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SIM Providers: LTE-M/Nb-IoT + Roaming, and Setup

Written by Matthew Clark-Massera

Updated at September 5th, 2023

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  • Home
  • Fundamentals
  • Networks and SIM Card Options

Table of Contents

Important Points Tracking Specific SIMs Test! Pricing - you get what you pay for Commercial Deployments So what SIMs should I actually get? What providers are there? Key Points Our Results/Findings How do I configure any network settings if required? Roaming SIM Cards Roaming SIM Note

In order to get online with our 4G LTE-M/NB-IoT devices, you will require a SIM card that operates on these networks. Network terminology can be confusing - often multiple terms are used for the same network - e.g. Cat-M1 and LTE-M are used interchangeably.

Make sure you have read Connectivity - LTE-M vs NB-IoT, Coverage, Providers and Roaming as an overview of all the key concepts of LTE-M/NB-IoT.

Important Points

Tracking Specific SIMs

Our LTE-M/NB-IoT devices will need special SIMs for these networks - i.e. often a standard '4G Prepaid SIM' like you would buy for your mobile phone will likely not get you online. 

Test!

LTE-M and NB-IoT networks are relatively new, and are still being rolled out in some places. Teething problems may occur. They are usually quickly resolved and once a network has been up and running for a while expect trouble-free operation. However test new SIMs, networks and technologies thoroughly before deploying in volume. 

 

Pricing - you get what you pay for

Keeping ongoing data costs to the absolute minimum is critical and a key factor if many tracking applications are even viable, or will get off the ground. When deploying many devices, even small differences in data costs per device can quickly rack up. However, it is important to note that a higher level of service = higher cost. Not all SIM cards work the same - some can even reduce device battery life.

Commercial Deployments

It is tempting to go for some very low-cost, relatively unknown roaming SIM cards. However certain networks may have agreements with the roaming providers that if a SIM stays attached to their network for too long (i.e. > 6 months continuously) - it can be kicked off. This kind of uncertainty is not acceptable for a large deployment. Any savings on SIM data will quickly evaporate if units need to be recovered and SIMs swapped. This is not to discourage cost-saving measures - lower-priced tracking is great for everyone! But the risks and benefits should be weighed up when choosing untested SIMs and networks. Test thoroughly before rolling out large-scale deployments!

So what SIMs should I actually get? What providers are there?

This article serves as a record of what SIMs Digital Matter has knowledge of working with our products in various countries.

Key Points

  • The list of SIM/networks in this article is not an exhaustive list of all available SIMs and providers - plenty of others exist and may well work. 
  • This is not a list of 'approved providers', you're free to use any SIM you choose!
  • This list relies purely on the feedback of our partners to help build it. We have better data in the countries where we are more active/have more devices. It's just our experiences/learnings. 
  • Many of the roaming SIMs will list on their website that they roam to many more countries than are indicated below. We add an entry when we have confirmed the SIM will work in that country. 
  • Results often change, we have had some providers which initially would not connect, only to find after various updates from 3rd parties (networks, SIM providers, component providers) to have them connect.
  • The inverse is not as common but also possible. Partners should conduct their own testing!
 

LTE-M/NB-IoT Networks are still relatively new, but in many countries, coverage is very widespread. Roaming is also relatively new, but in recent months we have seen many new providers come to market with good results.

See GSM Arena - Mobile IoT Commercial Launches for an up-to-date list of current and announced LTE-M/Nb-IoT networks globally.

So in selecting a SIM card, in making your decision:

  1. Check the GSM Arena list, to find what networks operate LTE-M or NB-IoT networks in your country/countries of interest.
  2. You will need to source a SIM, either:

The information below can guide you in making your choice in (2).

Our Results/Findings

See our other article discussing Connectivity - LTE-M vs NB-IoT, Coverage, Providers and Roaming

This article summarises our current confidence level in the various technologies and SIMs as follows. 

Digital Matter's current confidence levels can be summarised as:

LTE-M on SIMs home network

Highly confident, well-proven over many years

LTE-M, with a roaming SIM

Confident, well-proven over many years.
It is important to apply the relevant APN and band masks for best performance.
Some roaming SIMs will cause significant extra battery drain and should be avoided if using battery-powered devices. See Roaming SIM Cards - Battery Life Impact.

NB-IoT, Home network SIM

Confident, well proven.
In general, NB-IoT networks are 'younger' than LTE-M in many regions, so some minor teething issues (which have since been resolved for LTE-M) may remain on certain NB-IoT networks. However, issues are fast becoming few and far between.

NB-IoT, with a roaming SIM

Confident - this has improved greatly over the last 12 months.
As above some roaming SIMs should not be used in battery-powered devices. 

How do I configure any network settings if required?

Our devices make use of clever firmware features to automatically detect which type of SIM card is installed in a unit on startup, and automatically apply the right settings to get online. We call this Autonet.

What this means is that in the majority of cases, devices will get online automatically, with no special setup. However, this is not a guarantee in all cases.

Once online, it is recommended that you specifically configure your settings - but this is easy to do Over-The-Air once online.

If you are unsure whether your device will get online automatically, it is best that you order a DMLink Cable with your devices, and then configuration instructions are covered here:

  • Setting the Network Profile - LTE-M/NB-IoT devices
  • 4G Network Settings

In the tables below, all SIMs should (things can change!) connect automatically unless otherwise specified.

In many cases, we've heard from our partners that our latest generation devices automatically connect; without the manual configuration settings done on our previous generations.

Australia

In Australia, the current preferred option is Telstra's Cat-M1 network, using a SIM card provided by M2M One.

Other roaming SIM cards are available that will work on Telstra's LTE-M (CAT-M1) network.

We have a very high level of confidence in M2M One's LTE-M SIMs that work on the Telstra network.

The other listed SIMs appear to be working well but are not as extensively tested. 

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

M2M One

Excellent - Connects Automatically

Recommended

Suggested 4G settings

Telstra LTE-M
Coverage is widespread. 
Coverage Map

LTE-M

Telstra

Excellent - Connects Automatically

Suggested 4G settings

Telstra LTE-M
Coverage Map

LTE-M

Emnify Roaming SIM

Can potentially lead to excessive battery drain.
See Roaming SIM Cards - Battery Life Impact.
And
4G Battery Powered Device Behaviour Effects

Suggested 4G settings

Telstra LTE-M (roams on network)

LTE-M

Soracom Roaming SIM

Working well - testing is not widespread but initial results look good

Suggested 4G settings

Telstra LTE-M (roams on network)

LTE-M

Spark NZ Roaming SIM

Working well - testing is not widespread. 

A decent option if devices will travel between AU and NZ. 

Telstra LTE-M
(roams on network - and to Spark's network in NZ)

LTE-M

1NCE Roaming SIM

Using this SIM in AU seems to cause issues with the uBlox SARA R410M - avoid for these devices. 

Working well - No such issues on newer range of devices with Nordic modem - Connects automatically.

Best to configure the APN as provided by 1NCE
 

Suggested 4G settings

Telstra LTE-M (roams on network) 

LTE-M

Twilio Super Roaming SIM 

Limited Testing, shown to be working.
Setup:
APN = super
4G Network - Global: Cat-M1 Only

Feb 23 - Devices initially connect however facing registration issues, recently. Some partners have reported this to Twilio - caution advised.

Suggested 4G settings

Telstra LTE-M (roams on network) 

NB-IoT

M2MOne

Excellent - Connects Automatically - using these Telstra local SIMs “NB-IoT Type 1”

Suggested 4G settings

Telstra NB-IoT 

Coverage Map

NB-IoT

M2MOne

Limited testing of eDCP NB-IoT SIMs (this is Telstra's roaming NB-IoT SIM). Got online automatically.

Telstra NB-IoT

NB-IoT

Optus

Tested by DM in DM Perth office - working well. Standard IoT SIMs Connects automatically with no input.

Extent of coverage is not well known. Works great in Urban areas.

Suggested 4G settings

APN for Standard IoT SIMs: optusiot
APN for SIMs with iotflex enabled: iotflex

Optus NB-IoT

NB-IoT

Vodafone

Initially Vodafone NB-IoT Would not work due to DNS issues as ePCO was not enabled.

This is now reportedly enabled - but DNS still does not work.

As of 2020 we can work around this using our Provisioning Tool. But aiding data downloads fail - so fixes take longer, reducing battery life on battery powered devices.

DNS Troubleshooting on 4G

Vodafone NB-IoT

 

 

 
 

Austria

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

A1

Proven to work well with our devices in Austria using A1 SIMs

A1

 
 

Canada

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Rogers

Must configure APN to get online. Received from the carrier.

Rogers

LTE-M

Bell

Must configure APN to get online. Received from the carrier.

