When your IoT deployment demands enterprise‑level uptime, industrial resilience, and global scalability, the combination of Ericsson cellular routers and IoT Data Connect’s unsteered multi‑network IoT connectivity delivers a level of performance that steered SIMs simply can’t match.

Ericsson is one of the world’s most trusted names in telecom infrastructure and their routers bring the same carrier‑grade engineering to IoT. Pair that with connectivity that never forces a device onto a preferred network, and you unlock a powerful, future‑proof solution for mission‑critical applications.

Ericsson: Carrier‑Grade Routers Built for Mission‑Critical IoT

Ericsson’s industrial routers are designed for environments where failure is not an option — utilities, transport, public safety, energy, and large‑scale enterprise networks. Their hardware is known for exceptional stability, advanced security, and long‑term reliability.

Popular models include:

• Ericsson W30 – Industrial 4G router for remote monitoring, utilities, and enterprise IoT
• Ericsson W35 – Rugged router with advanced failover and voice capabilities
• Ericsson W25 – Reliable LTE router for fixed wireless access and branch connectivity
• Ericsson W21 – Compact, robust router ideal for retail, kiosks, and remote sites

These routers are engineered for high availability — but their true performance shines when paired with connectivity that lets them choose the best network at all times.

Ericsson’s Intelligent Network Handling: Built to Make Smart Decisions

Ericsson routers include advanced network‑selection and radio‑resource management features, allowing them to:

• Scan all available networks
• Measure signal strength, quality, and latency
• Automatically select the best operator
• Re‑select networks dynamically as conditions change
• Maintain stable VPN tunnels and low‑latency links

This intelligence is designed to maximise uptime — but it only works properly when the SIM card doesn’t force the router onto a specific network.

That’s where IoT Data Connect’s unsteered IoT connectivity becomes essential.

The Problem With Steered IoT SIMs

Steered SIMs prioritise one mobile network over others, even when that network is congested or weak. This causes:

• Dropouts and reconnection loops
• Higher latency
• Slower throughput
• Reduced hardware lifespan
• Poor performance in rural or high‑traffic areas

For Ericsson routers — built to make intelligent network decisions — steering becomes a performance bottleneck.

Unsteered Connectivity: Let Ericsson Do What It Was Designed For

IoT Data Connect provides unsteered, multi‑network IoT SIMs, giving Ericsson routers complete freedom to attach to the strongest available network at any moment.

This unlocks the full potential of Ericsson’s network‑selection engine, delivering:

• Stronger, more stable signal
• Lower latency for industrial systems
• Faster data throughput
• Seamless roaming across regions and borders
• Higher uptime in mission‑critical deployments

Ericsson’s intelligence + IoT neutrality = carrier‑grade performance.

Why Ericsson + IoT Data Connect Is a Perfect Match

1. Enterprise‑Grade Reliability

Ericsson routers are built for critical infrastructure. Unsteered connectivity ensures they always operate on the best available network.

2. Unified APN for Global Deployments

IoT Data Connect uses a single APN across all supported networks and countries, enabling:

• One configuration for all devices
• Faster deployments
• Easier scaling
• Fewer support issues

Ideal for large enterprise rollouts.

3. Better Performance for High‑Bandwidth Applications

Ericsson routers paired with unsteered connectivity deliver exceptional performance for:

• CCTV streaming
• Industrial automation
• Remote diagnostics
• Smart grid systems

4. Perfect for Mobile and Fixed Deployments

Whether stationary or on the move, Ericsson routers maintain stable connectivity thanks to dynamic network selection.

Use Cases & Sectors That Benefit Most

Utilities & Energy

• Smart grid
• Substation monitoring
• Renewable energy sites

Transport & Telematics

• Fleet tracking
• Public transport systems
• Mobile command units

CCTV & Security

• Remote surveillance
• ANPR cameras
• Critical infrastructure security

Retail & Payments

• POS terminals
• Kiosks
• Digital signage

Industrial & Manufacturing

• SCADA
• PLC connectivity
• Predictive maintenance

Smart Cities

• Traffic systems
• Air quality sensors
• Parking solutions

Healthcare

• Remote diagnostics
• Telemedicine
• Mobile clinics

Conclusion: Enterprise IoT Without Compromise

Ericsson routers provide the carrier‑grade hardware. IoT Data Connect provides the resilient, unsteered connectivity.

Together, they deliver a high‑performance, scalable, and ultra‑reliable IoT solution that excels across every industry and environment.

