SIM Card Technology from A-Z

Explore the intricate world of SIM card technology in this comprehensive conference talk from the 36C3 event. Delve into the technical aspects of SIM cards, from their humble beginnings to their current widespread use in billions of phones worldwide. Gain insights into ISO7816 smart cards, SIM card hardware, operating systems, and applications. Discover the evolution from SIM to UICC, USIM, and ISIM, and learn about industry specifications, processes, and relevant bodies. Examine SIM toolkit functionality, proactive SIM features, and the emergence of eSIM technology. Understand the physical smart card interface, bit transmission levels, and key SIM card commands. Explore SIM card filesystem hierarchies, Java Card implementations, and over-the-air (OTA) management techniques. This in-depth technical overview covers nearly 30 years of SIM card technology, providing valuable knowledge for both industry professionals and curious enthusiasts.

Intro
Outline
Relation of SIM card specifications
Relevant specification bodies/sources
Classic SIM in early GSM
DIN EN ISO/IEC 7816
GSM TS 11.11
Physical Smart Card Interface
Bit transmission level
Smart Card Communication
Smart Card Transmission Protocol
Key SIM Card Commands
SIM card filesystem hierarchy
3G: ETSI UICC and the 3GPP USIM
SIM cards in 5G
SIM card hardware
SIM card software modularity
Java Cards
Java SIM Cards
SIM Toolkit (STK) / Card Application Toolkit (CAT)
Proactive SIM
OTA (Over-The-Air)
Remote File Management (RFM)
Remote Application Management (RAM)
The CCC event SIM cards