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🏠 eUICC.tech > SGP.22 v3.x Unified RSP > Multiple Enabled Profiles: Running Several eSIMs at Once
💡 Why this matters: In SGP.22 v2.x, only one profile can be Enabled at a time. If you have a personal profile and a work profile, you must disable one to use the other. If your device has dual SIM hardware, only one eSIM can be active. Multiple Enabled Profiles (MEP) changes everything: it allows multiple profiles to be Enabled simultaneously, each bound to a separate eSIM Port, enabling true multi-SIM eSIM devices just like physical dual-SIM phones. This is the single most impactful consumer-facing feature in v3.x.
Key takeaways:
- MEP allows several Profiles in Enabled state simultaneously, each assigned to a distinct eSIM Port
- eSIM Ports are logical SE interfaces (LSIs per ETSI TS 102 221), identified by consecutive numbers starting from 0
- Each eSIM Port can have at most one Enabled Profile; each Profile can be assigned to at most one eSIM Port
- Three MEP modes: MEP-A1 (LPA assigns ports), MEP-A2 (eUICC assigns ports), MEP-B (ISD-R selectable on any port)
- MEP is only defined for non-removable eUICCs; still, an optional setup mechanism allows devices and eUICCs to negotiate modes
- APDU multiplexing uses standard ETSI TS 102 221 mechanisms such as MANAGE LSI or NAD byte selection
- In v2.x, profile switching (Enable/Disable) requires either a REFRESH proactive command or none; MEP extends these options for multi-port operation
In SGP.22 v2.x, the eUICC maintains state for one Enabled Profile. When you want to switch from Profile A to Profile B, the LPA must:
During the switch, the device loses connectivity. Even on a dual-SIM device with two physical basebands, v2.x cannot expose two active eSIM profiles simultaneously: there’s a single logical channel.
MEP removes this limitation. The eUICC presents multiple eSIM Ports, each of which can host a different Enabled Profile. A device with two basebands can connect one to each port, giving the user two active mobile subscriptions at once: just like a dual physical SIM phone.
The core concept of MEP is the eSIM Port : what ETSI TS 102 221 calls a Logical SE Interface (LSI). Ports are identified by consecutive numbers starting from zero:
The multiplexing of APDU streams to different Profiles on a single physical interface uses standard mechanisms defined in ETSI TS 102 221:
The key constraint: each eSIM Port SHALL be assigned to at most one Enabled Profile, and each Profile SHALL be assigned to at most one eSIM Port. Profile Enabling assigns a Profile to a port; Profile Disabling releases the assignment. A Disabled Profile is not assigned to any port.
The specification defines three options for how ISD-R selection and port assignments work. An eUICC MAY implement any combination of these modes; the OEM and EUM can pre-agree on which modes to use.
In MEP-A1:
This is the simplest model for the LPA: it controls port assignment directly.
In MEP-A2:
Here the eUICC makes the assignment decision, which may be useful when the eUICC has knowledge about port capabilities that the LPA lacks.
In MEP-B:
ES10c.EnableProfile and (when CAT is initialised on the Target Port) ES10c.DisableProfile are always sent on the Target Port : so Command Port and Target Port are identicalES10c.DisableProfile can be sent on any eSIM Port where CAT is initialisedMEP-B is the most flexible mode, allowing any port to serve as both command and target port.
v2.x defines two options for profile switching: with or without a REFRESH proactive command. MEP extends these for multi-port scenarios:
In MEP mode, instead of a REFRESH command that resets the entire UICC, the eUICC can send an LSI COMMAND proactive command with “UICC Platform Reset” : targeting only the affected port rather than resetting the entire eUICC. This means enabling a profile on Port 1 doesn’t disrupt the active session on Port 0.
| Aspect | v2.x (SEP: Single Enabled Profile) | v3.x (MEP: Multiple Enabled Profiles) |
|---|---|---|
| Profiles Enabled at once | 1 | Multiple (one per eSIM Port) |
| Port model | Single logical interface | Multiple eSIM Ports (LSIs) |
| ISD-R location | One location | Mode-dependent (Port 0 only or any port) |
| Profile switching | Disable old → REFRESH → Enable new | Enable on target port without disrupting others |
| Proactive reset | REFRESH (UICC Reset) | LSI COMMAND (UICC Platform Reset) per port |
| APDU multiplexing | Not needed | MANAGE LSI or NAD byte |
| eUICC type | All | Non-removable only |
| Mode negotiation | N/A | Optional setup mechanism (section 3.4.1) |
Although MEP modes are typically pre-agreed between the OEM and EUM at manufacturing time, the specification defines an optional setup mechanism (section 3.4.1) that allows Devices and eUICCs to support several MEP modes. This mechanism enables:
This flexibility is valuable for device manufacturers who want a single LPA implementation to work across different eUICC hardware that may implement different MEP modes.
The v3.x Profile Rules Enforcer (section 2.4.12) must handle the multi-port scenario. When a profile is Enabled on a port, Profile Policy Rules (PPRs) related to that profile: such as restrictions on disabling or deletion: still apply. The ISD-R enforces these rules regardless of which port the profile occupies.
For profile switching in MEP mode, the same PPR logic applies as in v2.x: a profile configured with a “disabling not allowed” rule cannot be disabled, even if another profile is being enabled on the same port.
Based on GSMA SGP.22 v3.1 (01 December 2023), Section 2.12: Multiple Enabled Profiles, and ETSI TS 102 221 [6]
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