IoT Roaming: How It Works, 5 Key Challenges and Top Alternatives

What Is IoT Roaming?

IoT roaming allows connected devices to operate across different mobile networks while maintaining seamless connectivity. Unlike traditional mobile roaming, which focuses on human users, IoT roaming supports machines, sensors, and smart devices that need persistent data access across regions and countries.

IoT roaming is used in industries like logistics, healthcare, and smart cities, where devices must function reliably regardless of location. However, IoT roaming has significant downsides, limiting its applicability for some enterprise IoT scenarios. These include poor performance, privacy violations, and permanent roaming restrictions in certain regions. We’ll cover the pros and cons of IoT roaming and present a few viable alternatives for IoT projects.

How Does IoT Roaming Work?

IoT roaming relies on agreements between mobile network operators (MNOs) that allow devices to use foreign networks when outside their home coverage area. It can be utilized by technologies like eSIMs and multi-IMSI SIMs, which allow devices to switch between networks dynamically.

When an IoT device moves into a new region, it searches for available networks and connects based on predefined roaming agreements. Data is transmitted using standard protocols.

5 Roaming Challenges in IoT Scenarios

IoT technologies have developed at neck-breaking speed in the past decade, much faster than the existing cellular infrastructure could actually follow. Many IoT devices must work across borders, whether they are static devices like metering, POS (Point of Sale) systems, healthcare equipment, or mobile devices in motion like asset trackers or fleet management solutions.

Many of these IoT devices come equipped with a roaming SIM provided by a mobile operator or other connectivity provider However, the roaming infrastructure wasn’t built to support a large number of devices for an extensive period of time.

The idea of roaming was that a very small percentage of consumers would be roaming at any given time, for instance tourists and business travelers, so the network will never get overwhelmed.
Here are the main reasons why roaming presents significant challenges for connected devices:

Poor Performance

When roaming is enabled, regardless of where the device is based, the data it generates is being routed through the home network before reaching its destination. This leads to an increased latency as it takes time for the data to travel to the home mobile operator and back. This slows down communications and can easily drain battery, which in itself is a massive challenge for IoT solutions.

GDPR and other privacy violations

Not only is data privacy becoming increasingly important, but privacy regulations can differ per country or per sector making it difficult for companies to stay on top of it. For example, you may have a point of sale (POS) device in Germany that uses a roaming SIM card from a US mobile operator.

This means that the data will travel around the world before it loops back to the host country, exposing you to possible breaches of GDPR regulations (which stipulate that data originating from an EU device needs to remain in the EU). This is, of course, an oversimplified example. But imagine an enterprise customer with hundreds of devices deployed across 10 or 20 different countries. Staying on top of privacy regulations for each country and providing a seamless connectivity solution is extremely difficult.

Permanent Roaming Restrictions

The exponential growth of connected devices means that certain countries and independent mobile operators have applied their own “permanent roaming bans” to protect their own connectivity bandwidth. In this case, devices can use roaming for a limited period of time, usually between three to six months, after which point they’re disconnected without the option to regain connectivity.

Some countries like Turkey, China and Brazil have explicit bans on permanent roaming while others have a more subtle yet equally limiting approach. The Middle East, for example, requires that all cellular connectivity services are provided by a licensed local operator which effectively excludes the option for permanent roaming. In the U.S, Canada and Australia, the onus is on the network operators to decide whether they allow permanent roaming or not depending on the relationship they have with the connectivity provider.

High Roaming Costs

Roaming costs differ per country and per roaming agreement, so they can be incredibly hard to predict. While IoT-specific roaming agreements can bundle different data plans together to make it more affordable, you still run the risk of incurring additional charges or having these agreements change without much warning.

Imagine that your operations rely on large data transmissions. One simple change in the pricing structure can have a massive impact on your bottom line. Without the option to manage your connectivity over-the-air (OTA), changing providers can become a costly exercise in itself as you have to physically replace SIM cards in all of your devices.

In general, using roaming for data transmission would generally be more expensive than relying on a local network provider. Depending on the size of your operations, this can become an unsustainable way of running your business over time.

