Historically, entitlement solutions have been costly, complex, and slow to deploy, hindering widespread adoption. However, Apple’s decision to extend entitlement capabilities to all carriers – not just its direct partners – marked a major industry shift. In this episode of Counterpoint Conversations, Mohit Agrawal, Research Director at Counterpoint, speaks with Emir Aboulhosn, CEO and Co-Founder of NetLync, about how the company seized this opportunity to develop a more accessible and cost-effective entitlement solution. The discussion explores how NetLync’s approach is helping carriers worldwide streamline device activation and management, ultimately enhancing connectivity and user experience.

The Interview

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

1. Apple’s move to open entitlements to every type of carrier, combined with low adoption despite their growing importance to carriers and OEMs, motivated NetLync to enter this crowded space.

2. High costs and deployment complexity were the main reasons for sluggish adoption. Despite emerging use cases, implementation remained challenging.

3. NetLync believes all carriers will eventually adopt entitlements to ensure strong customer satisfaction and support emerging devices, especially wearables, presenting growth opportunities.

4. Prominent use cases for entitlements include Apple Watch support, along with iPad activation, VoWiFi, VoLTE, advanced roaming, seamless eSIM transfers during device upgrades, and native RCS messaging to enhance user experience.

5. In a recent webinar with NetLync, Apple clearly outlined the key requirements for an optimal iOS experience from entitlements to eSIM to GSMA NSX for all carriers.

6. NetLync partnered with Google to enable fast, secure phone number verification on Android – eliminating reliance on SMS and addressing a key entitlement use case for carriers and OEMs.

Analyst Take

1. Unlocking Entitlements for All – NetLync’s EaaS empowers MNOs and MVNOs globally with affordable, scalable solutions. It enables smaller players to offer premium features like Apple Watch activation, VoLTE, and seamless eSIM transfers – levelling the playing field and enhancing customer experiences.

2. Driving eSIM and Wearable Adoption – Entitlement servers remove key friction points like device-to-device eSIM transfers, as highlighted in Counterpoint’s eSIM survey. This accelerates the adoption of eSIM and connected wearables by making activation smoother and more intuitive.

3. New Revenue Streams for Carriers – Premium bundles, seamless roaming, RCS-based messaging, and enterprise features like secure authentication present fresh monetization opportunities – helping telcos compete with OTT services.

4. NetLync's Strategic Edge – As demand for seamless connectivity grows, NetLync offers MNOs and MVNOs a fast-track to next-gen services, helping them differentiate and lead in a competitive telecom landscape.