Choosing the right cellular IoT provider for your business

How can you tell if a cellular IoT provider is right for your solution? With so many options out there today, it can be a daunting task to vet them all and make a decision. This post is your guide to identifying a provider that works for you based on the specific needs of your IoT product and use case.

Recommended reading: How to choose an IoT SIM card vendor‍‍

Key items to consider when looking for an IoT provider

When you’re considering IoT providers, it’s important to look at each one from multiple angles. Do they offer global coverage (and if so, how)? What’s their security record? Do they offer 24/7 technical support? In this section, we’ll cover these areas and other essential criteria. Some will be more important depending on your IoT project — for example, if you’re only planning to deploy in North America, you might not need global coverage — but all are worth considering.‍

Global coverage and speed of service (tier 1 mobile networks)

With any kind of IoT device, you need stable coverage — particularly when a device requires constant connectivity for safety reasons, such as a wearable health monitor. In cellular IoT, another consideration is network traffic. If the network gets clogged (from too many people and devices trying to use it at the same time during an emergency, for example), your IoT devices could go offline. Look for a cellular provider with robust capacity to offset this, particularly if your deployment is in an urban area. Look for providers that have access to Tier 1 networks, IP networks that can reach every corner of the internet without purchasing transit. ‍

Flexible pricing options and no hidden fees

When it comes to cellular IoT, there’s no one-size-fits-all pricing solution. Instead, look for flexibility. Needed coverage may vary drastically between devices — some are stationary in high coverage areas, while others need to have strong coverage even in remote areas. Some devices need constant connectivity and high bandwidth, while others only check in periodically.

These shifting needs mean you’ll want a vendor with clear, flexible pricing that’s up-front with no hidden fees. You don’t want to be paying for features you don’t need, and you want to be able to drop features when you stop needing them. It’s important to look for flat pricing in IoT cellular provider plans, both to save money and avoid a logistical nightmare.‍

Security of your precious data

Data security is a top concern for most businesses and individuals. While security is always a concern on cellular networks, depending on the nature of the IoT device, protecting customer data and ensuring the network is resistant to hacking is even more important. For example, if your IoT deployment includes medical devices, first responder products, or POS devices with private financial information, those devices cannot afford a data breach. In these cases, it’s especially important to find a provider that makes the extra effort needed to improve security through multiple layers of encryption. Look for a vendor with an established record of working with your type of devices and industry — they can often build a much tighter security network. ‍

Consistent roaming across networks

Even with global coverage, devices will have to switch between networks. It’s important to make sure that these transitions (also called handoffs) are smooth and uninterrupted. What might be a dropped call on a cell phone could become a far more serious incident for a mobile tracking device on a fleet of cargo trucks or a connected heart monitor on an elderly patient. ‍

24/7 expert customer service

If you stand to lose thousands of dollars for every hour of delay in your shipping process, any time lost is a significant issue. Having access to 24/7 support to resolve any issues is needed for many IoT device deployments. Look for providers with expert knowledge who offer dependable, around-the-clock customer support. To help you vet vendors in this area, ask to speak with other IoT customers — particularly those in your industry — and interview them about their experiences.‍

A custom-made plan for your business

Unlike consumer devices, IoT device needs vary greatly from user to user. One may need to send and receive massive amounts of data, while another might require additional data security measures. Because of this variability, it’s important to have a plan that is custom-made for the unique circumstances of your IoT business. A “standardized plan” is often impractical when your needs are changing on a daily basis. ‍

4 key benefits of cellular IoT

Cellular IoT simply means connecting IoT devices using a cellular network rather than Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a wired internet connection. As the IoT landscape has developed, many designers defaulted to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for device connectivity because they can handle higher bandwidths and are often less expensive than a cellular connection. But technology is changing, making cellular IoT a more practical option.

Cellular IoT holds many benefits for businesses contemplating an IoT deployment, particularly if the devices will be mobile or positioned in remote areas where Wi-Fi coverage may not be dependable. Let’s take a look at a few.‍

1. Increased security options and private networks

Data sent via cellular network is encrypted, offering a much higher level of security than Wi-Fi. (While secured Wi-Fi access points can use encryption, it’s not as reliable, so there’s a better chance data could be vulnerable to cyberattacks.) In cellular IoT networks, information is encrypted by default, meaning that business leaders don’t have to take extra steps to protect data. If needed, you can also build a virtual private mobile network (VPN), allowing you to restrict inbound access to devices behind a firewall.

Recommended reading: Access point names: what is an APN?‍

2. Remote access to physical devices

With your deployed IoT devices connected to a dependable global network, you’re able to track their location and implement real-time updates and changes remotely. If the device contains an eUICC-enabled SIM card or eSIM, it can also be provisioned and authenticated remotely, allowing operators to swap out subscriber profiles over the air (OTA) using a method called Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP). There are several business benefits to building with eUICC — for example, it enables a single SKU to work for multiple deployments around the world and gives you the ability to update SIM profiles after devices are deployed.‍

3. Access to global networks

Because cellular IoT uses existing cell networks, devices are not tied to any particular location. Currently, many IoT devices are limited by the range of a Wi-Fi signal, but cellular IoT allows your devices to connect in remote locations as long as there’s coverage available. Cellular LPWAN is also available throughout most of the world, with 108 NB-IoT networks and 56 LTE-M networks currently up and running globally as coverage continues to expand.‍

4. IoT low-code or no-code

Cellular networks are working with the capability to automate simple coding needs that previously have been done by a programmer. This would not work for complex network needs, but tasks such as activating IoT SIM cards would no longer need to be done by a human. This allows for a high degree of scalability because it cuts back on the need for personnel.‍

Cellular IoT Is the future

For IoT, cellular connectivity provides the broadest, most secure option for most device deployments — and at Hologram, we make cellular connectivity incredibly easy. You’ll be able to incorporate our IoT SIM card with seamless, global coverage for LTE/4G/3G/2G IoT devices in 200 countries around the world with more than 470 carriers to rely on. And with our Hyper eUICC-enabled SIMs, you’ll gain access to new connectivity partnerships without any additional carrier negotiations, integrations, or hardware swaps.