What really makes an IoT SIM different than a smartphone SIM is not whether it is global, rugged, or embedded – it is whether it is used with a cellular IoT connectivity service. 

You would not want a smartphone SIM with a connectivity service that offers very low or no 4G LTE or 5G data transmission capabilities, data speeds too slow to watch videos or conduct video calls and the other capabilities you need to take advantage of a smartphone’s features. In the same way, you don’t want an IoT SIM with a connectivity service that does not offer you the capabilities you need to maximize the value of your IoT devices and its IoT applications.

There are a wide variety of different IoT devices and applications, however, and depending on the use case, the owners of these devices will want different IoT connectivity capabilities. Generally, companies want to deploy IoT applications over a wide area or many countries, either now or in the future. In addition, most of these companies are deploying IoT applications that are business-critical, in which losing connectivity to an IoT device in or attached to a smart meter, shipping container, high-value piece of construction equipment or other asset can have serious financial consequences. 

This is why most IoT connectivity service providers offer global or regional coverage from multiple MNOs in a region or in countries around the world. To offer this type of coverage, these providers contract with multiple MNOs in a specific region (North America, for example) or with hundreds of MNOs around the world. This allows them to provide connectivity even if an IoT device can connect to its primary MNO in a country, or if the IoT device moves to another country where the MNO does not provide service. 

Some IoT devices have embedded SIMs (eSIMs) – SIMs that are embedded into the device during the manufacturing process. While this prevents a device’s owner from replacing the SIM with a new one, it makes it easier to deploy the IoT device, as no SIM needs to be installed when it is in the field.
eSIMs are not unique to IoT devices – smartphones can also have eSIMs. 

Note that, because they can’t be removed, most eSIMs are Global SIMs.This means they can either be manually or automatically configured to connect to different MNO networks than the one they are first assigned to.

AirVantage® Smart Connectivity has a patented embedded agent designed specifically for enabling cellular IoT connectivity, anywhere in the world. To ensure IoT devices can connect whenever and wherever they need to, AirVantage® Smart Connectivity is pre-loaded with a unique SIM profile enabling it to access multiple mobile network operator alliances. This provides access to more networks than any single operator can provide. Multi-operator IoT connectivity means you and your IoT devices are not restricted to a single roaming alliance. Mobile IoT devices have access to more networks in more locations and are connected more often as they move.

Instead of using a limited, predefined list of roaming networks, network selection is based on the best available network and data connection. AirVantage® Smart Connectivity actively monitors data connections, re-establishing connectivity when required. AirVantage® Smart Connectivity includes a patented agent that dynamically and autonomously selects the most pertinent network, according to the device’s operational logic. There is no list of preferred networks; the agent runs a unique procedure for network scanning and selection, ensuring the best available network is used, regardless of location and time. Options with the scanning configuration make it easy to meet the specific needs of a deployment.

The Smart SIM offers resilient global connectivity for always on service that can be relied upon to find the best data-capable connection for continuous operation. The result is maximum coverage and performance with ultimate flexibility.

It offers Maximum Uptime to prevent service disruptions proactively with our 24/7/365 global network operations center’s continuous monitoring, selecting the best network in any given location so IoT devices can stay online 24/7.

It also offers reduced operational costs though optimized deployments with a single management platform and one point of accountability.

Need to scale globally? We make is seamless with a single Smart SIM accessing 600+ partner networks in 190+ countries across LTE and LPWA networks.

An IoT SIM can be a Global SIM that is tied to a specific mobile network operator (MNO), and can connect to cellular networks owned and operated by multiple MNOs in the same country, or different countries. 

Some Global SIMs, which are often based on the embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) standard, can automatically detect and connect to another network if the IoT device it is installed in moves and is not able to connect to its primary MNO in a country or region, or if taken out of this country or region into a location where this primary MNO does not provide coverage. 

However, while a Global SIM enables an IoT device to connect to cellular networks from multiple MNOs, unless the device’s owner has contracted for connectivity from a MNO or Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that can provide access to networks other than its primary network, the device will not be able to connect to them. 

Global SIMs are not unique IoT devices. What really differentiates an IoT SIM from any other SIM is that rather than being used to provide access to a connectivity service designed to be used by smartphones, it provides access to an IoT connectivity service designed to be used by IoT devices.