Imagine a world where everything is hyper-connected. A world where smart devices communicate with each other and make decisions on their own. This is the world of machine-to-machine communication (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.

In Singapore, this technology is taking off in a big way. Factories can automate their equipment and machinery to have lights-out factory floors. Logistics companies can use this connectivity to perform fleet management. The public sector is using IoT to perform predictive maintenance on critical functions for public safety such as housing development lifts. M2M and IoT connectivity is greatly changing the way we live and work.

But as we rely more heavily on these interconnected systems, we expect them to be always on and always available without human intervention, which makes it critical that they don’t fail us. The consequences of being disconnected can be devastating for countries, companies, and individuals — especially for organisations that require real-time data processing for their day-to-day functions. As a result, we need more resilient connectivity to catch up to M2M technology and IoT development.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to better M2M/IoT connectivity, and an exciting development with endless potential is the Multi-Network SIM. Imagine being able to connect your devices to the internet anywhere, anytime with multi-network SIM cards. In this article, we’ll explore 3 key benefits of using multi-network SIM cards to power your IoT deployments in Singapore.

All About Connectivity and M2M Benefits

What is a Typical M2M SIM Card Solution?

When it comes to M2M connectivity, a typical solution involves using a traditional SIM card. This option can provide basic connectivity, but you are tied to just one network provider.

Being tied to just one network provider for M2M SIMs can have its drawbacks. For example, if the network provider experiences an outage or has limited coverage in certain areas, your devices may lose connectivity. This can be particularly problematic for critical applications that require always-on connectivity.

Additionally, being tied to one network provider can limit your flexibility in terms of choosing the best provider for your needs. If you want to switch providers, you will need to manually replace the SIM card and reconfigure your devices, which is a time-consuming and potentially costly process. And if you want a backup? You will need to install two SIM cards — doubling your costs and increasing the hassle of management.

But what if there was a better way to stay connected without all the hassle and limitations of a traditional M2M SIM card solution? That’s where Multi-Network SIM comes in. A Multi-Network SIM card solution provides greater flexibility and reliability by allowing devices to connect to multiple network providers, all with one sim card. This means that if one network experiences an outage or has limited coverage, your devices can automatically switch to another available network — ensuring always-on, always-available connectivity.

What is Multi-Network SIM Technology?

A multi-network SIM is a solution that can connect to multiple cellular networks from different providers to give the user the strongest connectivity at all times. This unlocks many benefits for M2M and IoT deployments and promises to revolutionise the way organisations think about network resiliency and reliability.

What are the key benefits of a Multi-Network SIM?

1) Resilient Connectivity

When depending on SIMs for mobile data transfer, it’s crucial to reduce any possibility of connectivity issues. Encountering such problems could be disastrous for a business and result in loss of sales and decreased customer satisfaction.

While traditional SIM cards can only store one subscription data tied to a mobile network operator, a multi-network SIM can enable IoT solution owners to enjoy multiple mobile networks with just 1 SIM. This means that connected devices can select their preferred mobile network to connect to and swap over to another network with a stronger signal when required for smooth operations. In the case of a mobile network outage, automatic failover is in-built for a seamless transition to the next available mobile network provider with minimal downtime or disruption.

For businesses and the public sector, this means greater assurance that critical functions that require data connectivity, such as smart traffic management, digital signages, and telehealth, can be always available.

With the provision of three tier 1 mobile networks in Singapore, all on one physical SIM card, SPTel’s Multi-Network Pro SIM is a cutting-edge mobility solution that can help businesses stay connected.

2) Ease of use

Imagine having over 100 connected mobile phones or other devices, and having to manually switch out every SIM card when you need to upgrade your subscription or switch providers. This would cause a drain on your resources and time.

With a Multi-Network SIM, the hassle of changing out standard SIMs is eliminated. Whether it is changing to another mobile network or enhancing your data plan, everything can be managed virtually by your provider for greater ease of management.

SPTel’s Multi-Network Pro SIM enables businesses to connect to different mobile network providers without having to change their physical SIM cards. This seamless connectivity makes it easier to manage IoT devices, which are likely deployed across multiple locations.

3) One-Stop Shop

With a Multi-Network SIM, customers can enjoy the advantages of having several networks as a backup while only needing to work with one network operator for all its needs. Besides the convenience of having a single contact point, the client will also enjoy a single rate and bill with the benefit of being able to access multiple networks.

Besides providing you with a one-stop solution for your M2M and IoT connectivity needs, SPTel also provides 24/7 Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) support to help resolve any network issues you may face.

Enhance Your Use Cases with Multi-Network Technology

There are numerous ways that companies can use multi-network technology to their benefit. Here are a few examples:

A. Automotive

Connectivity in smart vehicles is critical. It supports a wide range of applications, including analytics-based solutions for temperature control inside the vehicle, alternate route navigation, vehicle tracking assistance, and speed and fuel alerts. Automakers can use multi-network SIMs to increase the reliability of their autonomous/smart vehicles.

B. Building Maintenance and Management

Multi-network SIMs are extremely useful for monitoring essential functions within a building such as lift conditions. This will improve the performance of the lift IoT sensors, leading to improved passenger safety as the status of lifts can be more closely monitored, simplifying troubleshooting, predictive maintenance, and manpower deployment. All these functions hinge on reliable and consistent connectivity to fully maximise the benefits of manpower efficiency, productivity and automation that IoT can deliver in Smart Nation use cases.

C. Connected Health

There are also many potential applications for multi-network technology in the healthcare sector. It can be used to connect medical devices and sensors for remote healthcare services, such as remote monitoring of a patient’s health parameters, including blood pressure and weight, to reduce the need for hospital visits. With resilient IoT connectivity, individuals and physicians can collaboratively monitor physiological health data collected using smart meters, empowering people to proactively manage their health from their homes.

D. Transportation and Logistics

Having access to the current location of shipments in real time is crucial for operational efficiency. This makes multi-network SIMs very appealing in the logistics sector, particularly for the accurate tracking of high-value shipments while on the move. This can help minimise penalties and losses caused by delays or missing shipments.

Another area where the Multi-Network SIM can be utilised is in the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector. Reliable connectivity is important for EV charging stations as it enables real-time monitoring and control of charging operations. This can help to optimise charging times and reduce costs for both EV owners and charging station operators.

Enhance your Business with a Multi-Network SIM

Multi-network SIM technology is the future for connected devices and IoT, and is already automating processes in the present day.

SPTel’s Multi-Network SIM offers a solution that enhances mobile network diversity and promises strong, reliable connectivity for critical applications in Singapore. With its auto-failover features and a single dashboard for monitoring, this product provides an affordable and convenient way to improve operations in various IoT/M2M projects. By adopting Multi-Network SIM technology, businesses can move towards a more digital future with more resilient connectivity.

Boost your business resiliency with SPTel’s Multi-Network SIM today!