Workz

Workz is a technology company headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with operations serving customers internationally. Established in 1997, the company began as a provider of conventional SIM-card manufacturing, personalization, and fulfilment services. Its earlier business also included the production of prepaid scratch cards, giving it a foundation in the physical manufacturing and supply-chain requirements of mobile communications. During the 2010s, Workz expanded from physical card production into software-enabled connectivity infrastructure. It opened a scratch-card printing facility in Dubai in 2014, joined the GSM Association in 2015, and received recognition from Vodafone Qatar as its Best Experience Support Partner in 2016. In 2017, Workz introduced Z-OTA, an over-the-air platform intended to support the remote management of SIM-related services. The same year, the company was ranked by the Nilson Report as the world's leading scratch-card manufacturer by shipment volume, with one billion prepaid phone cards shipped. Workz subsequently developed a stronger regional and international presence. It opened a sales office in Johannesburg in 2018 and pursued certification for eUICC and embedded-SIM manufacturing under GSMA standards. Its collaborations with Truphone, Arm, and MTX Connect during 2018 connected its manufacturing capabilities with remote-SIM, virtual-SIM, and embedded-connectivity use cases. In 2019, the company launched a 5G SIM card and became the first company in the Middle East and Africa to receive GSMA certification for embedded-SIM technology, according to the referenced company history. A collaboration with Econet Global that year extended embedded-SIM connectivity to connected devices. Workz broadened its focus further into the Internet of Things. It introduced an IoT platform for SIM-based devices in 2020, joined the Trusted Connectivity Alliance in the same year, and received certification under the GSMA Security Accreditation Scheme in 2021. Its infrastructure was also integrated with Microsoft Azure's Paris site. In September 2021, Workz launched Multi-eSIM Hub, or MeSH, a multi-tenant platform for managing eSIM services. The company also introduced a biodegradable SIM card in 2021; Virgin Mobile MEA adopted that product in 2022 across its operated regions. The company's more recent activities have emphasized cloud platforms and partnerships for connected-device connectivity. Workz partnered with Monogoto in 2022 to establish a cloud platform and with 1oT in 2023. Its accreditation by the GSMA covers management of the full eSIM lifecycle for both consumer and machine-to-machine markets. In September 2024, Workz was acquired by Ireland-based Trasna Holdings. The transaction was described as a way to strengthen services spanning mobile IoT technologies, SIM and eSIM products, and system-on-chip technology. Workz therefore occupies a position between telecommunications manufacturing, secure digital identity and connectivity management, and cloud-based IoT enablement.

Workz was founded in 1997 and initially operated in the traditional mobile-card supply chain, providing SIM-card production, personalization, and fulfilment. This business placed the company close to mobile operators and distributors at a time when physical SIMs and prepaid cards were central to the delivery of mobile services. Workz later added prepaid scratch-card printing and opened a dedicated facility in Dubai in July 2014. The company's transition toward digital connectivity infrastructure became more visible from the middle of the 2010s. Workz joined the GSM Association in June 2015. In April 2016, Vodafone Qatar named it Best Experience Support Partner at the operator's 2016 CXO Awards. In January 2017, Workz released Z-OTA, an over-the-air platform for remote SIM-related management. In June of that year, the Nilson Report ranked Workz as the world's leading scratch-card manufacturer by shipment volume, reporting that the company had shipped one billion prepaid phone cards. In 2018, Workz opened a regional sales office in Johannesburg, South Africa. It also expanded its work in eUICC and remote-SIM technology. In August, it became the largest manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa to receive GSMA certification for SIM production incorporating eUICC software, as described in the available reference material. Workz collaborated with Truphone on a remote-SIM launch in October, worked with Arm in November on eUICC manufacturing and remote-SIM solutions based on Arm technology, and signed a partnership with Luxembourg-based mobile virtual network operator MTX Connect in December to launch virtual SIMs. Workz launched its first 5G SIM card in 2019. By September, it had become the first company in the Middle East and Africa to receive GSMA certification for embedded-SIM technology, according to the referenced account. In November, Workz and Econet Global provided network connectivity through embedded-SIM devices. These developments marked a broadening of the business from card manufacturing into the provisioning and management of connectivity for newer mobile and machine-to-machine applications. The IoT became a more explicit focus in 2020, when Workz introduced its own platform for SIM-based devices. In May, it joined the Trusted Connectivity Alliance, formerly known as SIMalliance. In August 2021, the company obtained certification under the GSMA Security Accreditation Scheme and integrated with Microsoft Azure's Paris site. In September, it launched Multi-eSIM Hub, a multi-tenant eSIM-management platform. In November, Workz introduced a biodegradable SIM card, which Virgin Mobile MEA adopted in 2022 across its operated regions. Workz continued to develop cloud connectivity services through partnerships. In 2022 it worked with Monogoto, a global connectivity provider, to establish a cloud platform. In April 2023 it partnered with 1oT, an IoT connectivity provider. The company's GSMA accreditation covers management of the complete eSIM lifecycle in both consumer and machine-to-machine markets. In September 2024, Trasna Holdings of Ireland acquired Workz. The acquisition was presented as a means of improving services in mobile IoT technologies, including SIM, eSIM, and system-on-chip technology. The available material does not identify Workz's executives, founder, financial performance, or an independent corporate website.

