Do you have the network coverage you need for your IoT business?

While it’s tempting to focus solely on the hardware of IoT, it’s crucial not to underestimate the importance of your network. Your network is the backbone of your IoT project, ensuring it remains online and connected – it is the essence of the "Internet" in the "Internet of Things".

The importance of network choice in IoT

Given the unique demands of IoT projects, the networking requirements are far more robust than those of standard networks. Your connectivity provider must support an extensive and expanding array of devices in diverse environments across multiple cities and countries, ensuring comprehensive security at all times.

This capability is referred to as network resilience. It signifies your network’s capacity to maintain device connectivity and, in the event of any disruptions, swiftly address and rectify connectivity losses or network failures.

Considerations for Selecting IoT Connectivity

When you start looking for a connectivity solution for your IoT project, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the variety of options. Not only do you have to compare different types of networks – 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, NB-IoT, CAT-M1, etc. but also the ability of your providers to roam across multiple networks in multiple countries.

Consider these key points when evaluating your options:

• Price doesn't necessarily reflect coverage. 
  Unlike traditional cellular networks – where most of the premium you pay goes towards coverage – IoT network pricing can be affected by variables, including different features and their underlying technology. Make sure the network you choose matches your project's unique needs.
  
  
• Security.
  As with any network handling sensitive data, it is essential that your connectivity provider ensures robust security measures. Without this, each device within your IoT network could pose a significant risk. For further information, consult our IoT Security eBook.
  
  
• The quality of coverage.
  While keeping all of your devices connected is a good start, it's not enough to keep an IoT project sustainable. Your connectivity provider needs a solution that provides your devices with a strong, reliable connection – whether your devices are indoors or outdoors.
  
  
• Multi-Network Roaming.
  Due to the inherently mobile nature of most IoT networks, roaming connectivity is essential. Since no single network offers complete global coverage, it is crucial to have a connectivity solution that enables roaming across multiple networks from various carriers. This ensures that even when your devices move beyond your home network's reach, they remain connected.
  
  
• Network resiliency.
  When disruptions occur and your devices experience connectivity loss, how will this impact your data? What is the expected recovery time for the network? How much intervention will be needed from you to restore the network? Ideally, with a robust network, the answer to all these concerns should be nearly "Zero".
  

Do you have the network coverage you need?

With a clearer understanding of what constitutes a resilient network, it's time to assess your connectivity choices and verify that they align with your requirements. For sustained success, your IoT network must maintain consistent online availability.

Whenever your devices lose connectivity, they fail to deliver the expected value. A disruption in connectivity can significantly hinder your IoT project and divert your team's focus from more critical tasks.

To evaluate whether your current or prospective connectivity provider can offer the network resilience you require, consider these four questions:

• Are your devices always accessible?

With a reliable network plan, you can access your devices whenever you need them, wherever they are. You need a strong connectivity solution that keeps your devices available in every situation so that you’re never without critical data. Otherwise, your network is putting you at risk.

• Do you have a recovery plan in place?

If disaster strikes, and you do lose connectivity/data/security, does your network provider have a Plan B? If they do, make sure that they also have a Plan Z. You can never be too prepared.

• Is your network secure?

By their very essence, IoT projects are highly data-sensitive. They gather a wide array of information from hundreds, if not thousands, of devices. Each device can serve as a potential entry point into your IoT project. A provider that does not prioritise network security is jeopardising the safety of your project.

• Does your network deliver data accurately and consistently?

Finally, it's essential to confirm that the network's quality meets high standards. Failing to do so could result in data loss, inaccurate transmissions, or infrequent data delivery, all of which could significantly undermine the effectiveness of your project.

To learn more about this, please check out our quick IoT Connectivity guide.

Switching to a more resilient IoT network

Velos IoT provides comprehensive global IoT coverage through non-steered connectivity, ensuring your devices consistently link to the most robust network available, regardless of their location—even if it's not Velos IoT's own network. Unlike steered SIM cards, which remain tied to a single network until it's out of range, non-steered SIM cards can seamlessly switch between networks without bias. By choosing Velos IoT’s non-steered connectivity, you can expect reduced outages, minimised data losses, and fewer delays in your IoT projects.

Velos IoT offers one of the most resilient networks available. Our network architecture is geo-redundant, providing you with access to reduced failure points and increased reliability.

If you're looking for a resilient, reliable IoT connectivity provider, contact one of our experts: