Global eSIM adoption surges, China emerges as key market, says TCA

NEW DELHI: The global eSIM ecosystem saw significant expansion in the first half of 2026, largely driven by increased consumer and IoT adoption, according to the latest market monitoring insights from the Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA).

The industry association, which represents approximately 85 per cent of the global eSIM hardware market, also noted the continued resilience of the traditional SIM market.

In the first six months of 2026, consumer demand for eSIM technology accelerated sharply, with worldwide profile downloads nearly equalling the total volume achieved in the full year 2025. This rapid global adoption was significantly boosted by China, following regulatory approval for eSIM services in October 2025,