In today’s connected world, IoT deployments demand more than rugged hardware. They require intelligent, resilient, and network-agnostic connectivity. That’s why pairing Robustel industrial routers with IoT Data Connect’s unsteered multi-network IoT SIMs has become a go-to solution for organisations that depend on uptime, performance, and long-term reliability.

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Robustel: Industrial Routers Built for Real-World Demands

Robustel routers are engineered for mission-critical IoT environments, combining advanced software capabilities, rugged design, and proven reliability. Widely deployed across utilities, transport, retail, and smart infrastructure, popular models include:

• R2010 – Industrial 4G LTE router for utilities, transport, and remote monitoring
• R3000 – Rugged dual-SIM router with advanced VPN and failover
• R3000 Lite – Cost-effective router for retail, kiosks, and digital signage
• R5020 – High-performance 5G router for bandwidth-intensive applications
• R1520 – Versatile 4G router used extensively in EV charging, CCTV, and smart cities
• R2110 – Automotive-grade router designed for fleet and public transport deployments

While Robustel’s hardware is well known, one of its most powerful advantages is often overlooked.

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Robustel’s Intelligent Network Selection: A Perfect Match for Unsteered SIMs

Robustel routers include advanced network selection logic that enables the device to:

• Scan all available mobile networks
• Measure signal strength, quality, and latency
• Automatically select the best-performing operator
• Re-select networks dynamically as conditions change
• Avoid “sticky” connections to poor-quality cells

This intelligence is designed to give the router full control over connectivity. However, it can only work as intended when the SIM card does not force a preferred network.

That’s where IoT Data Connect’s unsteered IoT connectivity becomes essential.

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Unsteered Connectivity: Let the Router Make the Smart Choice

Unlike steered SIMs that prioritise one operator, IoT Data Connect’s unsteered SIMs allow Robustel routers to attach to any available network based purely on real-time performance.

This unlocks the full potential of Robustel’s network selection engine, delivering:

• Stronger and more stable signal
• Lower latency
• Faster data throughput
• Fewer dropouts
• Seamless roaming across regions and borders
• Higher uptime for mission-critical deployments

Robustel’s intelligence combined with IoT Data Connect’s network neutrality results in consistently superior performance.

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Use Cases and Sectors That Benefit Most

Transport & Telematics

• Fleet tracking
• Passenger Wi-Fi
• Vehicle diagnostics
• Public transport systems

EV Charging & Energy

• Smart EV charging infrastructure
• Solar and battery monitoring
• Smart grid connectivity

CCTV & Security

• Remote surveillance
• ANPR cameras
• Temporary and mobile site security

Retail & Payments

• POS terminals
• Self-service kiosks
• Vending machines
• Digital signage

Industrial & Manufacturing

• PLC connectivity
• SCADA systems
• Predictive maintenance

Smart Cities

• Air quality monitoring
• Parking systems
• Traffic management

Healthcare

• Remote diagnostics
• Telemedicine units
• Mobile clinics

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Conclusion: Industrial IoT Without Compromise

Robustel routers deliver rugged hardware and intelligent network selection.
IoT Data Connect delivers unsteered, multi-network IoT connectivity.

Together, they form a high-performance, resilient, and scalable IoT solution that consistently outperforms steered alternatives — across every industry and deployment scale.

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Strong signal doesn’t always mean fast data — and fast data doesn’t always mean a strong signal. Signal strength and bandwidth are two very different parts of mobile connectivity, and understanding the gap between them is essential for anyone deploying IoT, mobile services, or smart infrastructure.

Most people assume that “full bars” on a phone or IoT device means great performance. But in reality, signal strength and network bandwidth are two separate forces that shape your mobile experience and they don’t always move together.

Understanding the difference is crucial for businesses deploying IoT devices, mobility solutions, or anything that relies on consistent mobile connectivity.

What Is Network Signal Strength?

Signal strength measures how well your device can “hear” the nearest cell tower. It’s influenced by:

• Distance from the mast
• Buildings, trees, and terrain
• Indoor vs outdoor location
• Device antenna quality

Signal strength determines whether you can connect at all. Weak signal often leads to:

• Dropped calls
• Failed data sessions
• Unreliable IoT device behaviour

Research shows that signal strength varies dramatically even within the same postcode due to local obstacles and tower placement.

What Is Network Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the capacity of the network to carry data — essentially, how much “lane space” is available for traffic.

It’s affected by:

• Network technology (4G, 5G, 5G SA)
• How many users are connected
• Spectrum allocation
• Network congestion

Ofcom’s latest mobile performance data highlights how bandwidth impacts real‑world experiences like video streaming, latency, and data success rates.