Bell

LTE-M

Telus

Must configure APN to get online. Received from the carrier.

Telus

LTE-M

Aeris

Good results, recommended roaming SIM.

AT&T

LTE-M

EMnify Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically but be sure to apply the right configuration once online

Telus (roams on the network)

LTE-M

1NCE Roaming SIM

APN must be set to "iot.1nce.net"

1NCE (roams on network)

 
 

Belgium

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

Orange

Coverage is good, DM devices have had a lot of success using Orange NB-IoT SIMs

Orange (roams on network)

LTE-M

1NCE Roaming SIM

Coverage is good, DM devices have had success using 1NCE SIMs

1NCE (roams on network)

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Proximus (Belgacom) And Orange 

NB-IoT

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Data Sync issues - caution advised.

Gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Orange And BASE (KPN) 

 
 

France

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

1NCE Roaming SIM

Coverage is good, DM devices have had success using 1NCE SIMs 

1NCE (roams on network)

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Orange (roams on network)

 

 
 

Germany

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

1NCE Roaming SIM

Coverage is good, DM devices have had success using 1NCE SIMs 

1NCE (roams on network)

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

E-Plus (roams on network)

 

 
 

Hong Kong

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

Orange/
Three Mobile

Issues with DNS but can be worked around using a Wired Provisioning Tool.
See DNS Troubleshooting on 4G

Three

NB-IoT

China Mobile

Issues with DNS but can be worked around using a Wired Provisioning Tool

Either use ‘x’ into the network string.

Or use Oem server’s IP address s0.oemserver.com

See DNS Troubleshooting on 4G

China Mobile

 
 

Hungary

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Vodafone

NB-IoT

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Intermittent Connection issues - caution advised.

Gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Telenor (roams on network)

 

 
 

Italy

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

1NCE Roaming SIM

Coverage is good, DM devices have had success using 1NCE SIMs

Vodafone

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Vodafone (roams on network)

 
 

Luxembourg 

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Data Sync issues - caution advised.

Gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Post (roams on network)

 

 
 

Netherlands

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

1NCE Roaming SIM

Coverage is good, DM devices have had success using 1NCE SIMs 

1NCE

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

KPN and T-Mobile (Deutsche Telekom) 

(Roams on networks)

 
 

New Zealand

Technology

SIM Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

One NZ (Vodafone)

Excellent - Connects Automatically

One NZ

Coverage Map

LTE-M

Spark NZ

Excellent - Connects Automatically

Spark 

Coverage Map

NB-IoT

One NZ (Vodafone) 

Reportedly performing well - but DM have not yet seen significant evidence to support this

One NZ 

Coverage Map

LTE-M

Hologram Roaming SIM

Set APN to hologram

Set bandmasks to m1+3+28

Limited testing, have seen SIMs online with the above settings.

Spark/One-Vodafone (roaming SIM)

LTE-M

M2M One (Aus) Roaming SIM

Reportedly working well on the Spark network

May 23 - A few partners have reported that these SIMs do not connect - caution advised

Spark

Vodafone:
Note in NZ, One (Vodafone) may supply a 'local' and GDSP (Global Data Service Platform) SIM card. The latest versions of device firmware should join automatically. If older devices do not, firmware can be updated via the DM Link cable, or set the APN via this cable. Check with your provider for this APN

 

 
 

Norway

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

Telenor

Proven to work well with our devices in Norway using Telenet SIMs

Telenet

NB-IoT

COM4

Proven to work well with our devices in Norway using COM4 SIMs

COM4

LTE-M

1NCE Roaming SIM

Coverage is good, DM devices have had success using 1NCE SIMs 
APN must be set to "iot.1nce.net"

1NCE (roams on network)

LTE-M

Emnify Roaming SIM

Proven to work well with our devices in Norway using Emnify SIMs. No APN configuration is needed.

Emnify (roams on network)

 

 
 

Papua New Guinea

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Vodafone

Limited tested - have seen a device manage to get online. Further testing required

Vodafone

LTE-M

Digicel

Limited tested - have seen a device manage to get online. Further testing required

Digicel

 
 

Portugal

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Vodafone

Vodafone global roaming SIM able to connect on LTE-M in Portugal

Vodafone

NB-IoT

Vodafone

ePCO does not appear to be enabled on Vodafone Portugal's NB-IoT network, causing DNS issues.
This may be able to be worked around by setting the OEM Server IP in parameters ahead of time
Further testing is required.


