Embedded SIM (eSIM)-Based PQC-Enabled Authentication and Provisioning Techniques for Enhancing Security in Edge-Based IoT Ecosystem
N. Sethu Subramanian, Kurunandan Jain, Prabhakar Krishnan, P. Prabu, Ganeshkumar Perumal · IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics · 2025
The rapid expansion of consumer IoT devices—such as smart home hubs, smartphones, and wearables—demands secure and scalable provisioning mechanisms that can withstand emerging quantum threats. Embedded SIM (eSIM) technologies, widely adopted for device authentication and network access, remain vulnerable due to their reliance on classical cryptography. This paper presents a post-quantum secure eSIM provisioning framework for resource-constrained consumer electronics, integrating NIST-standardized Kyber and Dilithium algorithms with blockchain validation and Quantum-Enhanced Variational Neural Network (QEVNN) for efficient routing. The architecture supports secure carrier switching, dynamic profile provisioning, and tamper-resistant key management using Trusted Execution Environments. Experimental results demonstrate 97.5% security effectiveness, 46% improvement in hash performance, and a 12.3% increase in provisioning accuracy. Real-device evaluations on smartphones, wearables, and smart hubs confirm deployment feasibility with sub-second cryptographic operations on commercial hardware. The proposed solution delivers quantum-resilient, market-ready eSIM security optimized for next-generation consumer IoT environments.