Even with strong signal, bandwidth can be low if:

• The network is congested
• The mast is overloaded
• You’re on an older technology layer (e.g., 3G/4G instead of 5G)

Signal Strength vs Bandwidth: Key Differences

Why This Matters for Mobile & IoT Deployments

1. Strong signal doesn’t guarantee fast speeds

A device may show full bars but still struggle with data because the network is congested common in cities, stadiums, and busy transport hubs.

2. Weak signal can break mission‑critical services

IoT devices in rural or indoor environments often fail not because of bandwidth, but because they simply can’t maintain a stable connection.

Coverage varies widely across the UK, even within the same area, making signal strength a critical planning factor.

3. Bandwidth determines performance for data‑heavy applications

5G SA networks deliver lower latency and higher throughput, but only when bandwidth is available — something Ofcom’s performance data highlights clearly.

4. IoT devices behave differently from smartphones

Many IoT devices:

• Use low‑power radios
• Operate in fixed locations
• Rely on consistent, not fast, connectivity

For them, signal strength is often more important than raw bandwidth.

5. Choosing the right SIM type matters

Non‑steered, multi‑network SIMs ensure devices connect to the strongest available signal essential when signal strength varies between networks.

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Final Thoughts

Signal strength determines whether you can connect. Bandwidth determines how well that connection performs.

Both matter — but for different reasons.

For mobile users, the difference explains why you can have full bars but slow speeds. For IoT deployments, it can be the difference between a device that works flawlessly and one that fails silently.

Understanding both helps businesses design more resilient, predictable, and scalable connectivity strategies.

In the world of IoT, reliability isn’t a luxury — it’s the foundation everything else depends on. Whether you’re deploying devices in transport, EV charging, CCTV, retail, or industrial automation, the quality of your connectivity directly impacts the performance of your hardware. That’s why so many organisations pair Teltonika cellular routers with IoT Data Connect’s unsteered multi‑network IoT SIMs to achieve maximum uptime, resilience, and speed.

Teltonika: Industrial‑Grade Routers Built for Real‑World Demands

Teltonika Networks has become a global leader in cellular routers thanks to their rugged design, long‑term reliability, and powerful feature set. Popular models include:

• RUT240 – Compact, affordable, perfect for kiosks, EV chargers, and small deployments
• RUT950 – Dual‑SIM, dual‑modem resilience for mission‑critical applications
• RUT956 – GNSS + I/O support for transport and telematics
• RUTX11 – High‑speed LTE‑A with advanced Wi‑Fi and VPN capabilities
• RUTX14 – Cat 12 LTE for high‑bandwidth industrial applications

These routers are engineered for environments where failure simply isn’t an option — but even the best hardware is only as good as the connectivity behind it.

The Problem With Steered Connectivity

Many IoT SIMs on the market are steered, meaning the SIM is programmed to prefer one network over others. This creates several issues:

• Devices cling to a weak network even when a stronger one is available
• Slower speeds and higher latency
• Increased packet loss
• More device reboots and connection drops
• Reduced hardware lifespan due to constant reconnection attempts

For Teltonika routers — which are designed to make intelligent network decisions — steering actively works against their capabilities.

Unsteered Connectivity: Let the Router Choose the Best Network

IoT Data Connect provides unsteered, multi‑network IoT connectivity, meaning the SIM has no preferred network. Instead, the Teltonika router is free to attach to whichever operator offers:

• The strongest signal
• The lowest latency
• The highest throughput
• The most stable connection at that moment

This dramatically improves performance, especially in environments where signal conditions change throughout the day.

Real‑World Example: Transport Fleets

A fleet using Teltonika RUT956 routers for live vehicle tracking saw:

• Faster GPS reporting
• More stable VPN tunnels
• Fewer dropouts in rural areas
• Better performance when crossing network boundaries

Unsteered connectivity allowed each router to dynamically switch between O2, Vodafone, and EE based on real‑time conditions.

Example: CCTV & Security Systems

A security integrator using RUT950 routers for remote CCTV monitoring reduced downtime by over 40% after switching from a steered SIM to IoT Data Connect’s unsteered solution. Cameras stayed online even during localised network outages.

Example: Retail & Payment Terminals

Retailers using RUT240 routers for payment terminals saw faster authorisation times and fewer transaction failures — critical for customer experience and revenue protection.

Unified APN for Simplicity and Speed

IoT Data Connect uses a single unified APN across all supported networks and countries. This means:

• One configuration works everywhere
• Faster deployments
• Fewer support tickets
• Easier device cloning and scaling
• No need to reconfigure routers when expanding internationally

For Teltonika deployments, this is a huge advantage — configure once, deploy anywhere.

Conclusion: The Perfect Pairing for High‑Performance IoT

Teltonika routers provide the industrial‑grade hardware. IoT Data Connect provides the resilient, unsteered connectivity.

Together, they deliver:

• Higher uptime
• Faster speeds
• Better stability
• Lower maintenance
• Longer hardware lifespan
• Seamless multi‑network coverage across borders

If your IoT deployment depends on reliability, this combination gives you a measurable performance edge.

As IoT deployments expand across borders and industries, many organisations turn to global IoT SIM cards to simplify connectivity. On paper, a global SIM sounds ideal: one SIM, one APN, one contract, and coverage in dozens of countries.

But the reality is more complex and understanding how global IoT SIMs actually behave is essential for building reliable IoT solutions.

What Is a Global IoT SIM Card?

A global IoT SIM card is a SIM profile designed to work across multiple countries using roaming agreements. Instead of being tied to a single domestic operator, it can connect to partner networks around the world.

In theory, this means:

• One SIM works globally
• No need to swap SIMs when crossing borders
• Centralised billing
• Consistent APN and security policies

But behind the scenes, global SIMs still behave like roaming SIMs and that comes with limitations.

How Global IoT SIMs Actually Work

Every global IoT SIM has a home network, even if it’s marketed as “global”. This home network is usually based in the EU or US.

When the device powers on, the SIM follows a strict priority order:

1. Connect to the home network
2. If the home network is unavailable, connect to a roaming partner
3. Stay on that network until it becomes completely unusable

This behaviour is built into the SIM profile and is part of how roaming works worldwide.

The Hidden Problem: Home Network Preference

Here’s the issue most businesses never hear about:

A global IoT SIM will always try to use its home network even if the signal is extremely weak or unable to pass data.

This means:

• Devices cling to a poor‑quality network
• They ignore stronger networks nearby
• They appear “connected” but cannot send or receive data
• They repeatedly attempt to attach to the home network, draining power and causing downtime

This is a major problem in rural areas, indoor environments, moving vehicles, and countries where the home operator has limited coverage.

Why Does This Happen? Commercial Reasons, Not Technical Ones

Major operators such as Vodafone, Telefónica, Orange, and others offer global IoT SIMs that behave this way because it benefits their commercial agreements, not because it benefits the customer.

These operators:

• Want devices to stay on their own network whenever possible
• Prioritise roaming partners that offer the best wholesale rates
• Steer devices away from networks that cost them more
• Lock SIMs into preferred network lists

This is known as network steering, and it is driven entirely by commercial incentives, not by performance, reliability, or customer needs.

In other words:

Global SIMs are designed to protect the operator’s revenue, not your uptime.

The Impact on IoT Deployments

This behaviour can cause:

1. Unreliable Connectivity

Devices appear online but cannot pass data.

2. Higher Latency

Traffic may be routed back to the home country.

3. Increased Power Consumption

Devices constantly search for the home network.

4. Poor Performance in Critical Applications

CCTV, EV chargers, telematics, and industrial systems all suffer.

5. Difficult Troubleshooting

The device “looks connected” but behaves unpredictably.

Why Many Businesses Are Moving to Unsteered Multi‑Network IoT SIMs

To avoid these issues, many organisations now choose unsteered multi‑network IoT SIMs instead of traditional global SIMs.

Unsteered SIMs:

• Do not prioritise a home network
• Allow the device to choose the strongest available operator
• Avoid ghost‑signal problems
• Deliver lower latency
• Improve uptime and stability
• Work better with intelligent routers (Teltonika, Robustel, Cradlepoint, Ericsson, etc.)

This gives the device true freedom to attach to the best network — not the one the SIM is commercially steered toward.

Conclusion: Global SIMs Are Convenient — But Not Always Reliable

Global IoT SIM cards offer simplicity, but they come with a built‑in limitation:

They always prefer their home network, even when it’s the worst option available and major operators like Vodafone and Telefónica design them this way for commercial reasons.

For IoT deployments where uptime, stability, and performance matter, unsteered multi‑network connectivity is often the smarter choice.

It ensures devices stay online, choose the best network, and avoid the pitfalls of home‑network steering & delivering the reliability modern IoT applications demand.