IoT SIM Card

Tuya provides one-stop cellular IoT services that come with network modules, IoT SIM cards, management platform, and data plans. Global mobile carrier offerings and fast integration can help you deploy cellular smart devices easily.

IoT SIM card

The IoT SIM card from mobile carriers enables your smart devices to be connected to the internet over cellular networks such as 2G, 3G, 4G, or NB-IoT. On top of the basic IoT SIM card offering, Tuya provides a suite of services including network modules, management platform, and data plans.

The IoT SIM card is available from global carriers to support flexible connectivity for your devices around the world. The consumer SIM comes in various form factors, either removable or embedded.

Trio IoT SIM card

Trio IoT SIM card comes in all three sizes: mini SIM, micro SIM, and nano SIM.

Embedded-SIM (eSIM)

eSIM is very small in size and soldered to a circuit board inside the smart device, which makes it rugged and reliable to stand up to a variety of demanding environmental conditions.

Data plan

Tuya provides a prepaid data plan. The unused data allowances will expire at the end of each month. If no credit is available after the data plan expires, the IoT SIM card will be suspended.

Tuya provides two types of data plans. One type is Tuya service-specific, which means that mobile data is restricted to accessing Tuya’s cloud services only. The other type is for general use, with which users can access any IP addresses or domain names allowed by the local carriers.

Service-specific data plan

Users can only access specified IP accesses or domain names.

APN setup

China Telecom: APN setup is not required. Users can use the IoT SIM card directly after activating it.

China Mobile: APN setup is required only for the IoT SIM card that subscribes to the Tuya service-specific data plan.

1NCE: APN setup is required.

APN settings

The parameters include APN, username, and password.

IoT SIM card lifecycle

• Testing: Each IoT SIM card is allocated with the test duration and data allowances for commissioning before delivery. When the allocated testing resources are used up, the testing phase ends.

• Silence: The tested IoT SIM card will be either suspended or activated. Suspended cards enter this silence phase. They will be automatically activated and enter the billing cycle after the silence phase ends.

• Activation: The prepaid IoT SIM card enters the monthly billing cycle. The unused data allowances will expire at the end of each month.

• Suspension: If no credit is available after the data plan expires, the IoT SIM card will be suspended. If the prepaid data plan has expired for six months, the IoT SIM card will be deactivated permanently.

• Cancellation: If an IoT SIM card has been inactive for six months, the account will be canceled and the card will be deactivated permanently.

Data plan notification

When the data plan is nearing the limit or used up or the credit is topped up, messages will be sent.

• When less than 5% of the data plan is available, a message will be sent once.

• When the data plan is used up, a message will be sent once.

• When the credit is topped up, a message will be sent once.

Pricing

Plan

The plan rate is broken down into two parts: the one-time card production fee and the monthly data plan.

• Card production: one-time payment for card production. The fee charged depends on the carrier.

• Data plan: monthly prepaid model. The unused data allowances will expire at the end of each month. You can top up the credit in advance to ensure the availability of your IoT service every month.

Top up

If the included mobile data runs out or expires, business customers or end consumers must top up the credit to continue the IoT services. The business customers can top up the credit in batch on the Tuya Developer Platform. Depending on your IoT services, you can also allow the end consumers to top up in the mobile app they use such as Tuya Smart and Smart Life.

Management

Business customers can manage their IoT SIM card services on the platform, such as information query, suspension or resuming, and top-up.

Query information

Log in to the Tuya Developer Platform and click Operation > IoT Card Management to view the status or information of your purchased IoT SIM cards.

Suspend and resume

You can suspend or resume a specified activated card. Note that suspending an activated card will not stop its billing cycle.

Top up

Click Operation > IoT SIM Card > Overview and select the service you need and upload the ICCID to top up the credit.

Security

To prevent telecoms fraud, Tuya provides the following security measures:

• Each IoT SIM card you purchase from Tuya will be bound with the device that this card is installed on.

• If the general-use data plan of an IoT SIM card from China’s carriers reaches or exceeds 100 MB per month, identity verification is required.

• If the general-use data plan of an IoT SIM card from China’s carriers reaches or exceeds 1 GB per month, the card must take the form factor of eSIM.

• The mobile data provided by the IoT SIM card from China’s carriers is not allowed to be used for Internet of People (IoP) applications, such as mobile hotspots.

Device and card binding

When an IoT SIM card is activated for the first time, it will be automatically bound with the device on which it is installed. If an activated card is inserted into another device, this card will be locked. Do not try to insert an IoT SIM card into devices other than the bound one.

IoP applications

The IoP applications cover social media, e-commerce, video services, and more.