How to Plan, Test, and Deploy Multi-Network SIMs for Global IoT Success

As IoT continues to transform industries across diverse markets, the demand for seamless, secure, and reliable connectivity has never been greater. However, no single connectivity type can meet the diverse needs of IoT applications. Global IoT deployments come with various challenges, such as network certifications, roaming restrictions, sunsetting legacy networks, and ensuring both scalability and security. Furthermore, terrestrial networks cover less than 20% of the Earth's surface, leaving significant gaps in coverage. Multi-network SIMs, leveraging multi-IMSI and eUICC technologies, can effectively address these challenges, offering flexibility and seamless connectivity.

3GPP Release 17 enables cellular networks to integrate with satellite communications through a standardized approach. For example, multi-IMSI SIMs can integrate satellite NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) as an additional IMSI, allowing devices to switch between cellular and satellite networks based on availability, ensuring continuous connectivity.

Whether you’re using multi-IMSI, eUICC, or both, it’s essential to ensure your deployment is well-planned and thoroughly tested. By taking the right steps before deployment, you can fully capitalize on the benefits of multi-network SIMs and ensure reliable, global connectivity from day one.

Thinking of Connectivity From the Design Stage

Many businesses overlook connectivity until late in the design process, leading to unexpected issues during deployment. To avoid this, it’s crucial to assess application requirements, deployment locations, and connectivity technologies early on. This will ensure you choose the right SIM technology and configure SIMs correctly for smooth operation.

• Application: Evaluate bandwidth and latency needs. For example, critical applications with low latency requirements, ensure multi-IMSI SIMs are supported by local packet gateways to reduce delays. Understanding the performance requirements of your application will help determine the optimal connectivity setup.
  
• Location: Determine whether your deployment is local or global. While a single MNO might suffice for localized deployments, devices at coverage edges benefit from multi-network SIMs, which provide redundancy and increased availability. For global deployments, consider regulatory compliance to ensure devices can switch networks easily across borders.
  
• Connectivity: Evaluate whether your deployment will be local or global. While a single MNO might suffice for localized projects, devices near coverage edges or those operating across multiple regions benefit from multi-network SIMs. These SIMs provide redundancy, increased availability, and easy network switching to comply with regulatory requirements across borders.
  
• Device Design: Ensure your device is designed to accommodate your chosen connectivity technology. Is the firmware compatible with the SIM functionality? For instance, if using multi-IMSI SIMs, your device must allow sufficient time for network scanning and automatic failover to maintain uninterrupted service.

By planning your SIM strategies early, you can prevent expenses like roaming charges, network failures, and service interruptions, ensuring a more efficient deployment.

Ensuring Your Provider Offers IoT Expertise

Selecting the right connectivity provider for your multi-network SIM deployment is about more than just purchasing SIM cards. You need a partner with deep IoT expertise and value-added services to support every phase of your IoT deployment.  This ensures your devices are fully optimized for multi-network connectivity and can handle the complexities of global operations.

Key Services to Look For:

• Advisory Services: Your provider should offer strategic guidance on selecting the right technologies and SIM options, as well as optimizing device design for multi-network compatibility.
  
• Comprehensive Project Support: Choose a provider that offers end-to-end support, including network planning, SIM configuration, and thorough testing. Comprehensive support ensures a smooth and efficient rollout, minimizing deployment challenges.
  
• IMSI/ Profile Selection Strategy: Whether using multi-IMSI or eUICC, selecting the right profiles and IMSIs is critical. A well-thought-out IMSI/profile selection strategy ensures devices switch networks seamlessly, maintaining uninterrupted connectivity—especially in unpredictable global environments.
  
• Long-Term Support: IoT success extends beyond deployment. Choose a provider that offers long-term support, such as remote monitoring, OTA updates, and network troubleshooting, to ensure your devices stay connected, secure, and functional throughout their lifecycle.

Device Deployment Test Plan

To ensure a smooth and successful deployment, it’s essential to create a comprehensive test plan that thoroughly evaluates the performance of your multi-network SIMs. Testing under real-world conditions will help you identify and address any potential issues before your devices are deployed in the field.

Simulate Complex Scenarios

Evaluate device performance in challenging situations, such as sudden loss of connectivity, to ensure the SIM can seamlessly switch to the next available network or profile.

OTA (Over-the-Air) Updates

Verify that the SIM can receive and implement OTA updates without errors or delays. This capability is essential for remotely updating SIM profiles, or SIM configurations without needing manual intervention.

Autonomous IMSI Switching

For multi-IMSI SIMs, verify that the device can switch to the best available network autonomously. This allows optimized connectivity based on real-time performance—without manual intervention.

Remote SIM Provisioning

For eUICC SIMs, test remote profile management, allowing you to switch subscriptions or profiles without physical access to the device.

Onboarding Support

Collaborate closely with your provider to test the onboarding process. Ensuring that devices connect seamlessly to networks and function well in diverse environments is crucial for large-scale global deployments. In regions with varying network conditions and regulatory requirements, smooth onboarding is key to avoiding costly delays and disruptions.

Conclusion

Successfully deploying IoT devices on a global scale requires more than just selecting the right SIM technology. It demands thoughtful planning, thorough testing, and the right provider support. By leveraging multi-network SIMs, whether using multi-IMSI or eUICC, you can ensure reliable, scalable, and secure connectivity for your IoT devices across different regions and network conditions. Taking the time to build a solid test plan and selecting an experienced provider with long-term support capabilities is essential to achieving smooth operations and minimizing costly disruptions.

With the right approach, your global IoT deployments can overcome connectivity challenges and maintain optimal performance, ensuring your business remains agile and connected in an increasingly competitive landscape.