Then I still don’t understand it.
When I have 2 SIMs I can choose if I want to call which SIM I want to use.
When my phone is on, I can recieve sms from both SIMs (of course not in the same minute).
In my perception both SIM’s are active.
Where do I go wrong?
1 Like
The question was about using 2 eSIM profiles at the same time (which is not possible), not PHY+eSIM (which is possible).
3 Likes
Now I get it, Thanks for your explanation.
I hope in the future it will be possible to use multiply eSIMs at the same time.
1 Like
You’re welcome 
Just to add some tech insight, dual-SIM modem(s) normally support 2 separate UICC connections and this implies that you can only choose between the following combinations:
- 2 physical SIM slots OR
- 1 physical slot + 1 embedded (with 1 active profile) OR
- 1 embedded with 2 active profiles (assuming that the eSIM chip supports multiple active profiles)
The radio capabilities of consumer modems are limited (i.e. shared antennas) thus it is basically impossible to keep more than 2 active profiles at the same time.
7 Likes
Which you already explained that this option is not available in a Fairphone 5.
Is there a possibility that this will be possible in the future of the Fairphone 5?
1 Like
I understand it in a way that one of the options can be implemented and that’s it. For the FP5 they chose to have
However by saying
Francesco doesn’t explicitly exclude that option 3 (two eSIM profiles active) would be possible if the physical SIM isn’t used. It depends on if it can be switched between those three options in software, I’d say.
I apologize for the confusion in my comments above, option 3 (2 eSIM profiles active at the same time) is and will always be impossible on Fairphone 5 due to hardware constraints.
The UICC connections are actual traces on the PCB board and not just software routes, and the eSIM chip does not support multiple active profiles.
10 Likes
just got my fairphone 5 today I have a physical Australian and a physical German SIM. I don’t wanna swap to eSIM. Is it possible to replace the eSIM slot to a physical SIM slot?
1 Like
No, that won’t be possible.
You might want to read this although about the FP4
1 Like
looks like, the SIM card slot is in the head unit. Would be cool, if we could just swap the head unit, if we wanna use two physical sims. One advantage of a modular system…
A shame fairphone didn’t solder a second physical sim on the fp4…
No, not a shame but a conscious decision:
Francesco later added:
While this was all for the FP5 I’m pretty sure it is just as valid for the FP4. So they could have added a second physical SIM slot but you either couldn’t have used it because the traces on the PCB lead to the eSIM, or you couldn’t have used the eSIM feature at all.
I think they made a good choice when they basically enabled both a physical and an eSIM. The downside of that is that both the people sticking to two physical SIMs and the people who would like to use two eSIMs are not completely happy, while those who only use one SIM have the choice.
2 Likes
Amazing summary 
Just to add a few more words: it was indeed a conscious decision, given the fact that we have 2 slots limitation and that the industry is still “in-between” physical and embedded SIMs, so we wanted to cover both scenarios.
And about the “SIM module” with different combinations, while it would be technically possible to make, it is practically very complicated (I would like to use the word impossible, but it feels too strong): Android does not have an internal mechanism to apply a plug-and-play SIM slots configuration, and the device certifications from GSMA also work under the assumption that the SIM slots are not changeable, so we would have had to certify multiple times the very same device with all the permutations possible (significantly increasing the certifications costs).
This is no excuse to not try/think about it the next time though
7 Likes
by the looks, it seems possible for Shift to have dual nano sim and esim with an adapter on the coming Shift 8 phone. Why shouldn’t it be possible for Fairphone?
Be aware that the card from eSIM uses your only physical SIM slot. And by doing so you can only use eSIM profiles on the phone.
As not every provider provides eSIM one has to be very carefull.
I have been following shift phone as much as I can without speaking German;-) it seems they are still in the development stage, so perhaps it might be better to wait to see their certification process
It seems like it wasn’t the best solution with one eSIM and one physical SIM. I’m still hoping for a dual sim solution for 2 physical SIM, I don’t want to use eSIM. It’s possible to change the head unit, so it should be possible to provide a head unit, that supports 2 physical SIMs.
Anyways eSIM adapter solutions are already out there: https://esim.me/ unfortunately Fairphone isn’t a supported brand yet.
Its not only about hardware, when you want this, you must plan upfront and ensure the Core Module is holding all counterparts for both as well…
Assuming you speak German, Shiftphones explaines such things in videos quite often, recently for the Shift8
Edit: and esim me is supporting at least the FP3 they even tried to make the FP2 working.
I like physical and eSIM and would not want to go back to 2 physical SIM
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.