Virtual SIM Card Technology, Safer Than Conventional SIM Cards

Launch of Luna SIMO Smartphone (Tachta Citra Elfira/VOI)

JAKARTA - Seeing the rampant crime of SIM Swap Fraud, a SIMO hotspot company is developing a product called Virtual SIM (vSIM). Through this technology, a smartphone can surf without a conventional SIM card and WiFi. Then how does this Virtual SIM work?

"Virtual SIM is different from conventional SIM cards and eSIM," said Country Manager SIMO Indonesia, Wisnu Adhi Prabowo at the launch of Luna SIMO smartphone in Central Jakarta, January 23, 2020.

If the SIM card in general has a physical form that must be embedded in the cellphone. Instead, vSIM is embedded in the mobile chipset device. Smartphone users only need to install the pre-loaded application from the SIMO service from Skyroam Technology.

"Initially there must be a conventional SIM card in the cellphone or use a WiFi network to connect to the SIMO application," continued Wisnu, who ensured that the next step users could activate another number from the cellular operator's network.

Furthermore, if it is active, the SIMO service will automatically search for the closest signal from the cellular operator through the Base Transceiver Station (BTS). "We have been working with all operators in Indonesia, such as Telkomsel, XL, Indosat Ooredoo and others," said Wisnu.

Virtual SIM service package from SIMO (Tachta Citra Elfira / VOI)

To be more secure, this SIMO does not use or collect any identity data from its customers. The virtual number provided by SIMO only functions to refill internet packages, not to make phone calls or receive and send SMS.

SIMO is more positioned itself, as a digital internet service connector through the available telecommunication provider networks. "SIMO does not collect data from users, we are only data providers for internet data packages," said Wisnu.

Others, SIMO guarantees the security of customer data even though it is embedded in the cellphone chipset, so customers don't have to worry about accessing Mobile Banking even if social media access uses a password.

"We do not access anything on the customer's smartphone, so it is more to control traffic between operators. For example, in one area with a strong Smartfren network, we have a connection there, now we will move to another area with a strong Telkomsel, so we will use that network," close Vishnu.

As previously known, cases of breaching personal data via physical SIM cards are indeed on the rise, this Virtual SIM might be a solution without worrying about its security.

Because, if a physical SIM Card requires customer data during registration such as KTP and KK, SIMO does not need this, only entering the customer's number into the application, topping up the data package and immediately using it for internet access.