Revolutionising IoT connectivity in the UK: What every deployment needs in 2025

In the UK, the future of smart infrastructure, clean energy, efficient logistics, and safer streets depends on a very simple but critical question: Will your connected device stay online when it matters most?

That question is driving a new wave of decision-making for engineering, operations, and product leaders building cellular IoT solutions in the United Kingdom. Connectivity strategy has evolved beyond simply choosing a SIM card. It now encompasses a critical combination of reliability, security, scalability, and future-proofing. With IoT deployments scaling rapidly across sectors like agriculture, logistics, and utilities, many are encountering challenges due to outdated connectivity solutions.

In this post, we’ll unpack the state of UK cellular IoT, outline what technical buyers need to know, and show how real-world companies—from pet tech startups to national infrastructure operators—are deploying smarter.

Why UK-based IoT deployments are scaling—and failing

IoT is growing fast in the UK. Agriculture, logistics, utilities, EV charging, and asset tracking are just a few of the sectors seeing heavy investment. But there’s a problem. As more devices go online, many are being deployed with outdated connectivity stacks: single-carrier SIMs, modules that can’t support low-power networks, or infrastructure that can’t survive a network sunset.

From the Welsh countryside to the London Underground, connectivity failure is the most common—and most expensive—point of failure in an IoT rollout for multiple reasons.

• Goodbye 2G: The approaching sunset of 2G networks (expected between 2030-2033) creates significant challenges for existing IoT deployments that rely on this technology.
• Dead zones: Inconsistent availability of LTE-M and NB-IoT across networks means that devices can't reliably connect to these low-power technologies in all locations..
• Single network coverage: Limited coverage by most mobile network operators (MNOs) to their own infrastructure creates single points of failure for IoT deployments.
• No guaranteed access for LPWAN: Roaming agreements that often don't guarantee access to LPWAN bands severely restrict the benefits of low-power networks for many IoT solutions.

What does future-proofed connectivity look like in 2025?

The four carriers that matter (and what they actually offer)

If you’re deploying in the UK, your devices are going to interact with one or more of the big four:

• Vodafone UK: Strong in enterprise IoT, supports both LTE-M and NB-IoT.
• EE (BT Group): Excellent 4G coverage; limited LTE-M availability.
• O2 (Virgin Media O2): Urban LTE-M rollouts; smart city-friendly.
• Three UK: Expanding 5G and known for aggressive data pricing.

The top choice for LPWAN access today is Vodafone, with national NB-IoT and LTE-M coverage. O2 is a solid second for LTE-M. EE’s support is emerging but inconsistent. Three UK doesn’t currently offer LPWAN coverage but may be viable for high-bandwidth 4G/5G use cases.

If you want redundancy and maximum uptime, your SIMs need access to all four—not just one.

What leading UK IoT companies are doing differently

Let’s look at what companies on the ground are doing to mitigate risk and maximise performance.

Octopus Energy: Balancing the national grid in real time

Octopus Energy is a leading renewable energy supplier in the UK known for its innovative approach to smart energy solutions. Founded in 2015, the company has rapidly grown to serve millions of customers with its focus on green technology and customer-friendly services.

At the forefront of the smart grid revolution, Octopus has pioneered methods to better balance energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions through advanced IoT implementation. Octopus has rolled out NB-IoT-enabled SMETS2 smart meters across England and Wales. These meters send encrypted usage data every 30 minutes, feeding into dynamic pricing algorithms that help balance the energy grid.

They selected NB-IoT due to its low power requirements and excellent indoor penetration—critical for meters tucked into wall cabinets and basements. To ensure uptime, Octopus uses SIMs with fallback to 4G LTE.

Network Rail: Predictive maintenance at national scale

Network Rail is the primary infrastructure manager for most of Britain's railway network, responsible for over 20,000 miles of track throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. Established in 2002, this public sector body maintains and develops vital transportation arteries that connect communities and support the UK economy.

Beyond tracks, Network Rail manages thousands of bridges, tunnels, and level crossings while ensuring safe, reliable service for millions of daily passengers. Across 20,000+ miles of track, Network Rail uses LTE-M vibration sensors to detect anomalies like overheating or rail fatigue. These solar-powered sensors live in harsh environments—often remote, underground, or partially shielded.

