Enterprises deploying Internet of Things devices across borders are quietly overhauling their connectivity strategies amid a patchwork of national regulations, shifting from simple procurement to intricate long-term design choices. Cyril Deschanel, managing director for Europe at Wireless Logic, warns that as rules fragment and deployments expand, companies must embed compliance and adaptability from the outset. “As national regulations fragment and global deployments scale, enterprises are rethinking IoT connectivity as a long-term design decision rather than a simple procurement choice,” Deschanel told Intelligent CIO Europe.

In many regions, permanent roaming faces restrictions or outright bans, dooming SIMs issued in one country to failure after exceeding time limits on foreign networks. Data residency mandates further complicate matters, forcing traffic through local infrastructure. Global IoT connections are projected to hit 21.9 billion by year-end, rising to 30 billion by 2030, per Wireless Logic estimates cited in multiple reports. This scale amplifies risks of silent failures in field operations.

Traditional fixed contracts yield to demands for flexibility, enabling remote network switches and profile updates without physical interventions. Devices in remote or hazardous spots must endure for years as networks evolve and rules shift, risking disruptions without proactive planning.

Regulatory Pressures Reshape Deployments

Countries enforce data sovereignty and cybersecurity rules, with mobile operators growing cautious on eSIM access, demanding guarantees on security and resource use. “Enterprises are navigating a period of significant change in how global device connectivity is delivered and managed,” said Matt Hatton, founding partner at Transforma Insights, in a Transforma Insights report. Permanent roaming curbs in numerous nations force localized strategies over one-size-fits-all approaches.

Compliance now permeates network selection, cloud routing and traffic handling. Beecham Research finds 85% of IoT users view remote over-the-air management of connectivity changes as essential, a baseline expectation amid legacy network sunsets and policy flux, as detailed in the Intelligent CIO Europe analysis.

Enterprises face mounting pressures from these evolutions, with early testing successes masking field pitfalls. Deschanel notes, “In many regions permanent roaming is now restricted or banned. A SIM issued in one country might work during testing but fail in the field if it exceeds the permitted time on a non-native network.”

eSIM Standards Unlock Remote Resilience

The GSMA’s SGP.32 standard for IoT eSIMs decouples profiles from hardware, permitting remote provisioning, updates and switches at scale. This addresses lifecycle demands, yet Beecham reports only 22% of enterprises feel prepared for adoption, despite early users gaining faster activations and fewer manual steps.

“By decoupling the SIM profile from the hardware SGP.32 allows teams to provision update or switch network profiles remotely and at scale,” Deschanel explained to Intelligent CIO Europe. Toby Gasston, principal product manager at Wireless Logic, adds realism: “The reality of SGP.32 will come to the fore – there will be a realisation that eSIM is just a delivery vehicle for connectivity, not necessarily a unicorn new product that will change the industry,” per Wireless Logic.

SGP.32 paves the way for in-factory profile provisioning via upcoming SGP.41 and SGP.42 specs, expected late 2025 into 2026, streamlining supply chains. Early deployments emerge in 2025, with broader uptake through next year, as noted in RCR Wireless News.

Providers Evolve into Strategic Partners

Connectivity firms transcend coverage and portals, offering deployment guidance, regulatory navigation and regional insights. “This will push the market away from simple coverage comparisons and price-led decisions. Instead, the strongest competitors will be the ones who can offer real flexibility, clear guidance and the confidence that fleets can adapt when rules or network conditions change,” Deschanel told IoT Business News.

Relationships pivot from transactional to enduring collaborations, with providers shaping strategies early. “As countries tighten digital rules and data expectations, global IoT will depend far more on how well providers can help enterprises navigate shifting policies and long-term uncertainty,” Deschanel emphasized in the same IoT Business News piece.

Platforms now prioritize resilience, with fallback options and OTA reconfiguration. Wireless Logic’s Conexa platform exemplifies managed 4G, 5G and satellite for fixed wireless access, per their site.

Fleet Management Demands Proactive Control

Without forward-thinking approaches, firms risk site visits, outages or fines. “Without a strategy that accounts for long-term change enterprises risk costly surprises such as unplanned site visits service disruptions or new compliance issues,” Deschanel cautioned in Intelligent CIO Europe. SGP.32 early adopters report efficiency gains, yet operational maturity lags.

Security escalates as fleets scale to millions; regulators mandate standards, enterprises seek hardware-rooted protections against attacks, as outlined in Hologram. iSIM integration by chip vendors bolsters trust chains.

Global leaders like a major MNO leverage Thales’ eSIM platform for cross-border management, per recent X discussions from IoT Now on X. Automotive, smart cities and industrial sectors stand to gain most from seamless operations.

Enterprise Strategies Prioritize Adaptability

Successful deployments share traits: swift iteration, scalability, stability and regulatory adherence, per Simon Trend of Wireless Logic in 36Kr. Surveys show 49.8% of firms prize eSIM security, 46.8% local profiles and 45.2% roaming avoidance.

“With standards like SGP.32 promising smoother updates at scale, enterprises will gravitate towards partners who think ahead rather than react,” Deschanel said in IoT Insider. Providers like Eseye offer federated localization for MNOs and firms.

The pivot demands planning for coverage, rules and commerce from launch. “Connectivity shifts from a sunk cost to a controllable service layer, influencing commercial flexibility, supply-chain design and compliance governance,” per IoT Now News & Reports.

2026 Trends Signal Broader Shifts

Five key trends emerge: flexible providers over price wars, grounded SGP.32 views, secure outcome-focused platforms, joined-up solutions cutting vendor stitching and resilience amid uncertainty, as Wireless Logic outlines in their 2026 trends blog. 5G RedCap expands to logistics and healthcare for cost-effective access.

Android and iOS integrate network slicing fully next year, enhancing enterprise traffic routing, per 1GLOBAL. Decentralized eSIM pilots on blockchain hint at privacy-focused futures, though regulatory hurdles persist, as seen in X threads.

“The shift is away from provisioning and transactional relationships towards long-term partnerships. The providers who stay relevant will be the ones who can help shape strategy not just deliver the tools,” Deschanel concluded in Intelligent CIO Europe. This evolution promises resilient global IoT, demanding strategic foresight now.