There’s a quiet shift happening in the IoT connectivity space. It’s no longer just about getting devices online. It’s about what you can do once they’re connected. And in that context, Soracom being named a Leader in Counterpoint Research’s 2026 Connectivity Management Platform rankings for the third consecutive year feels less like a routine accolade and more like a signal of where the market is heading. Soracom Connectivity Management Platform

The headline is simple: Soracom outperformed 29 CMP vendors across more than 100 evaluation criteria. But the story underneath is more interesting, especially if you’re watching how telecom, cloud, and AI are starting to blur into a single stack.

Beyond Connectivity

Connectivity used to be the hard part. Today, it’s the baseline.

Counterpoint’s evaluation framework reflects that shift. Vendors weren’t just assessed on provisioning or SIM orchestration anymore. They were judged across eight capability areas, including security, analytics, AI adoption, and usability, alongside execution metrics like partnerships and global footprint.

Soracom scored highest in capability among IoT MVNOs. That matters because it signals depth, not just coverage. The platform spans everything from SIM-level management to AI-driven automation and even natural language analytics.

That last part is where things start to get interesting.

Instead of writing SQL queries or building custom dashboards, teams can now ask questions about their IoT data in plain language. Tools like Soracom Query essentially turn connectivity data into something closer to a conversation. And with integrations into AI platforms like OpenAI and Anthropic, the line between telecom infrastructure and intelligent systems is getting thinner.

AI Moves From Buzzword to Workflow

A lot of telecom companies talk about AI. Very few actually operationalize it.

Soracom’s approach feels more grounded. Instead of positioning AI as a standalone feature, it’s embedded into workflows. Soracom Flux, for example, lets users build IoT applications with low-code tools that can process sensor data, analyze images, detect anomalies, and trigger automated actions.

That’s not theoretical. Think about a logistics company monitoring temperature-sensitive goods. Instead of just receiving alerts when thresholds are crossed, the system can analyze patterns, predict failures, and automatically adjust processes. The connectivity layer becomes part of a decision engine.

This is where IoT platforms are quietly evolving into something closer to operational infrastructure.

The iSIM and SGP.32 Angle

Another detail that shouldn’t be overlooked is Soracom’s early positioning around next-generation SIM standards.

The company has been active in iSIM use cases and recently opened pre-orders for SGP.32-compatible IoT eSIM orchestration. That might sound niche, but it’s actually a big deal for anyone thinking long-term about device connectivity.

SGP.32 is the GSMA’s next step in eSIM provisioning, designed specifically for IoT. It promises more flexible, scalable, and remote-first device management. Getting ahead of that curve means Soracom is not just building for current deployments but preparing for the next wave of connected devices.

In a market where many providers are still catching up with basic eSIM capabilities, that kind of forward positioning stands out.

Built in the Cloud, Not Adapted to It

One of the more telling quotes comes from Soracom’s CTO and co-founder:

“We began as a connectivity platform built inside AWS, designed from the ground up as cloud-native software rather than as an extension of legacy carrier infrastructure.”

That distinction matters more than it sounds.

Traditional telecom players are often trying to retrofit cloud capabilities onto legacy systems. Soracom, on the other hand, was built in the cloud from day one, closely aligned with platforms like Amazon Web Services, as well as Azure and Google Cloud.

That shows up in how the platform behaves. It’s more modular, more developer-friendly, and easier to integrate into modern digital products. For startups and enterprises building connected solutions, that flexibility is often the difference between scaling quickly and getting stuck in integration hell.

Where This Puts Soracom in the Market

If you zoom out, Soracom’s positioning is becoming clearer.

It’s not competing purely as a connectivity provider. It’s competing as an enablement layer. A platform that sits between devices, networks, and applications, turning connectivity into something programmable.

That puts it in a slightly different category from traditional MVNOs or even many eSIM providers. It’s closer to the infrastructure layer that companies like 1GLOBAL, Gigs, or Telna are trying to define, where APIs, automation, and integration matter as much as coverage.

At the same time, it still overlaps with CMP players that focus heavily on device management and enterprise control. The difference is the added AI layer and the developer-first approach.

What This Signals for the Industry

Counterpoint’s rankings are useful, but the bigger takeaway is what they prioritize.

AI capabilities. Ease of use. Integration. Scalability.

These are not traditional telecom metrics. They are software metrics.

And that’s the shift. Connectivity is becoming part of a broader software-defined infrastructure. The companies that win will be the ones that make it easier to build on top of that infrastructure, not just access it.

You can see this trend across the market. GSMA’s push toward SGP.32. Increasing demand for multi-network resilience. The rise of API-first connectivity platforms. Even enterprise buyers are starting to think in terms of workflows and data, not just SIM cards and coverage.

Conclusion Soracom Connectivity Management Platform

Soracom’s third consecutive Leader ranking is not just a validation of its platform. It’s a reflection of how the definition of “connectivity” is changing.

What used to be a utility is becoming a programmable layer of the tech stack. And that changes who competes, how products are built, and what customers expect.

Compared to more traditional CMP vendors or eSIM players, Soracom is leaning harder into this convergence of telecom, cloud, and AI. Others are moving in the same direction, but often from legacy starting points that make the transition slower and messier.

The real question now is not whether connectivity platforms will become intelligent. That’s already happening. The question is which players can make that intelligence usable at scale.

Right now, Soracom looks like one of the few that’s actually doing it.