5Ber eSIM card running away?

As of February 14th, the official website is still accessible, except that the website certificate is gone.

Recently, 5ber, a popular platform in the field of eSIM card, has been caught in the "running" storm, which has aroused the attention of users and the industry. As an innovative service provider that realizes virtual eSIM loading through physical SIM cards, what does 5ber's sudden suspension mean? What should existing users do? In this article, we will combine information from various sources to summarize the events and discuss the future possibilities.

I. Background of the 5ber incident: from technological innovation to "sold-out" doubts

5ber's core business is to provide physical SIM cards for phones that do not support eSIM functionality, and users can write eSIM profiles to the physical card through its app, enabling fast carrier switching. This technology had been seen as a bridge for the transition from traditional SIM cards to eSIM, especially in 2024, when 5ber became an industry focal point through a large-scale rollout. However, from February 2025, users found that all the products on its official website were "sold out", HTTPS certificates were invalid, and a number of businesses under its parent company, iFree Group (such as traffic card MOGO and offline experience stores), were also shut down one after another.

II. The current situation: services exist but the future looks bleak

State of the art in user services
- Existing 5ber subscribers can still use their written eSIM cards as normal, but will not be able to purchase a new card.
- The companion Android app is currently operational, but if the parent company's problems persist, future app maintenance may be interrupted, affecting card writing operations.
Platform operational issues
- Parent company's financial chain crisis: iFree Group's team has been disbanded after a run on its business caused by alleged problems with a Southeast Asian crowdfunding program, which led to a liquidity breakdown and employees being owed at least three months' wages.
- Legacy of technical disputes: In April 2024, 5ber had been accused of technology infringement (alleged use of unauthorized foundry technology) by a German company, and although the dispute did not directly lead to a shutdown, it may have affected its supply chain stability.

III. Multiple Reasons Behind the Running Doubts

Business model controversy
5ber's physical card-loaded eSIM technology solves the hardware compatibility problem, but it also relies on ongoing technical maintenance and operator cooperation. In the event of a disruption in funding or cooperation, the service is at risk.
Strategic failure of the parent company
The iFree Group over-expanded (e.g., investing in offline experience halls, global traffic cards, and other businesses), dispersing resources while failing to build core barriers, and ultimately rippling through 5ber as a result of a broken capital chain.
Competitive pressure in the industry
With mainstream cell phone manufacturers fully supporting eSIM, the market space for 5ber's "transitional products" has been compressed, which may have accelerated its decline.

IV. Recommendations for user response: saving for a rainy day

Short-term measures
- Backup existing eSIM profiles to avoid unrecoverable application out-of-service.
- Focus on whether 3rd party tools (e.g. card reader + open source software) can replace the 5ber app to enable card writing.
Long-term planning
- Gradually move to native eSIM-enabled devices or regular virtual operator services.
- Renew or purchase 5ber related products with caution, prioritizing the consumption of existing balances.

V. Future outlook: can the dead be brought back to life?

At this point, the likelihood of 5ber's parent company, iFree, resuming operations is extremely low, but the possibility exists that it could be acquired by another company. If the acquirer has the technical strength and financial support, it may be able to restart some of the services. However, users need to be prepared for the "worst case scenario", i.e. permanent termination of the service.

Conclusion: balancing innovation and risk

The case of 5ber reveals the other side of technological innovation - the risk of over-reliance on a single business model or parent company support. For users, they need to prioritize platform stability and decentralize dependence when choosing eSIM services. As for the industry, how to establish a sustainable eSIM ecosystem remains an urgent issue.

bibliography 5ber Platform Inventory Clearance & HTTPS Certificate Issues (March 2, 2025) Inside iFree Group's Funding Chain Crisis & Business Shutdown (February 21, 2025)