Globe is taking the lead in Internet of Things (IoT) adoption in the Philippines through a Proof of Concept (PoC) for the GSMA SGP.32 standard, in partnership with global eSIM solutions leader Thales and Bridge Alliance, the global alliance of premier mobile operators
The collaboration positions Globe as the first Philippine telco to test the new specifications developed by Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), which is designed to enable IoT solutions that require flexible, scalable, and secure connectivity across a wide range of business applications.
Globe has partnered with Thales, an IoT technology expert, to onboard its Adaptive Connect Services that covers SGP.32 eSIM IoT Remote Manager (EIM) and Fleet Manager to support multiple use cases of local and regional IoT connectivity.
Bridge Alliance also plays an instrumental role in this PoC. Not only does Bridge Alliance connect Bridge member operators (BMOs) like Globe with other BMOs like Singtel (Singapore), Optus (Australia), and AIS (Thailand), it serves as project manager of the PoC to support regional readiness of the technology and simulate cross-border enterprise use cases across the BMOs.
The consortium, likewise, allows Thales to demonstrate its platform’s capability and interoperability in conformance with the new SGP.32 specifications in IoT space.
The PoC intends to showcase how enterprise-grade IoT devices can be provisioned and managed through eSIM technology using remote bulk SIM provisioning, SIM profile switching, seamless interconnectivity, and rapid SIM activation.
“With the PoC, we are laying the groundwork for IoT deployments that meet the evolving needs of Philippine enterprises. Our goal is to simplify how businesses connect their devices and help them unlock greater efficiency, flexibility, and reach,” said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe.
While eSIMs and IoT technologies have gained traction in the consumer space, enterprise adoption remains in its early stages. The PoC presents an opportunity to demonstrate the full potential of eSIM technology in massive enterprise IoT applications.
“Integrating Thales IoT connectivity solutions within Globe and Bridge Alliance services would provide their enterprise customers with an advanced platform for seamless and secure management of IoT device connectivity. This also provides an opportunity for all IoT companies to introduce their SGP.32 devices in a very broad market when they participate in this collaborative project”, said Jon Cahilig, Asia Head of Sales for Mobile Connectivity Solutions of Thales.
“Bridge Alliance is pleased to join our member operator Globe and our technology partner Thales to trial the SGP.32 standard, which represents a major step forward in enabling seamless, interoperable, and scalable enterprise IoT connectivity across borders. This collaboration brings us closer to realizing a truly unified approach to enterprise IoT that has the potential to deliver regional value to even more of our member operators across multiple markets,” said Dr Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance.
Scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025 following final development work, the PoC will run until SGP.32-compatible devices become commercially available, giving Globe and the other Bridge Mobile operators a competitive edge as the standard enters the market.
Once the service is ready, Globe will open the platform to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Globe Business clients interested to explore with their own IoT devices.
The global IoT market is accelerating and is projected to reach 4.9 billion devices by the end of 2025. In the Philippines, it is expected to grow to Php410 billion by 2029, driven by an annual growth rate of 20 percent. This surge is fueled by the widespread adoption of IoT across smart cities, advanced manufacturing, and the growing shift to electric and hybrid vehicles—aligning with the country’s push toward digital urban development and sustainable mobility.