Security

Roaming presents inherent security concerns. Not only do you not have visibility over how your data travels, but you also don’t have control over how the host Mobile Network Operator (MNO) secures its network. This means that you can’t have any assurances regarding security when you’re deploying your devices abroad.

This goes back to the overall discussion around infrastructure – using the existing roaming models leaves you at the mercy of the host MNO which you have no control over, and which may observe lower security standards. This unwittingly puts you at a greater risk of having your devices compromised.

Alternative Solutions to IoT Roaming

Using Global Roaming SIM from a provider with Multiple MNO relationships

A global roaming SIM that supports multiple mobile network operators (MNOs) can help mitigate connectivity issues by ensuring devices always have access to the best available network. These SIMs dynamically switch between different networks based on signal strength, cost, or latency, reducing the risks of network outages or disconnections due to permanent roaming restrictions.

Providers with extensive MNO partnerships can also negotiate better roaming agreements, helping businesses manage costs while maintaining reliable coverage across regions. However, while this approach improves connectivity, it does not fully eliminate risks associated with permanent roaming bans in certain countries.

Use eUICC SIMs

An embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) SIM, commonly known as an eSIM, allows remote provisioning of multiple carrier profiles. Unlike traditional SIMs, which are locked to a single provider, eUICC SIMs enable businesses to switch network profiles over-the-air (OTA) without physically replacing the SIM card.

This flexibility helps companies comply with local regulations and avoid permanent roaming restrictions by provisioning a local carrier profile when needed. It also simplifies large-scale deployments by allowing remote SIM management, reducing operational costs associated with manual SIM swaps.

Use Connectivity Management Platform

A connectivity management platform (CMP) provides businesses with real-time control over their IoT connections, offering visibility into data usage, network performance, and compliance risks. These platforms often include automation features to optimize network selection, ensuring devices use the best available network while minimizing costs.

CMPs can also support remote SIM provisioning, allowing businesses to switch from roaming to local profiles seamlessly. Additionally, security features such as encryption, anomaly detection, and network monitoring help mitigate risks associated with untrusted host networks.

Overcoming IoT Connectivity Challenges with floLIVE

floLIVE’s solution is designed to overcome these challenges by providing a localised global network. This network is built upon globally distributed local core networks and Packet GW (POPs) in dozens of locations worldwide. This approach allows devices to connect locally in various regions, effectively avoiding the costs and potential issues associated with permanent roaming.

Key aspects of how floLIVE overcomes roaming challenges include:

Local Connectivity: By leveraging local core networks and Packet GWs and integrating directly with local mobile operators, floLIVE enables devices to obtain local connectivity without needing to rely solely on roaming. This is crucial for compliance in countries with strict permanent roaming regulations, such as Turkey and Brazil.

Compliance: The localised network approach helps businesses navigate complex and varying data privacy laws and roaming regulations. Data often remains within the country of origin, aiding compliance with regulations like GDPR. The solution specifically addresses regulations in restricted markets like China, and the EU.

Multi-IMSI and eUICC: floLIVE utilizes a single SKU SIM equipped with multi-IMSI capability, often over eUICC technology. This allows devices to autonomously switch between local networks or roaming partners to ensure optimal coverage and avoid permanent roaming restrictions. The eUICC technology enables remote provisioning and switching of profiles without needing physical SIM replacement.

Hybrid Connectivity Model: floLIVE employs a hybrid approach that combines global roaming where it is financially and operationally viable with complementary local coverage in regions enforcing permanent roaming restrictions.

Centralized Management and Control: The Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) provides a “single pane of glass” for managing global connectivity. This includes visibility and control over network selection rules and steering, allowing users to define preferred networks and manage connectivity based on various parameters.

Simplified Logistics: The single SKU SIM simplifies logistics, manufacturing, and deployment compared to managing different SIMs for different regions or operators.

By providing local connectivity globally and offering tools for compliance and control, floLIVE helps enterprises overcome the complexities and regulatory hurdles associated with traditional roaming for IoT deployments.