They use multi-network SIMs with auto-failover to avoid relying on a single carrier. By leveraging dual-core SIM technology (which offers two independent profiles), they’ve reduced field outages by over 60%.

Waggle: Pet safety that never goes offline

Waggle builds cellular-connected temperature sensors designed to protect pets in vehicles. Since launching in 2020, Waggle has helped prevent thousands of potential heat-related incidents across Britain. Their devices monitor cabin temperatures and send immediate alerts to owners if conditions become unsafe—a literally life-saving application.

Waggle’s early devices ran on a single US-based carrier with roaming in the UK. Coverage was inconsistent, especially in rural areas. The company switched to a provider offering non-steered access across all four UK networks, giving their devices the best chance of staying online regardless of location.

That change helped reduce incident-related support tickets by over 70%.

What to look for in UK IoT connectivity

As the UK's IoT market matures and network infrastructure evolves, choosing the right connectivity foundation becomes critical for both new projects and existing deployments. Whether you’re launching a new device or scaling an existing fleet, your connectivity stack should include:

1. Multi-network access in the UK

Not all roaming is created equal. Look for providers that support:

• Non-steered access to EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three
• Automated signal switching based on real-time performance
• Dual-core SIMs with instant fallback if a profile fails

2. LPWAN coverage where it counts

If your device runs on battery and sends small packets of data, LTE-M or NB-IoT are essential. Vodafone is your best bet. Ensure your SIM and module are certified to operate on Band 20 (800 MHz)—it’s the most common for indoor penetration.

3. eUICC support and Over-The-Air (OTA) flexibility

Your SIM should support OTA provisioning. This allows you to:

• Change network profiles without touching the device
• Swap carriers in response to pricing or performance
• Maintain a single SKU across UK and international markets

4. Real-time monitoring and developer tooling

Gone are the days of batch CSV exports and clunky SIM portals. Your team needs:

• Real-time usage tracking and disconnect alerts
• REST APIs to manage fleets programmatically
• Webhooks and integrations for incident response

5. SLA-backed uptime commitments

If your provider doesn’t offer contractual SLAs, think twice. The gold standard in 2025 is a 99.95% uptime guarantee—often delivered via dual-core or multi-IMSI failover strategies.

Hologram is the only option that covers it all

With Hologram, you get it all - the coverage you need, with simple pricing, support and reliability.

All four UK networks

Unlike competitors with limited carrier partnerships, Hologram provides non-steered access to EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three. This comprehensive coverage ensures devices always connect to the strongest available signal regardless of location—vital for deployments that span urban centers, industrial zones, and rural areas throughout the United Kingdom.

Dual core redundancy

Hologram's Outage Protection SIM technology delivers two independent connectivity profiles on a single SIM. If the primary mobile core experiences an outage, devices automatically switch to the backup core within minutes, maintaining crucial connectivity. This redundancy is contractually guaranteed with a 99.95% uptime SLA, providing peace of mind for critical IoT applications.

Dedicated UK support

With regional expertise and local support staff, Hologram offers UK-specific guidance on network coverage, regulatory compliance, and deployment best practices. This support includes customized troubleshooting for UK-based connectivity challenges.

Robust tooling for engineers

Hologram provides a comprehensive developer experience with a complete cellular connectivity management platform. Engineering teams gain access to real-time fleet analytics, programmatic device management through robust APIs, automated alerts for anomalous device behavior, and simplified testing workflows that streamline deployment.

Build your UK IoT deployment like it’s a critical system (because it is)

Whether you’re tracking livestock, moving perishable goods, or monitoring underground rail, IoT connectivity isn’t a background task—it’s your operational lifeline.

In 2025, the UK offers one of the best infrastructures for cellular IoT in the world. But without careful planning, your deployment can still fail. Smart teams are already investing in SIMs that are multi-network, eUICC-enabled, dual-core redundant, and built with observability and OTA control at the centre.

Whatever your cellular IoT connectivity needs are in the UK, Hologram has you covered.