Nowadays, we buy expensive smartphones from leading brands, but those are of no use until and unless we have a valid SIM card in them.
The SIM card is the bridge that allows you to connect to your service provider, storing contact information, enabling you to make calls, use internet services and others. Service providers offer different kinds of deals like SIM-only deals and others to their customers.
What is a SIM card?
SIM cards, also known as Subscriber Identity Module, are tiny microchip cards required to start the specific network you are choosing. Without using a SIM card, you will not be able to connect to any mobile network. Therefore, the SIM card is of great importance as it carries all the critical information.
What does a SIM card store?
Through the help of a SIM card, you will be able to make calls, use internet services, and sent text messages. The internet services that your mobile network allows may range from 2G to 3G to 4G.
SIM card also holds the essential fragments of information that include the IMSI number and the authentication key that would validate the IMSI. The service provider provides the authentication key.
What Does a SIM Card Do?
Till now, we have understood what a SIM card is all about. So let us now know what the activities that a SIM card performs are.
- On starting the SIM card, the mobile set gets the IMSI number from the SIM card, which is transferred to the network.
- Next, the specific network gathers the IMSI into its internal database to acquire the authentication key.
- Next, the network provider generates a number randomly and gets it signed with the authentication key, and the new number is created. This is more like a response if the SIM card is legitimate.
- The mobile next receives a number that matches the SIM card number, and the SIM card is declared authentic, and it gets the required access.
How to get a SIM card?
You would require following some mandatory rules to get a new SIM card. You would be required to submit the following details.
- Personal information, including your address details, other contact numbers, and email address.
- A valid photo ID that will include biometrics.
- A valid address proof
All these details will allow the state to identify you as an individual owner of the SIM card and conclude who is likely to use the services further.
Can a SIM be bought card without a plan?
Yes, you can buy a SIM card without a mobile plan. But to get it activated and use it further, you will be required to purchase a basic minimum plan as per the service provider. You can also go for the various SIM-only deals as well.
To Conclude
With the latest trends and technologies coming up, the telecom industry is looking forward to the concept of eSIM. In this concept, the SIM is fixed on the phone and can be activated remotely through the network provider as SIM-only deals. You will no longer need those microchip cards.
These services have already been used in mobile sets like the iPhone XS. It is used as the second SIM in the dual SIM option. But you will still need to have the SIM card for the main slot. This system will take some time to become the trend.