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03 September 2024
12 min read

CATEL Selects Valid’s Quarter-Size SIM Cards solution: A Step Towards Innovation and Sustainability

Madrid, Spain, September 3rd, 2024 – CATEL, the creator of imowi, the first virtual mobile operator for cooperatives and SMEs in Argentina, chooses Valid, a global leader in interoperable eSIM services, innovative quarter-size SIM cards solution. This marks the launch of the first quarter-size SIM card in Latin America, a product that significantly reduces plastic usage by 75% and contributes to a lower ecological impact.

The quarter-size SIM card has been meticulously designed to optimize logistics and streamline distribution to points of sale. With more compact and efficient packaging, Valid positions itself as a market pioneer, providing a solution that benefits not only the environment but also consumers and distributors.

The quarter-size SIM card uses only a quarter of the plastic compared to traditional SIM cards, resulting in less plastic waste generation and contributing to sustainability and environmental preservation. Its compact size facilitates easier handling, storage, and transportation, reducing costs and enhancing supply chain efficiency.

Additionally, with smaller and lighter packaging, distribution to points of sale becomes more agile and cost-effective. Based on ISO 7816 standards, the new SIM card format has been updated to meet current SIM card needs, focusing on eco-design by making more efficient the use of plastic materials.

“Partnering with Valid to bring the quarter-size SIM card to our customers reflects our dedication to innovation and environmental responsibility. This solution allows us to provide a superior product while significantly reducing our ecological footprint,” said Hernán La Rosa, Commercial Manager at imowi.

“We are thrilled to introduce this innovative quarter-size SIM card to our customers, which represents not only a technological advancement but also a significant step towards sustainability. As the first project in Latin America to offer this type of SIM card to the region, we reaffirm our commitment to the environment and operational efficiency,” stated German Martinez, SVP of Sales in Latin America at Valid.

About imowi

imowi is the fourth mobile operator nationwide in Argentina and is currently made up of operators grouped in CATEL. In 2020 we presented our trademark and in 2022 we launched the service commercially. imowi is currently active in more than 30 locations in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Catamarca.

Our efforts were rewarded internationally by winning the Highly Commended badge at the world-class World Communication Awards held in London in 2022. We also won the Conecta Latam Award for Best Digital Transformation Project of 2022.

In February of this year, imowi deployed its first own base radio in El Salado, province of Catamarca. This installation is part of a deployment plan in a series of locations currently without connectivity that are planned to have our service in this first stage.

More info: www.imowi.com.ar

About CATEL

The Chamber of Telecommunications Cooperatives (CATEL) is a non-profit entity that was born at the initiative of a group of six public service cooperatives from different parts of the Argentine Republic. In 2023 it celebrated 15 years of uninterrupted activity.
Its focus is to promote the creation, improvement and development of new services as well as the creation of an area for technological updating and training, within the framework of a changing telecommunications market.

Currently, CATEL is made up of 50 cooperatives and SMEs from the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Chubut, La Pampa, Misiones, Santa Cruz, Mendoza, Río Negro and Santa Fe.

The Chamber was the promoter of the entry of cooperatives into the provision of IPTV service with a unified headend, which made it possible to combine traditional TV content with the interactivity and functionalities of the Internet.

Likewise, it obtained a mobile operator license and its own mobile numbering. This path led her to be the creator of the imowi operator, after having signed an agreement with Telefónica to use its network and part of its infrastructure to provide mobile service.

More info: www.catel.org.ar prensa@catel.org.ar

About Valid

Valid is your trusted partner for interoperable mobile services worldwide. We excel in offering solutions for identity, mobile, and payment ecosystems, driving digital transformation in people’s lives by supporting various journeys, including authentications, monetization, and transactions, in both public and private sectors.

With nearly seven decades of expertise in the market, we deliver complex solutions involving high volume and sensitive data. Our mindset is to promote disruption by integrating the best available technologies, combining innovations with existing products and services to facilitate and enhance our customers’ lives. Currently, Valid has more than 4,000 employees across 15 countries dedicated to creating a more fluid, connected, reliable, and safe world.

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Environmental compensation

In order to make a significant difference and bring a real benefit to our environment and planet, Valid decided to create, together with Plastic Bank, an environmental compensation program.

Plastic Bank is a social enterprise empowering a regenerative society. They build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the materials for reintroduction into the global supply chain as Social PlasticTM.

Their collectors receive a compensation for the materials they collect which helps them to provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.

Their certified blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualization – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability.

Compensation Program

With this goal, Plastic Bank is relying on companies like Valid to support the collection process of the plastic in order to:

Mitigate the impact of many corporations and potentially reduce, offset or decrease the plastic footprint of their operations.

Improve the social and economic situations in different regions of the world by creating job opportunities through plastic waste collection.

Supports environmental stewardship and circular economy.

For every SIM card that our customers sell to their consumers under this program, Valid will collect one plastic bottle from the environment.