Esim for the Librem 5?

Hardware Librem 5
12

I now have a little bit of experience to report.

I bought an EIOT Club eSIM writer from Amazon. (JMP shipments to the U.S. are delayed right now, and I needed an eSIM writer immediately, so I went with the EIOT model.)
I have a physical eSIM-writable card from JMP. It’s not their official eSIM Adapter card, but one of their earlier writable cards.
I have the JMP eSIM Manager app (available on F-Droid) installed on my degoogled Android. (This app checks for compatability with the phone it’s installed on, and allows you to install, delete, enable, and disable eSIMs.)

Here’s how it works (the easy way):

  1. Load the writable eSIM card into the EIOT eSIM writer. (Mini-SIM-sized plastic card surround required.)
  2. Launch the JMP eSIM Manager app (on Android phone).
  3. Connect the eSIM writer to the phone’s USB port (USB-A to -C required). Writer powers on. Grant USB permission.
  4. Tap the “+” to add a new eSIM profile. Confirm the write location (i.e. the loaded eSIM card).
  5. Add the eSIM via scan, copy/paste (of the alphanumeric key), or manual entry.
  6. Select and enable the eSIM.
  7. Add another eSIM, or disconnect the reader.
  8. Insert the SIM card back into the Android’s SIM slot. (Or move it to any other phone, including the Librem 5.)

Possibly due to the fact that I’m not using the official JMP eSIM adapter card, if I want to switch between eSIM profiles, I have to remove the SIM card and use the eSIM writer plus JMP SIM Manager app combination to enable a different loaded eSIM, automatically disabling the one that was previously enabled. Then the card goes back into the phone’s SIM slot. I’m not sure, but I think the JMP eSIM adapter can use the JMP SIM Manager app to enable/disable directly, without the reader. (On Android, obviously.)

The other way to manage eSIMs is with a computer. On Linux you can use the EasyLPAC application with a connected eSIM writer. (Article)

I wonder if EasyLPAC installed on the L5, and a connected eSIM writer can handle the operation without an additional computer. I intended to try that, but I was uncertain about some of the EasyLPAC dependencies, so didn’t pursue it.

So this is actually a method of turning the Librem 5 into a multi-(e)SIM phone, although it might require a bit of effort to switch between the profiles. There’s also the issue of regional-specific modems to deal with; an eSIM for Europe or Australia likely wouldn’t work well with the North American modem, for example.

Also handy for switching between local carriers to obtain better coverage ad hoc.

EDIT: But unfortunately, the eIOT SIM writer isn’t drawing enough (any?) power from the L5’s USB port.

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