The GSMA has introduced GSMA Entitlements, a cloud platform built with NetLync to help operators activate and manage advanced device features—like eSIM transfer, VoWi-Fi, satellite messaging, cross-platform RCS, and companion-device support—across iOS and Android, with far less custom integration work than before. Announced the week of 4 September 2025, the service targets a long-standing pain point: every OEM (Apple, Google, Samsung, etc.) expects carriers to run a standards-compliant entitlement server that securely tells each device which services it’s allowed to use and coordinates the required network workflows.

Historically, that meant bespoke projects, multiple vendor integrations, and months of testing for each feature or device generation. GSMA says the new platform shortens roll-outs dramatically and aligns right out of the gate with GSMA TS.43 Service Entitlement Configuration, the industry’s core spec for device entitlement behavior.

What’s New?

Two architecture choices stand out. First, GSMA Entitlements is designed to complement, not rip-and-replace, existing stacks—useful for Tier-1 MNOs with sunk investments and for MVNOs that prefer a managed service. Second, it’s natively tied into GSMA Network Settings Exchange (NSX), the association’s single clearing point where operators publish network settings to OEMs. That coupling matters: in practice, entitlement checks and network settings distribution are adjacent workflows during device onboarding and feature enablement.

This launch also lands at a pivotal time in device behavior. Apple’s eSIM Quick Transfer (and broader carrier-activation flow) made line moves and SIM-to-eSIM migrations a consumer-visible event that just works—but only for carriers that pass entitlement checks and back-end orchestration. On the Android side, IMS Service Entitlement is now a first-class framework in AOSP, with devices calling the carrier’s entitlement server (per TS.43) to confirm VoLTE/VoWi-Fi and other IP services. Features like satellite messaging and watch pairing rely on the same entitlement plumbing. A neutral, standards-anchored service run by the GSMA therefore lowers barriers for mid-market operators to deliver parity experiences.

Finally, early signals on execution velocity are notable. Mobile World Live (the GSMA’s own media outlet) reports that operators trialing GSMA Entitlements integrated it into OSS/BSS in less than a month with small teams, and other reports cite four–six weeks as a realistic window. If those timelines hold at scale, entitlement projects move from “quarterly release” to “sprint-level” cadence—exactly what operators need as OEMs push faster platform updates.

From Complexity to Simplicity

Operators are increasingly under pressure to support a multitude of advanced features—from eSIM transfers and satellite messaging to cross-platform RCS, 5G data management, VoWiFi, and support for companion devices like smartwatches. These services typically require compliance with detailed manufacturer specifications—Apple demands entitlements for eSIM Quick Transfer, FaceTime, iMessage, and cross-platform RCS; Android makers like Google and Samsung require similar integration for eSIM, RCS, companion devices, and more.

Key Capabilities of GSMA Entitlements

• Developer-Driven Self-Onboarding: Operators can onboard, test, diagnose, and report autonomously.
• Feature Support Across Platforms:

  • eSIM Transfer (Android)

  • eSIM Quick Transfer (iOS)

  • Cross-Platform RCS Messaging

  • VoLTE and VoWiFi Provisioning

  • Apple Watch & Android Wear Support

  • Satellite Messaging (Android)

  • iMessage & FaceTime Authentication

  • Phone Number Verification (Android)

  • Hotspot Tethering

  • EAP-AKA Device Authentication (Android & iOS)

• Manufacturer-Compliant: Fully aligns with GSMA TS.43 and OEM entitlement specs
• Low-Risk, Future-Proof Path: Seamlessly integrates with existing entitlement systems, allowing a smooth upgrade path
• AI-Enhanced APIs & Reporting: Offers advanced diagnostics and real-time insights via intelligent APIs

Quotes from Leaders

“GSMA Entitlements marks a major step forward in simplifying mobile feature activation. As connectivity evolves, operators need solutions that are fast, secure, and device manufacturer-compliant by default. Our platform removes the integration burden, shortens deployment times, and helps operators of all sizes deliver seamless experiences across devices and operating systems.”
— Sianne Ryder, General Manager, GSMA Services

