with your existing network infrastructure and business processes, without being constrained by third-party roadmaps.
• Direct integration with core systems: Integration with operational systems, operator billing platforms, and network elements reducing latency and complexity.
• No recurring licensing fees: Eliminate ongoing vendor licensing costs that might grow as IoT connections increase.

Challenges and costs of developing a CMP in-house

• Significant capital investment: Substantial initial funding may be required for development teams, infrastructure, and tools. Time to market is also a consideration, with development timelines potentially running 18-24 months before deployment.
• Ongoing maintenance: If you build the software, you become responsible for maintaining it. Dedicated teams will be required for continuous platform updates, security patches, feature development, and support, creating long-term operational overhead and headcount requirements.
• Technology and compliance risk: This dedicated team will also be responsible for keeping pace with evolving IoT standards and protocols, security requirements, and regional compliance regulations without third-party expertise or shared liability. Which also leads to…
• Scalability challenges: One of the key considerations of IoT connectivity is maximum coverage. Many enterprise customers will require 99%+ coverage for their IoT deployments, which is impossible for a single MNO to deliver using its own infrastructure. This means scale requires integration and partnerships with other MNOs.

As a result, the risk of architectural limitations as IoT deployments grow increases exponentially, potentially requiring costly re-architecture in anticipation of scale requirements of millions of devices dependent on third-party APIs, middleware, or networks.

Does building a CMP make sense for your business?

Many enterprises have identified SGP.32 as a potentially useful technology, and according to Transforma Insights, clearly see it as some sort of magic wand for solving their connectivity needs and a big change from the existing processes.

But while SGP.32 does put more control into the hands of enterprise users to manage SIM profiles, the question is whether most enterprises will want to, or be able to, perform all of the functions required as part of a CMP.

Even with commercial relationships with multiple network operators in place, it’s not simply a case of switching between providers seamlessly. The way in which connections are supported will vary from network to network with many settings not specified by the standard that will not automatically carry over from one network to another.

In short, do not mistake a technical standard for a business solution. Enterprises should conduct a rigorous 'build vs buy' analysis and consider that a managed SGP.32 connectivity partner can absorb 100% of the operational complexity.

Advantages of using a commercial CMP

Whether you prefer self-service and total control, or a fully managed solution, a commercial-grade CMP is essential for streamlined IoT operations and reduced overheads.

It delivers:

• Unified IoT estate management through a single pane of glass (SPOG)
• A single global bill for all deployments, including international
• Options to control or delegate network profile selection and orchestration

As a managed service, with a CMP like Infinity by Eseye, everything is taken care of by a team of experts, who are available 24/7 to help you troubleshoot, optimize, and deploy your IoT initiative faster.

Partnering with specialist IoT platform providers to scale faster

When looking at the decision over whether to build or buy a CMP, enterprises need to assess the complexity of self-managed connectivity, including multiple bills, contracts, and support agreements, and weigh those against the capabilities of a managed service.

While SGP.32 is positioned as something of a strategic enabler, its value will most likely only be unlocked when it is delivered as a fully managed IoT service via a CMP that abstracts all that complexity behind a single contract, a single platform, and a single point of accountability.

This frees up enterprises to better spend their time and resources on their core business, not on global connectivity management, but on ensuring their IoT initiatives are set for success.