Broad carrier support without invasive carrier access

ProfessorMonks

Hi everyone

I am writing about one of GOS features mentioned here: https://grapheneos.org/features#broad-carrier-support.

Recently I installed a data eSim to use for roaming from CMLink (China Mobile). It had installed a carrier specific app on my device and I did not expect this to happen considering GOS says "We don't include the invasive carrier-specific apps and support for Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) so we also strip out configuration depending on those."

Please see screenshots of the application which was installed below:

Side note - vodafone UK also installs a similar 'bolt-on' app but is not able to do this on my GOS device. Why can CMLink do it?

I am using a pixel 8a on build number 2025012700.
Although I am no longer using the eSim, I have kept it saved but disabled on my device for further testing if needed.

Thank you

de0u

ProfessorMonks Can you post the rest of the app info screen, the part below "Open by default"? I wonder whether this is SIM Toolkit in disguise.

other8026

ProfessorMonks It had installed a carrier specific app on my device

ProfessorMonks https://ibb.co/8gqgLS4d

In this screenshot, if you scroll down to near the bottom, you'll see where the app was installed from and its package name. Unsure, but knowing those two things might be helpful.

ProfessorMonks

de0u Hi, thank you for your input. I have reactivated the sim and have taken more screenshots for your perusal.

If this is SIM toolkit in disguise, is this not a real concern after all? Would this be out of scope for the feature mentioned by the GOS feature set?

de0u

ProfessorMonks https://ibb.co/dss4MXjc

I believe that com.android.stk is indeed SIM Toolkit. I think a search of the forum will turn up discussions.

I believe the key issue is that, while on some networks SIM Toolkit provides optional add-on features, accessing other networks requires SIM Toolkit to be operable.