This document provides guidance on onboarding an eSIM onto your Android device.
For this guide, we will use a Zebra TC-78 handheld Android device, running Android version 14.
On-boarding an eSIM on an Android device
These instructions assume a manual addition of the eSIM to a single device. For multiple devices, you can alternatively use 1) a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution to push eSIMs to multiple devices, or 2) perform the BULK version of the following QR code flow.
Generally when performing eSIM an eSIM add operation, you MUST have a second internet link up (i.e. WiFi or other cellular). This allows the add operation for the eSIM to authenticate with the SM-DP+ SIM server. In this example, our Android device will have WiFi connected.
Activate an eSIM. In CSO, go to SIMs & Devices (left pane) and Summary (top pane). In the upper left eSIMs box, click on the Activate button.
In the Activate eSIM workflow, select
Activate eSIM va QR Code(top pane). Fill in all of the fields and SIM Lock preference - the red asterisk fields are required. Note your Device Name as you will need to search for it next. Click onActivate(lower right) to activate the eSIM.
You will be returned to the Summary list of SIMs. Search for your new eSIM by Name. Note that the Status for a newly provisioned eSIM should be
Provisioned.
Display the QR code on a screen that is NOT the Android the device you want to onboard. You have 2 options for scanning the QR code onto your Android device:
(Email method) Via an attachment in an automated email sent from Celona to User Email address specified in the Activate eSIM workflow, above.
(CSO download link method) Click on the specific eSIM in CSO. Scroll down to the SIM Details for a
DOWNLOAD QR CODElink.
On the Android device to be on-boarded, go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs. Click on
Add more.
In the “Help adding a network” screen, click on
SCAN(bottom).
In the Confirmation modal dialog box, click on
OK.
The Android device will be in photo mode to capture the QR code. Scan the QR code.
The Android device will download the eSIM profile. When prompted, click on
ACTIVATE(lower right) to confirm.
After some time in Activating state, the SIM will be activated. Click on
DONEto complete the workflow. Verify your newly on-boarded eSIM is in the list of eSIMs.
Finalize the settings for the Celona eSIM by clicking on the eSIM to see its details. Set the following:
Mobile data: ON (should be
ONby default)Preferred network type: as per your Celona deployment (
5Gand/orLTE)Access Point Names (APNs): should be
celonadnsfor APN
In the coverage of a Celona radio for an authorized Site, verify cellular attach and connectivity. If it has been some time since you installed the eSIM, you may have to airplane mode-cycle the device to attach.
Off-boarding an eSIM on an Android device
Generally when performing eSIM an eSIM remove operation, you should have a second internet link up (i.e. WiFi or other cellular). This allows the remove operation for the eSIM state to propagate to CSO. For eSIM off-boarding, updated state will allow the eSIM to be re-used. If you do not have a second internet link up, the eSIM state change will not propagate until internet connectivity is reestablished.
Erase the eSIM from the device
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs
Click on the eSIM to be off-boarded
Scroll to the bottom and click on
Erase SIM. You may have to authorize this action via a PIN challenge.
In the modal dialog box for Erase this SIM, click on the
Erasebutton. It will take a few seconds to delete the eSIM.
At this point, the eSIM is removed from the device and you should no longer see it in the list of SIMs. You may now optionally re-onboard the same eSIM later, on-board it on another device (if SIM Lock has not been enabled for this SIM), or deactivate the eSIM in CSO to prevent its future use.