In a world growing increasingly dependent on connected devices, enterprises face new challenges daily in managing IoT ecosystems' complexity, compatibility, cost, and scale, being chief among them. In response, Cisco and Tata Communications have announced a strategic partnership to simplify, streamline, and scale global IoT and eSIM connectivity. 

What’s the Deal?

• Integration of Platforms: Tata Communications’ MOVE™ platform, a multi-generational, global eSIM orchestration solution, will be merged with Cisco’s IoT Control Center. This will allow businesses to more efficiently manage connectivity and SIM lifecycles across many countries, carriers, and networks.

• Scale of Reach: The numbers are already significant. MOVE™ has supported over 350 million eSIM operating systems across 200+ countries. Meanwhile, Cisco’s IoT Control Center is powering over 270 million IoT devices for over 32,000 enterprises, including 100 million connected vehicles.

Why It Matters

Simplified Global Deployment

With native eSIM orchestration via MOVE™ and Cisco’s management tools, companies can push devices live in multiple geographies without needing local physical SIMs or navigating a tangle of local providers.

Reduced Operational Complexity & Costs

Fragmented SIM hardware, custom provisioning for each region or operator, and complex network agreements all contribute to higher CAPEX and OPEX. This collaboration promises unified tools for activation, lifecycle management, and monitoring, cutting many of those overheads.

Better Control, Visibility & Interoperability

For many organizations, a lack of transparency in connectivity (e.g., which carrier/SIM is being used, how reliable the network is, and how to manage roaming / switching) is a real pain. With Cisco + MOVE™, there’s a promise of full visibility across the stack and smoother handoffs across networks. 

Avoidance of Vendor Lock-In

Enterprises often get tied into one provider, one SIM standard, one way of doing things, which limits flexibility. A combined solution like this aims to let them choose among providers or networks more freely. 

Who Stands to Gain the Most?

• Logistics & Transportation: Think fleets crossing borders, trailers, trucks, or shipping containers. With eSIM + global oversight, activation across regions becomes simpler.

• Manufacturing & Infrastructure: Remote assets, machine sensors, and utilities that need reliable connectivity (even across public/private networks) can be monitored and managed more reliably.

• Connected Vehicles & Mobility Solutions: Given the sheer number of connected vehicles on Cisco’s platform already, this collaboration reinforces eSIM’s role in making connected mobility more resilient.

Quotes & Vision

• Marco Bijvelds, VP & Global Head of MOVE™ at Tata Communications: “By combining Tata Communications’ IoT fabric with Cisco’s management platform, we empower businesses to unlock opportunities, streamline operations, and accelerate digital transformation.”

• Masum Mir, SVP and GM, Cisco Provider Mobility: “Enterprises demand simplicity, automation, and scalability in IoT. With Tata Communications as our partner, we are advancing eSIM as a foundational technology for connected vehicles and beyond.”

What to Watch Out For

• Regulatory & Local-Network Barriers: eSIM still faces some regulatory or licensing challenges in certain countries. Integration may require navigating local telecom laws.

• Security & Data Privacy: With devices globally connected, the stakes are higher for securing each connection, ensuring data sovereignty, and defending against new attack surfaces.

• Interoperability Realities: Even if platforms promise a seamless experience, differences in network quality, roaming agreements, and regional infrastructure may still introduce variability in performance.

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The Big Picture

This partnership indicates a larger trend: as IoT scales, control and simplicity are becoming critical differentiators. Enterprises are moving from pilot projects to full-scale deployments, so standardization, agility, and transparency matter more than ever.

Cisco and Tata Communications aren’t just responding to demand; they are helping shape the next standard for global IoT connectivity. For businesses ready to leverage wide-area, cross-border device networks, this could be an enabler for smarter, leaner, more resilient operations.

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