An IP address serves as a unique identifier for devices accessing the internet.
Most IoT devices use dynamic IP addresses, which change with each connection. However, fixed (or static) IP addresses remain constant. Devices with fixed IP SIM cards always use the same address when connecting to a network.
In IoT connectivity, a solution may require a Static IP address which could offer advantages related to continuous connectivity, remote access and integration with other systems; however this is not always a requirement.
There are also elements to take into consideration with Static IP SIM cards such as security and additional latency.
There are different types of Fixed IP SIM cards
- Fixed public IP SIM card
- Hosted in the public domain, accessible over the internet.
- Ideal for enabling access to connected devices from other endpoints.
- Example: CCTV systems where users view real-time camera footage remotely.
- Fixed private IP SIM card
- Visible only within your enterprise network.
- Secure option for device-to-device communication within a private network.
- Consider supplementing with a secure VPN for remote access over the public internet.
Common applications for fixed IP SIM cards include retail where reliable communication is required for automated point-of-sale (POS) systems and security monitoring where wireless CCTV solutions benefit from fixed IP SIMs.
Fixed IP SIM cards play a vital role in the connected world. However, it is important to consider whether the static IP is a requirement for the solution to function or a nice-to-have, as the world has run out of IPv4 IP addresses
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv4_address_exhaustion), and most devices / networks do not have the capability to support IPv6 IP addresses yet. As a result of this, a static IP may often be expensive to supply for an IoT solution.
This article was written by our team of IoT experts here at Fidelity Group. We support a wide range of business sectors with our outstanding IoT solution, which includes our market-leading software management platform, vM2M. If you would like to speak to one of our experts to find out how we can help your business, please Click here or call us today on 0800 840 6800.
