Global IoT SIM connectivity for secure, always-on applications

While there is a notable difference between IoT and M2M environments, these differences are not relevant to the functionality of a SIM Card. As such, the terms IoT SIM Card and M2M SIM Card describe the same product. Whether the SIM-enabled device transmits data to a cloud or another isolated device does not matter from a technical perspective.

There are some notable differences between IoT/M2M SIM Cards when compared to Regular SIM Cards

1. Scalability

IoT/M2M SIM Cards are purchased with scalability in mind. Deploying IoT/M2M environments is a time- and cost-intensive undertaking for most companies. The SIM card used to turn their devices and sensors into IoT-enabled devices is a crucial component to the network architecture. As such, companies carefully choose a SIM card provider, by testing their coverage within their environment and examining their future potential for scalability, before purchasing those SIM Cards in bulk.

2. Bulk Prices

Most regular SIM cards for smartphones are sold to individual users. While they are cheap to produce, the price is generally set by how much the customer is ready to pay. IoT SIM Cards are typically purchased by major companies with big operations and thus are typically sold in bulk at a fraction of the costs of a regular SIM card.

3. May run on different network technologies

Some IoT SIM cards may run on the same cellular technologies as regular SIM cards used by smartphone users, such as 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. However, several standards were developed specifically to accommodate the needs of IoT environments, such as LTE-M, NB-IoT, and LoRaWAN®. Multi-carrier IoT SIM cards, such as the ones provided by melita.io, can switch between several cell networks to ensure optimal speed and connectivity.

4. Trading off data rate for low power consumption and wide range

IoT SIM Cards typically have a much lower data rate, but consume less power and depending on the above mentioned cellular networks, may have a far wider range than traditional SIM cards. Most IoT-enabled devices simply do not need to transmit as much data as the ordinary smartphone user.

5. Increased durability

The average smartphone won’t have to weather extreme temperatures, unlike some of the IoT-enabled machinery used by a wide variety of industries. IoT SIM cards are typically much more durable than ordinary SIM Cards. They are often corrosion resistant, have a wider operating temperature, and feature longer data retention. The melita.io IoT SIM Cards can operate at temperatures between -25 °C and 85 °C and are able to retain their data for 25 years at 25 °C!

Our products are designed in a way to give you access to the best connectivity available at that moment. No steering is applied on melita.io SIMs. Steering is the process when operators give priority to specific networks for commercial reasons. Our melita.io SIMs can connect to the best signal available in the area they are operating thus ensuring that you get the best connectivity available for your projects.

melita.io connectivity is based on standard GSMA / 3GPP technology such as 2G (where available), 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE-M, and NB-IoT so if your device conforms with these standards, it should work seamlessly with our IoT SIM cards. Devices that are incompatible are rare exceptions.

We also offer very accessible IoT SIM testing plans, allowing you to sign up for a trial at any time to verify compatibility with your IoT devices and applications.

When choosing a device, you also need to consider the following factors:

• Device or network lock: Some devices are restricted to a specific operator or carrier.
• Roaming access: Ensure your device allows roaming outside its home country and that you can configure the melita.io APN.
• Country or frequency limitations: Some devices operate only on certain frequency bands that may not be available in all countries.

When sourcing sensors or other IoT devices, it is important to confirm they can operate in your destination country. This information is usually available on the product’s specification sheet, or you can confirm directly with the vendor.

Our IoT connectivity services are available in more than countries worldwide. You can find a full list of countries, including the available technologies and number of network operators in each here.

You can view all supported countries or zoom in on a specific one for detailed information.

Yes, you can use your own CRM or application and integrate the melita.io API to perform actions and manage your SIM cards. Contact us to know more about our API integration.

You can use your own CRM or application and integrate the melita.io API to perform actions and manage your SIM cards. The API toolkit is a tool that allows you to perform most of the actions available within the melita.io portal, giving you the opportunity to integrate SIM control actions within your own CRM or applications.

Detailed API documentation is available in the support section of our website and the melita.io portal

At melita.io IoT connectivity is our main focus, whether over 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, NB-IoT, LTE-M or LoRaWAN. We are a horizontal B2B provider to many industry verticals and government sectors, enabling a range of innovative and cost-effective IoT solutions.

We understand that navigating through the multitude of solutions, devices and components that make a complete IoT solution can be a painstaking task. We have established an ecosystem that includes some of the best IoT players across diverse industries, alongside highly innovative start-ups.

We are ready to share our experience and knowledge to help you find the right partner for your IoT requirements. Contact us.

You can find all our frequently asked questions in the melita.io Help Centre. Enter your question in the search bar or choose one of the FAQ sections to explore more specific topics.

If you still need assistance, contact us for more information.