• 2024

  Acquisition by Trasna Holdings

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Trasna Holdings acquires Workz to reinforce mobile IoT, SIM, eSIM, and system-on-chip capabilities.

• 2021

  Security certification and Multi-eSIM Hub

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz receives GSMA Security Accreditation Scheme certification and launches Multi-eSIM Hub.

• 2020

  IoT platform launch

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz introduces an IoT platform for SIM-based devices.

• 2019

  5G and embedded-SIM expansion

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz launches its first 5G SIM card and obtains GSMA embedded-SIM certification in the Middle East and Africa.

• 2018

  Johannesburg office and eUICC certification

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz opens a Johannesburg sales office and receives GSMA certification associated with eUICC software production.

• 2017

  Z-OTA and scratch-card volume milestone

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz launches Z-OTA and is ranked by the Nilson Report as the leading scratch-card manufacturer by shipment volume.

• 2015

  GSM Association membership

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz joins the GSM Association.

• 2014

  Dubai scratch-card facility opens

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz opens a scratch-card printing facility in Dubai.

• 1997

  Workz is founded

  [1]Workzen.wikipedia.org

  Workz begins operations with SIM-card production, personalization, and fulfilment services.

A telecommunications technology and connectivity-infrastructure provider combining SIM and eSIM manufacturing, secure lifecycle management, cloud platforms, and IoT enablement for mobile operators, enterprises, and connected-device providers.

• Telecommunications hardware · 1997

  Physical SIM cards

  Workz's original business included the manufacture, personalization, and fulfilment of conventional SIM cards for mobile-communications customers. The company later extended this manufacturing base into newer SIM formats and digitally managed connectivity products.

• Embedded connectivity · 2018

  eUICC and embedded SIM products

  Workz produces SIM products incorporating eUICC software and supports embedded-SIM technology for consumer and machine-to-machine applications. Its GSMA certifications support the company's role in secure provisioning and lifecycle management for remotely managed connectivity.

• SIM-management software · 2017

  Z-OTA

  Z-OTA is Workz's over-the-air platform, introduced in 2017. It is designed to support remote management of SIM-related services, helping operators and connectivity providers administer cards and associated subscriber or device functions without relying solely on physical replacement.

• Cloud eSIM platform · 2021

  Multi-eSIM Hub (MeSH)

  Multi-eSIM Hub is a multi-tenant eSIM-management platform launched in 2021. It is positioned for organizations that need to manage multiple eSIM programs or connectivity environments through a shared cloud-oriented platform.

• Internet of Things services · 2020

  IoT connectivity platform

  Introduced in 2020, Workz's IoT platform supports SIM-based connected devices. The company's later cloud partnerships and eSIM capabilities extend this offering toward remote provisioning, device connectivity, and lifecycle administration for machine-to-machine deployments.

• Sustainable telecommunications hardware · 2021

  Biodegradable SIM card

  Workz introduced a biodegradable SIM card in 2021. Virgin Mobile MEA adopted the product in 2022 across its operated regions, making it one of the company's identifiable sustainability-oriented product initiatives.

• 2024

  Trasna Holdings acquires WorkzM&A

  Background

  Workz had expanded from SIM manufacturing into eSIM lifecycle management, cloud platforms, and mobile IoT services.

  Action taken

  Trasna Holdings acquired Workz in September 2024.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition was intended to improve combined capabilities in SIM, eSIM, mobile IoT, and system-on-chip technologies. Further transaction terms and financial details are not provided in the available material.

  Source

1. 1Workzen.wikipedia.org