You might’ve already heard about IoT and its many benefits for businesses and homeowners alike, but you might not know what an IoT SIM is – and how it can be used.
What is an IoT SIM?
An IoT SIM card is also called an M2M SIM Card. M2M means machine-to-machine, a Subscriber Identity Module used to identify the devices that connect to the IoT. The connection could be through 5G, Cat-M, 4G-LTE, 3G, 2G, or an NB-IoT.
UICC, Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (also called M2M SIM) store the security keys and credentials that will identify machinery.
Each device connected to the network will have a unique identification, and it is possible to connect remotely from anywhere in the world.
For instances where IoT deployment needs to happen remotely, the IoT will need multi-network access and not require different cards for each region or country.
What is a traditional SIM model?
A traditional SIM model, commonly called a roaming SIM, has a home provider and multiple partnerships globally to allow people to access home services as they travel. This is commonly seen in mobile phone usage.
A traditional SIM does not usually provide the stable and robust connectivity that an IoT needs to run successfully. For example, there are now fallback networks if outages occur, and they aren’t reliable for deployments.
Another complication would be that the business will have zero control over which networks the devices use to connect.
What size do IoT SIM cards come in?
You might already understand the different sizing that can be found in SIM cards, thanks to their usage with mobile phones. And, like with mobile phones, the IoT SIM has become smaller over time. You can find the following SIM sizes:
- Mini SIM (2FF)
- Micro SIM (3FF)
- Nano SIM (4FF)
- Embedded SIM (MFF2)
IoT SIM cards and traditional SIM cards come in different sizes, so they can work with different devices. The SIM sizes, even the Nano SIM, are typically too large for any wearables that will be used in the IoT system. In this case, an embedded SIM would be used, and there is MFF2 – a microchip soldered onto the wearable circuit.
What devices typically use an IoT SIM?
Almost everything within the IoT system will be a combination of hardware and software to receive and send data as required. The data will be about the environment, or it may be about the devices themselves.
IoT, when used correctly, will offer businesses many benefits and is seen across many sectors, including agriculture, Governments, banking, manufacturing, transport and logistics, and healthcare.
Devices like electricity meters, healthcare equipment, drug dispensers, POS terminals, robot arms, visual intelligence, worker wearables, and smart farming equipment can connect.
You can highlight areas in your business that will benefit from the tracking process, where you can improve your customer experience and services, asset management, and reduce wastage.
In the end, IoT, AI, and robots have a huge and positive impact on almost all industries: The first-ever tiny self-reproducing robots: Xenobots | TechThoroughFare.
