eSim / Google connections / SIM-Manager

DeletedUser312

Some days ago I installed / activated 2 eSims on my Pixel 8, following these instructions https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support

I use Netguard on my phone to monitor and control outgoing network connections.

When installing the eSims the SIM-Manager tried to contact certain IPs. I allowed this to activate the eSims. Among others the SIM-Manager contacted addresses like ....googleusercontent.com or ....ondemandconnectivity.com.

I am keeping only one of the two eSims constantly switched on, switching on and off the second one if needed.

Now I saw that SIM-Manager keeps contacting those google addresses. I am not sure, if this takes place just because I am using the eSims or only because of switching on and off the second eSim or because this second eSim was PIN protected (it is not anymore) or for another reason.

The SIM-Manager definitely tries to establish such a Google connection, when I switch on the second eSim. This might depend on the carrier. If I revoke the SIM-Managers network permission in Netguard, the concerned eSim seems to work nevertheless. So I am wondering, what these connections are good for.

I also considered turning off the eSIM support toggle, to see if that causes these connections somehow. But a pop up tells me, that I might not be able to switch on and off the eSims anymore.

So for now I keep using the eSims (support toggle remains on) and blocking the SIM-Manager in Netguard.

Anyone else made these observations?

lakano

Hi
On the GOS link, they said to manage or add eSIM they need to uses the Google functionnality. I presume it's the reason of theses network connections.
If you switch off the support toggle, I suppose you'll not have theses connections anymore. Be careful if you keep a PIN code and disable the support toggle!

wizoatk

FWIW, I've never enabled eSIM support on GrapheneOS on my Pixel 9 and routinely turn off/on my eSIM without issue. I presume that worst case is that you'd have to get a replacement eSIM from your carrier.

DeletedUser312

I turned off both of the activated eSims, only to see what happens: The SIM-Manager system app was even more active. Every 10-15 minutes it tried to contact two addresses, one of them the ...ondemandconnectivity.com I already mentioned.

Then I turned on both eSims and waited for some time - no more connections.

So my impression is that the SIM-Manager system app keeping contacting servers seems to be linked to activated eSims that are temporarily turned off.

Since I am blocking the connections of the SIM-Manager app and the eSims seem to work as expected, I still have no clue what these connections are good for.