IoT SIM Cards: An Introduction

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SIM cards are used to link a mobile subscription to a device. New SIM innovations are bringing greater simplicity and improved security to connected devices. In addition, smaller sizes and local, regional or global IoT SIM options have expanded the choice available. Learn which IoT SIM card suits your IoT use case best by reading this article.

What Is an IoT SIM Card?

An IoT SIM is a specialized SIM card, sometimes called an M2M SIM or a machine-to-machine SIM card, that has been specifically designed to support the needs of IoT devices. Similarly to consumer SIM cards, an IoT SIM card is used to identify a device so connection to a cellular network can be authorised. There are various sizes of SIM card and form factors such as traditional plastic cards or solderable SIMs that can be installed into IoT devices. Embedding solderable SIMs into IoT devices makes them more durable and tamper-resistant than relying on slotting plastic SIM cards into trays.

Why Are IoT SIM Cards Needed?

An IoT SIM card is the essential enabler of cellular IoT connectivity. It ties the identity of the device to the connection, enabling secure, global transmission of data. With data traffic from cellular IoT connections, all of which rely on SIM functionality, set to rise to 110.8 exabytes by 2028, according to analyst firm Omdia, IoT SIM cards are the fundamental enablers of huge flows of data.

IoT organizations depend on uninterrupted secure cellular communication and the SIM is at the heart of enabling this for everything from water meters to health wearables. The security and durability that IoT SIM cards offer makes them more suitable for IoT devices than standard, consumer SIM cards. Telenor IoT delivers only IoT SIM cards that have been tested and developed and are fully standardized. We supply various types of standardized SIM cards to bring our customers global connectivity with one IoT SIM card.

Optimized IoT SIM Cards for Reliable IoT Connectivity

With global coverage, versatile form factors, and adherence to the latest technology and standardizations, we are committed to providing the best possible SIM solutions for your IoT needs. Connect your IoT devices with ease and confidence with Telenor IoT.

Which IoT SIM Card Should I Choose?

There are a wide range of M2M SIM card options to consider. These include plastic SIM cards or solderable SIMs both of which can be based on either universal integrated circuit card (UICC) or embedded UICC (eUICC) technology. A further option is integrated SIM (iSIM) based on eUICC technology. This technology is being provided in device chips and modules and Telenor IoT will support connectivity for iSIM IoT SIM cards as soon as these solutions are standardized, which is currently scheduled for the second half of 2025 by GSMA.

Our view is that non-standardized iSIM is unproven, will limit flexibility and future integration and does not provide a robust, tested alternative for IoT use cases. We only provide IoT SIM cards that utilize standardized technologies so we can be confident that our customers have secure, robust, scalable and future-proof SIM cards.

New types of IoT SIM card technology are attracting attention, with analyst firm Counterpoint Research predicting that by 2030, almost 70% of cellular devices will be eSIM or iSIM-capable. The firm says more than nine billion eSIM-capable devices will be shipped globally by 2030, with growth driven by smartphones and cellular IoT modules.

IoT SIM Card Types: Plastic and Solderable

Plastic SIM cards can be offered with UICC or eUICC. These give users the choice of a SIM card specifically developed for IoT applications which can operate in challenging environmental conditions and support a high volume of read and write cycles. A high-temperature variant can offer the same benefits as an M2M SIM card but can operate at higher temperatures. This is ideal for hot manufacturing environments, for example.

An alternative to plastic SIM cards is a solderable IoT SIM card, which is also available in UICC or eUICC. A solderable IoT SIM card has the SIM chip soldered directly onto an IoT device’s circuit board. The solderable SIM is even more resistant to challenging operating conditions than a plastic IoT SIM card and is also resilient to vibrations and mechanical shock.

The next step in robustness is a solderable or embedded auto-grade IoT SIM card. This offers the same benefits as a solderable IoT SIM but features a different chipset that complies with the Q100 quality standards set by the Automotive Electronics Council. The solderable, auto-grade IoT SIM card offers an extended data retention time of up to 17 years.

What Is eUICC?

The embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) is a reprogrammable SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) technology that enables changing the user Mobile Network Operator (MNO) profile of a device without changing the physical chip. Where roaming is not an option, this capability opens such markets to global IoT companies in a more manageable way than physically changing the hardware within its devices.

SIM Card Form Factors: Mini, Micro and Nano

IoT SIM cards have various form factors. Popular SIM form factors include mini SIM (2FF), micro SIM (3FF) and nano SIM (4FF) which offer progressively smaller SIM footprints. MFF2 embedded SIM is also available and new variants and form factors come to market regularly.

Some popular example form factors and their dimensions are listed below:

2FF SIM card (Mini SIM) dimensions are 25mm x 15mm x 0.76mm
3FF SIM card (Micro SIM) dimensions are 15mm x 12mm x 0.76mm
4FF SIM card (Nano SIM) dimensions are 12.3mm x 8.8mm x 0.67mm
MFF2 SIM card dimensions are 5mm x 6mm x 0.75mm

The different form factors benefit developers because they can design devices to accommodate smaller SIMs and create smaller devices or free up space for other components.

Telenor IoT’s SIM Form Factors

Our IoT SIM portfolio comes in various SIM form factors, including 2FF, 3FF, 4FF, and MFF2, making them compatible with virtually any IoT device. Whether you need a SIM card for a small sensor or a large industrial machine, Telenor IoT has the right form factor to fit your needs.

Practical use cases

The most practical guidance we can offer is to clearly identify the characteristics of your use case and then decide which IoT SIM card most closely matches your needs.

Key considerations include:

The deployment scenario

If there will be dust and dirt, a solderable M2M SIM card may be your best option. If there are very temperatures and industrial SIM card or an auto-grade solderable eUICC SIM card could most closely fit your needs.

The deployment scale

If you are deploying large volumes of devices globally, you should consider selecting an IoT SIM card from a mobile network operator that can offer multiple connections in all the countries you operate in. Choose a supplier that offers resilience with leading partners.

The deployment duration

Consider the length of time devices will be out in the field. For very long-life deployments assess industry-specific regulations to ensure data storage and other factors are compliant.

The design constraints

The size, operating temperature and environmental conditions should be considered and will help determine what form factor and IoT SIM card type to select.

The environmental impact

Large volume deployments will have a significant environmental impact if plastic SIM cards are selected over solderable alternatives. This is not only because of the manufacturing impact but also because of potential for additional maintenance during the life of a device.

All these considerations span popular IoT use cases such as connected cars, gateways and routers, smart meters and smart city devices, to name just a few. Everything from robots to e-scooters and industrial IoT depends on a specifically-developer IoT SIM card to assure resilient operations at any location on the planet.

An M2M SIM card with auto-grade capabilities, for example, is particularly valuable for machine-to-machine applications in factories or between probes and a gateway in an agricultural IoT deployment because of the environmental extremes they face.

Why Choose Telenor IoT?

Telenor IoT has been delivering our comprehensive portfolio of IoT SIM card plans optimized for IoT applications. We offer global IoT SIM cards that provide worldwide coverage with a SIM card M2M offering that can connect your devices to more than 500 networks and over 200 mobile operators with the same SIM card. We offer versatility for any device with various form factors to fit your needs as detailed earlier.

Our IoT SIM cards are also backed by our customizable options and our IoT Connectivity Management Platform to ensure the right fit for your IoT solution from the SIM specification that you select.

Discover the best SIM solutions for your needs and connect your IoT devices with ease and confidence with Telenor IoT.