 

DNS Troubleshooting on 4G

Vodafone

 
 

Singapore

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Singtel

Good results, gets online automatically.

Singtel

LTE-M

Soracom Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically.

Singtel
(roams on network)

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Limited tested - have seen a device manage to get online. Further testing required

APN must be set to "onomondo"

Singtel 
(roams on network)

 
 

South Africa

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

Vodacom

Must configure APN to get online. APN must be set to "nbiot.vodacom.za"

Vodacom

 
 

Spain

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Emnify Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically but be sure to apply the right configuration once online

Orange (roams on network)

NB-IoT

Vodafone

Global Roaming SIM connects in Spain. Limited Testing

Vodafone

LTE-M

Vodafone

Untested

Vodafone

 
 

Switzerland

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

NB-IoT

Migros

NB-IoT devices reportedly connecting.

 

NB-IoT

Hologram Roaming SIM

NB-IoT not yet supported on Hologram. Awaiting further tests. 

 

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

Swisscom and Sunrise 

 
 

Thailand

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

AIS

Very limited testing has proven successful. Partners should test further before deploying in volume.  
APN: internet

AIS

NB-IoT

AIS

Very limited testing has proven successful, partners should test further before deploying in volume.
APN: devkit.nb
4G Network - Global: NB-IoT Only
Custom Network Or Bandmasks - n8+28

AIS

 
 

United Kingdom

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

1NCE Roaming SIM

DM devices have had success using 1NCE SIMs
APN must be set to "iot.1nce.net"

1NCE (roams on network)

LTE-M

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

O2 (Telefónica) 

 
 

United States of America

Technology

Provider

Results

Network

LTE-M

Aeris

Good results, across a large number of devices (recommended roaming card for the US)

AT&T (roams on network)

LTE-M

Pod

Good results, Pod supply 'native' AT&T SIMs
Must set APN "data641003"

AT&T

LTE-M

Emnify Roaming SIM

Gets online automatically but be sure to apply the right configuration once online.
Some Emnify SIMs have been seen to swap IMSIs regularly, causing excessive battery drain
Roaming SIM Cards - Battery Life Impact

Sprint and AT&T

(roams on networks)

LTE-M

AT&T

Only certified devices may be used on these networks (Oyster2 and Dart2 currently)

AT&T

LTE-M

Verizon

Device IMEI must be added to Verizon database by Digital Matter. Only certified devices may be used on Verizon (Remora2, Oyster2, G62 and Yabby GPS currently). Limitations on how often the device may upload - this is handled by Applying the correct settings for Verizon

Verizon

LTE-M

Hologram Roaming SIM

Must configure APN: "hologram" to get online

AT&T (roams on network)

LTE-M

Twilio Super Roaming SIM 

Setup:
APN = super
4G Network - Global: Cat-M1 Only

AT&T (roams on network)

LTE-M & NB-IoT

1NCE Roaming SIM

Older generation devices using uBlox modems must have the APN set to "iot.1nce.net" before they can connect.

Newer generation devices using Nordic modems (Bolt2, Dart3, G70, Hawk, Oyster3, Oyster Edge, Remora3, Yabby3, Yabby Edge) connects automatically. Best to configure the APN as provided by 1NCE

1NCE (roams on network)

LTE-M & NB-IoT

Onomondo Roaming SIM

Good results, gets online automatically - setting the ‘onomondo’ APN is highly recommended.

AT&T (roams on network)

 
 

 

Roaming SIM Cards

Modem and network updates have led to their performance improving dramatically in recent months. Many of these cards are referenced in the above tables as they have been tested in the relevant country. Consult the provider's network and country list for full details - but always test!

Roaming SIM Note

Some networks have in their agreements with roaming SIM providers that their roaming SIMs cannot roam for too long on the home network continuously - or they may be switched off. Check with your providers before deploying large device volumes!

Some also may significantly reduce device battery life - Roaming SIM Cards - Battery Life Impact

*The 1NCE SIM card was successful in roaming through Belgium, France and the Netherlands, on bands 8 and 20.

 

These SIMs are mentioned in the above tables per country. However, they are listed here for convenience. Check the provider's website for a list of countries and networks the SIMs roam on:

  • Emnify
  • Soracom
  • Hologram
  • Twilio
  • 1NCE
  • Onomondo
  • M2M One
  • Vodafone Global Roaming

 

 

 

nb-iot lte-m sim roaming setup

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