IoT SIM card
Updated
An IoT SIM card is a SIM made for devices rather than phones: it connects to several mobile networks, is managed in bulk by API, and is billed by data used. M2M.global IoT SIMs are prepaid, without contract or minimum order, at a public price that is the same for one SIM or ten thousand. Their traffic goes either to the internet or privately into your cloud.
Status: Coming soon (checked 26 October 2026) · Notify me when available
Key points
- Prepaid, public price. No negotiation needed to get the right price; a single SIM costs the same per unit as a fleet. See pricing.
- Several networks per country. If one mobile network is weak or down at a site, the SIM can use another.
- Two ways out. Internet delivery, with an optional static public IP, or private delivery into AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud or your datacenter.
- Managed by software. Activate, suspend, top up and read usage from your account, the API or an AI agent through the MCP server.
- Physical SIM or eSIM. Removable SIM cards for existing devices, eSIM for new designs.
IoT SIM vs normal SIM
| Normal (consumer) SIM | IoT SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | One phone, one person | Fleets of devices |
| Networks | Home network, roaming abroad | Several networks per country |
| Pricing | Monthly plan with calls and texts | Data by volume, prepaid |
| Management | App, one line at a time | Web account, API, MCP, in bulk |
| Destination of traffic | Internet | Internet or private network |
| Use abroad | Limited by fair-use rules | Designed for it, within each country’s permanent roaming rules |
How much data will my device use?
Our estimates, with the assumptions shown so you can redo the arithmetic for your own device. “1 KB per report” is an assumption covering a small payload plus TCP, TLS and protocol overhead; measure your own device to be precise.
| Device | Assumption | Data per month |
|---|---|---|
| Smart meter | 1 report of 1 KB every 15 minutes | about 3 MB |
| GPS tracker, working hours | 1 report of 1 KB every 30 s, 8 h a day | about 28 MB |
| GPS tracker, always on | 1 report of 1 KB every 60 s, 24 h a day | about 42 MB |
| 4G camera, alerts only | 10 motion clips of 20 s a day, 1080p at 2 Mbit/s | about 1.5 GB |
| 4G camera, live viewing | 1080p at 2 Mbit/s, 10 minutes a day | about 4.5 GB |
Video dominates every budget: one hour of live 1080p at 2 Mbit/s is about 900 MB.
How to choose
- Where will the devices be? Check coverage, and the permanent roaming rules of each country.
- Which radio technology does the module use? 2G and 3G are being switched off in many countries: see the shutdown dates. New designs should use 4G, LTE-M or NB-IoT.
- Should the devices be reachable from the internet? If not, choose private delivery.
- Physical SIM or eSIM? Existing devices take a SIM card; new products can embed an eSIM.
Learn more
- SIM card for GPS trackers
- SIM card for 4G security cameras
- SIM card for 4G and 5G routers
- Private APN vs public APN vs VPN
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an IoT SIM and a normal SIM?
A normal SIM is built for one phone on one home network, with plans priced for people. An IoT SIM is built for devices: it can use several mobile networks per country, is managed in bulk by API, is priced by data volume, and can be delivered into a private network instead of the internet.
Is there a contract or a minimum order?
No. IoT SIMs and data are prepaid, without a minimum order, and the public price is the same for one SIM or ten thousand.
How much data does an IoT device use?
Usually very little. A GPS tracker reporting every 60 seconds around the clock uses about 42 MB a month if each report is about 1 KB on the wire. Video is the exception: one hour of live 1080p video at 2 Mbit/s uses about 900 MB.
Can I keep the same SIM if I move my devices to another country?
Yes, as long as the country allows permanent roaming. Some countries limit it to a number of days or forbid it; check our permanent roaming table before deploying.