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Comment by hintymad | Hacker News Reader

I wonder if there's a reversed solution: using physical SIM card on devices that have only eSIMs. The use case: recent fewer versions of iPhone support only eSIMs, yet we will need a physical sim when traveling in China (yes yes, one could use roaming. It's just that with a China phone number, one can do more).

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It apparently can be done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twFC0A_m0KI

Supposedly the people doing this at scale (for grey imports?) even de-solder the eSIM module and resell it, but I have my doubts about that part of the story.

Sure you can do it if there’s a module to desolder, but many phones will just use TrustZone/Secure Enclave and you’re not desoldering that…

Are there any TrustZone based eSIM implementations yet? I've heard about plans for a couple of times but haven't been following that closely.

I'm not sure if iPhones still have a physical module; it would make a lot of sense for Apple to combine the eSIM implementation with the payments secure element (I think they hold some patents to that extent), but I'm not sure if they already do that.

Why do you need a physical sim in China? Are there just no esim providers? Or is it something deeper?

Apparently there aren't any eSIMs in China that include a phone number. I'm not sure why.

I think this is why Apple releases the latest iPhones with physical SIM trays in China while the latest iPhones in North America are eSIM only

>while the latest iPhones in North America are eSIM only

It's US that's esim only. Canada and Mexico still has physical sim + esim option if you're willing to drive across the border.

https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/

https://www.apple.com/ca/iphone/compare/

https://www.apple.com/mx/iphone/compare/

I only know eSIM providers for data

Most "travel esims" are data-only, but there are definitely domestic carriers/MVNOs that provide voice + text, and provide esims.

But normally you wouldn't want to use a local SIM in China because of the great firewall. I usually buy local SIMs but China is an exception. I can't live without Wikipedia.

It’s to connect phone numbers to identities. Getting a physical sim in China involves going in person to a store where they keep your passport and a mugshot (you hold a paper with your number on it) in a database.

There’s no free WiFi without requiring a phone number. It allows the government to connect internet users to real identities.

A big reason is that an eSIM is virtual, which means anyone can easily get an eSIM that allows them to punch through the great firewall -- a defeat that the Chinese government would never allow to happen

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