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IoT connectivity is a cellular plan for a device instead of a person: a SIM or embedded SIM inside a tracker, sensor, meter, kiosk or vehicle that reports data over a carrier network. Simexa helps businesses explore cellular IoT connectivity for devices, equipment and specialized applications through national carriers, MVNOs and specialized IoT connectivity providers, then coordinates the order with the partner you choose.

Coverage depends on the network, device and region.

IoT

Connected devices have different needs from phones. A soil sensor may send a few readings a day for years on one battery, a fleet tracker reports position while it crosses several states, and a kiosk needs a steady link for payments. The right choice depends on how much data the device sends, how often, whether it moves, where it sits and what power it runs on.

We start from the devices and the places they work, then lay out the options plainly: which networks cover those sites and routes, which cellular technology the hardware supports, how data is pooled and billed, what the contract and activation terms are, and who supports what. You choose with the details in front of you, and we coordinate the order. Features such as multi-carrier SIMs, roaming, private APNs, static IPs, device sourcing and SIM management tools depend on the partner you select and are confirmed for each offering. Availability depends on the carrier, the coverage at each location and device compatibility.

  • Trackers

    Cellular data for trackers on vehicles and equipment.

  • Sensors and meters

    Remote readings from the field.

  • Kiosks and terminals

    Connected points of sale and service.

  • Connected equipment

    Machines that report status and alerts.

  1. 01

    Coverage where devices live

    Networks compared for your sites and routes.

  2. 02

    Plans that fit the data

    Options for devices that send a little or a lot.

  3. 03

    From pilot to scale

    Start small and grow with the same team.

  1. 1

    Describe the devices

    What they do and where they are.

  2. 2

    Compare networks

    Coverage and plans for that use.

  3. 3

    Order and activate

    We coordinate the order; the partner activates the SIMs.

Ready for the next step?

Explore IoT solutions
The full guideIoT and Connected Devices, explainedHow it works, how the options compare and what to check before you sign.

How it works

Every connected device has three parts working together: the hardware and its cellular module, the SIM that identifies it on a network, and the plan that decides how data is billed and routed. Getting the combination right is most of the work.

  1. 01

    SIMs, eSIMs and eUICC

    Each cellular device carries an identity on a SIM. It can be a removable card, or an embedded SIM soldered onto the board, which is harder to tamper with and holds up better to vibration and heat. Many embedded SIMs follow the eUICC standard, which lets the carrier profile be changed remotely instead of swapping a card, a real advantage when devices are spread across many sites.

  2. 02

    LTE-M and NB-IoT: cellular built for devices

    The 3GPP standards body added LTE-M and NB-IoT for long range, power efficient machine communication. NB-IoT uses a very narrow channel, as low as 200 kHz, and suits devices that send small amounts of data now and then, such as meters and fixed sensors. LTE-M uses a wider channel, so it has lower latency and higher throughput, and it can support voice over IP, which helps devices such as alarm panels and wearables.

  3. 03

    Standard LTE and 5G for heavier data

    Kiosks, digital signs, cameras and in-vehicle routers often need more bandwidth than the low power technologies are built for. They run on standard LTE or 5G, which carry far more data but draw more power. For these devices, the questions look more like business internet: throughput, latency and a backup connection.

  4. 04

    Power saving and coverage indoors

    LTE-M and NB-IoT include features that let a device sleep between check ins, known as Power Saving Mode and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX), plus coverage enhancement that helps signals reach basements, meter closets and other hard places. How long a battery actually lasts depends on the device, how often it reports, the signal where it sits and whether the network supports those features.

  5. 05

    Plans, pooling and private networking

    IoT plans are usually built around many lines. A pooled plan shares one data allowance across all devices, so a busy tracker and a quiet sensor balance out. For devices that must be reached from your systems, carriers can offer a private APN, which keeps device traffic on a private path to your network, and static IP addresses, which give each device a fixed address. Options vary by carrier and plan.

  6. 06

    Certification, management and the 3G lesson

    Carriers generally require a device or its cellular module to be approved for their network before it can be activated, so check certification before buying hardware. A management platform, provided by the carrier or connectivity partner rather than by Simexa, lets you activate, suspend and monitor lines in bulk. And plan for change: when U.S. carriers retired 3G, devices that only supported it, including some security and medical devices, needed to be replaced or upgraded.

Compare

How the main cellular technologies for connected devices usually compare. The device, the carrier and the plan decide the specifics.

