[dismantlethesun]

> Feels like this is probably the result of telco networks wanting as much friction as possible to change providers, but is there something more to it?

In 3rd world countries, people regularly swithch their SIMs as they travel across borders because no one has cross-country access. Taking a SIM out only uses up a minute of your time, and standizing on a hardwardware dongle like that is great because if company A goes out of business, you just grab a new SIM and stick it in.

It's a bit harder in the US, where phones are locked to their providers, and you need IDs to buy SIMs but that's really all just a regulation issue, not a technical one.

[pmontra]

That's also a 1st world thing. If you travel often between two European country it might be cheaper to have two SIMs, one for your country and one for the other one, especially if you pay as you go. Cross border roaming fees are getting cheaper because the European Commission wants so (luckily) but telcos are doing their best to regain those money by any other means.