“NetLync was founded to simplify entitlement deployments and accelerate innovation. With GSMA Entitlements, we’re delivering the industry’s first true Entitlements-as-a-Service platform, built from the ground up for speed, transparency, and agility. By working hand-in-hand with OEMs and carriers worldwide, we’re enabling operators of every size to integrate new features in weeks, measure performance in real time, and confidently be ready for the future. We are excited to partner with the GSMA to empower operators and set higher standards for the industry.”
— Emir Aboulhosn, CEO & Co-Founder, NetLync

Real-World Impact & Uptake

Early adopters report integrating GSMA Entitlements into their OSS/BSS systems with just two to three developers, completing the process within approximately four weeks. The platform is already being trusted and trialed by leading operators globally, demonstrating its potential to streamline deployments and reduce time-to-market significantly.

Conclusion: where this leaves the market

Bottom line: GSMA’s move elevates entitlement servers from a niche, OEM-driven compliance exercise to an industry-operated control plane that’s tightly aligned with TS.43 and NSX. That will pressure incumbents to prove they can match deployment speed, multitenancy, and cross-OEM coherence—especially for MVNOs and regional MNOs that don’t want to build this themselves.

How it stacks up against key players and trajectories:

• 1GLOBAL (formerly Truphone) – A long-time pioneer with a production-proven Entitlement Server used for Apple Watch, VoWi-Fi/VoLTE and, more recently, iPhone Account Transfer. Strong iOS muscle and credible Android support. Advantage: operator-grade references; caveat: historically delivered as a vendor platform rather than a GSMA-operated utility.
• Thales – Deep in eSIM (SM-DP+/SM-DS) and now explicitly marketing TS.43-compliant entitlement with menu-driven device change flows. Advantage: full eSIM stack integration and global scale; caveat: typical of large-stack vendors, deployments can skew bespoke unless delivered as managed SaaS.
• G+D (Giesecke+Devrient) – Another eSIM heavyweight emphasizing user experience (“happy customers” require good entitlements) and previously showcasing cloud entitlement solutions (including collaborations referenced by partners). Advantage: end-to-end platform depth; caveat: similar big-vendor trade-offs around agility and time-to-launch.
• IDEMIA – Clear articulation of entitlement roles in the eSIM era and delivery experience with major operators. Advantage: robust telco footprint; caveat: less public detail on multitenant, rapid-onboarding models compared with the GSMA/NetLync pitch.
• Specialists & challengers (Mobilise, WDS-Sicap, Monty Mobile, Redtea Mobile, Axonect) – Offer cloud-native entitlement servers with APIs for wearables, IMS services, and migrations. These are nimble and often cost-effective, but must now differentiate on interop test coverage across OEMs and certification velocity as GSMA centralizes the narrative.

Strategic read:

• For MVNOs and mid-tier MNOs, GSMA Entitlements is likely the fastest route to feature parity (eSIM transfers, satellite messaging, watch pairing) without stitching together multiple vendor projects. The tie-in to NSX is a genuine differentiator because settings distribution and entitlement logic are increasingly interdependent during device onboarding.
• For Tier-1s deeply invested with Thales/G+D/1GLOBAL stacks, GSMA’s platform provides a low-risk overlay to harmonize cross-OEM behavior and speed up new feature flags while leaving core eSIM/OSS assets intact. Expect selective adoption (e.g., for Android satellite or cross-RCS) where centralized updates outpace internal release trains.
• Trendwise, entitlement servers are becoming the de facto switchboard for modern device UX: Apple continues to expand on-device transfer and carrier activation; Android bakes IMS entitlement into the platform; OEMs are tightening compliance gates for services like iMessage/FaceTime auth, VoWi-Fi, and wearable pairing. Neutral infrastructure operated by the GSMA should reduce fragmentation and shorten OEM certification loops.

If you’re deciding what to do next: validate which features your portfolio is missing (Quick Transfer, watch/cross-device plans, satellite messaging), check your TS.43 alignment and NSX posture, and pilot GSMA Entitlements against a representative Android/iOS matrix. The operators that convert entitlement work from “projects” into continuous delivery will feel the biggest churn and NPS upside.

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