  • NB-IoT

    Data
    Small, infrequent messages
    Power use
    Very low; built for long battery life
    Voice and mobility
    No voice; best for devices that stay put
    Typical fit
    Meters, fixed sensors, parking and utility monitoring

  • LTE-M

    Data
    Low to moderate, with lower latency than NB-IoT
    Power use
    Low; built for battery devices
    Voice and mobility
    Can support voice over IP; suits devices that move
    Typical fit
    Asset trackers, wearables, alarm panels, fleet telematics

  • Standard LTE

    Data
    High; video, payments, updates
    Power use
    Higher; usually needs mains or vehicle power
    Voice and mobility
    Full voice and mobility
    Typical fit
    Kiosks, signs, in-vehicle routers, cameras

  • 5G

    Data
    Highest, where the network is available
    Power use
    Higher; usually needs mains or vehicle power
    Voice and mobility
    Full mobility; voice depends on the device
    Typical fit
    High data equipment and backup links

General characteristics, not guarantees. Support for each technology, its features and coverage depends on the carrier, the location and the device.

Before you sign

IoT deployments last for years, so small decisions at the start add up. These are the questions we go through with you before any devices are activated.

  • Coverage where the devices actually are

    Check the carrier's coverage, and the specific technology the device uses, at each site and along each route. A map that shows LTE does not always mean LTE-M or NB-IoT is enabled there, and indoor spots like basements need a closer look.

  • Device and network compatibility

    Confirm the module supports the technologies and frequency bands the carrier uses, and that the device is approved for that network. Buying hardware first and checking later is a common and costly mistake.

  • Data use per device, and how it is pooled

    Estimate how much data each device sends in a month, including firmware updates. Then check whether the plan pools data across lines and what happens when the pool is exceeded.

  • Network life and future proofing

    Ask how long the carrier expects to support the technology your device uses. The 3G retirement showed that hardware can outlive the network it was built for.

  • Management, private networking and support

    Find out how lines are activated, suspended and monitored, whether a private APN or static IPs are available if you need them, and who handles support for the network, the device and the platform.

  • Security from day one

    Ask the device maker how it covers the NIST core baseline: unique device identity, protected configuration, data protection, restricted access to interfaces, secure software updates and the ability to report its security state. Change default passwords before deployment.

  • Contract, activation and scaling terms

    Review the term length, any minimum line counts, activation and suspension rules, and what changes as you grow from a pilot to a full rollout.

Ready for the next step?

Explore IoT solutions

  • Independent, with more providers

    We work across national providers, regional networks and specialized suppliers, so you compare what serves your address instead of one carrier's offer.

  • No extra Simexa markup

    You get the plans and promotions available through the provider's channel. Provider taxes and service fees may still apply.

  • Quick help, in English or Spanish

    Immediate confirmation when you ask, and our team contacts you within 1 hour during business hours. We coordinate the order and setup with the provider.

Questions about this service

What is IoT connectivity?

IoT connectivity is a data connection for a device rather than a person. A tracker, sensor, meter, kiosk or vehicle carries a SIM or embedded SIM and sends its data over a cellular network to your systems or a cloud platform. Plans are usually built for many lines and small, steady amounts of data.

What is the difference between LTE-M and NB-IoT?

Both are cellular technologies standardized by 3GPP for low power devices. NB-IoT uses a very narrow channel and suits stationary devices that send small, infrequent messages. LTE-M uses a wider channel with lower latency and higher throughput, can support voice over IP and is generally the better fit for devices that move.

Which network should our devices use?

The one that covers the places your devices actually operate, with the technology the hardware supports. We look at options from national carriers, MVNOs and specialized IoT connectivity providers for your sites and routes, and check that LTE-M, NB-IoT, standard LTE or 5G is available where you need it. Multi-carrier and roaming options depend on the partner. Coverage varies by location and carrier.

How long will the batteries in our devices last?

It depends on the device, how often it reports, the signal strength where it sits and whether the network supports power saving features such as Power Saving Mode and eDRX. The device maker's estimates are the best starting point, tested under your real reporting schedule. We do not quote battery life ourselves.

Can Simexa source the devices too?

Sometimes. Device sourcing depends on the connectivity partner you select, so we confirm it for each offering. Either way, we check that your hardware or the hardware you plan to buy is approved for the network before any lines are activated.

Do we need a private APN or static IP addresses?

Only if your systems need to reach the devices directly or keep their traffic off the public internet. A private APN routes device traffic over a private path to your network, and static IPs give each device a fixed address. Availability and terms vary by partner and plan, so we confirm them for the offering you choose.

Will our devices work if a carrier retires a network?

Not if they only support the technology being retired. When U.S. carriers shut down 3G, devices that relied on it, including some security systems and medical devices, had to be upgraded or replaced. Ask how long the carrier expects to support the technology your hardware uses.

Can we start with a small pilot?

Yes. Many deployments start with a few devices to confirm coverage, data use and battery behavior in the real locations. We can compare options for the pilot and for scaling up, subject to each carrier's terms and minimums.

Does it cost anything to compare through Simexa?

No. Simexa adds no fee or markup of its own: you see the pricing available through the partner's sales channel, and providers compensate us when you order through us. Taxes and the partner's own fees still apply.

Who do we contact for support once devices are live?

Network service, billing and line support are with the carrier you choose, and device support stays with the device maker. If the deployment grows or you want to compare options again, contact us and our team will contact you within 1 hour during business hours.

Explore IoT solutions

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