Thales Partners with Cielo to Pilot Remote eSIM Connectivity Management for POS Terminals Across Brazil

Thales Partners with Cielo to Pilot Remote eSIM Connectivity Management for POS Terminals Across Brazil

(IN BRIEF) Thales is working with Brazilian payment service provider Cielo to pilot remote connectivity management for point-of-sale terminals using an eSIM platform based on the GSMA SGP.32 IoT standard. The initiative allows Cielo to remotely manage connectivity and switch mobile network operators over the air without requiring physical SIM replacement or technician visits. This modernization of the company’s connectivity architecture is designed to strengthen the reliability of payment terminals and ensure uninterrupted transaction processing for merchants. If a network becomes unstable, terminals can automatically connect to another available mobile network, often without the merchant noticing. The deployment is among the first large-scale uses of the SGP.32 eSIM specification in the POS sector in Brazil and enables features such as remote lifecycle management across thousands of devices, simplified manufacturing and device activation, and enhanced redundancy for network connectivity. The partnership highlights how advanced IoT connectivity solutions and eSIM technology can improve operational resilience and help maintain reliable payment services across a nationwide merchant network.

(PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 5-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales is partnering with Cielo, one of Brazil’s leading payment service providers, to pilot remote connectivity management for point-of-sale (POS) terminals across the country. The initiative introduces Thales’s eSIM connectivity management platform, built on the latest GSMA SGP.32 IoT standard, allowing Cielo to shift from traditional manual SIM management toward a fully remote, secure and resilient connectivity model.

For payment networks, reliable connectivity is essential. When POS terminals lose access to mobile networks, transactions cannot be processed. To strengthen operational reliability and improve the merchant experience, Cielo is modernizing the connectivity architecture used across its nationwide terminal fleet.

Through the use of Thales’s eSIM technology, Cielo can remotely switch between mobile network operators over the air in seconds, eliminating the need to send technicians to replace SIM cards. This capability ensures that connectivity issues can be resolved quickly while minimizing disruption to merchant operations.

From the merchant’s perspective, the process is largely invisible. If a mobile network connection becomes unstable, the POS terminal can automatically reconnect to another available network. This automated network switching helps maintain uninterrupted payment processing, often without merchants noticing that a connectivity change has occurred.

Cielo POS

The deployment represents one of the first large-scale implementations of the GSMA SGP.32 eSIM specification in Brazil’s POS sector. By integrating Thales’s GSMA-compliant connectivity solution into its broader technology strategy, Cielo gains new capabilities that enhance operational efficiency and reliability.

One key advantage is the ability to perform remote lifecycle management at scale, allowing connectivity profiles to be updated or switched simultaneously across thousands of terminals. This capability simplifies the management of a large distributed payment infrastructure.

The approach also improves manufacturing and logistics processes. Devices can be manufactured globally and later activated locally in Brazil without requiring physical SIM replacement, increasing flexibility across the supply chain.

In addition, the system enhances network reliability and redundancy, allowing payment terminals to remain operational even if a network fails or commercial conditions require switching operators. This supports business continuity for merchants who depend on uninterrupted payment processing.

Carlos Alves, Chief Technology Officer of Cielo, emphasized that the initiative is designed to prevent lost sales caused by connectivity failures. By ensuring automatic network redundancy and seamless switching between operators, Cielo aims to raise the standard for reliability and scalability in the payments industry while protecting merchant revenue.

Eva Rudin, Vice President of Mobile Connectivity Solutions at Thales, highlighted that modern IoT connectivity solutions are increasingly focused on operational resilience rather than simple connectivity. By leveraging the SGP.32 standard and Thales’s expertise in eSIM management, the partnership helps Cielo maintain system uptime, safeguard revenue and deliver a smoother experience for merchants throughout Brazil.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.

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SOURCE: Thales