Conducted by Kaleido Intelligence, the study included a global sample of 1,000 cellular IoT adopters and non-adopters across various industry sectors.
The results highlight the increasing complexity of global IoT projects, revealing common issues around permanent roaming restrictions and the intricacies of managing multi-provider relationships.
The survey found that global IoT deployments need a more supportive and holistic service.
Almost six in ten (59.3 percent) of cellular IoT adopters said that more than half of their device fleet requires international or multi-regional connectivity’ while across cellular IoT adopters and non-adopters, 41 percent cited restrictions on permanent roaming as one of their top five challenges when scaling IoT. Forty two percent said the same about maintaining commercial relationships with multiple connectivity providers.
The survey found that a third (32.9 percent) of all respondents find current global connectivity support inadequate for their needs.
“Enterprises scaling IoT globally can’t afford to rely on connectivity alone – they need partners that can help them navigate the complexities of today’s fragmented connectivity landscape,” said Iain Davidson, senior product manager at Wireless Logic. “Our research clearly shows that enterprises are looking for a holistic approach that adds value at every stage of their global deployments.”
The research also indicated that enterprises are increasingly seeking support services and feature-rich solutions to tackle IoT’s complexities.
The top technical reason for choosing a connectivity provider was quality of coverage, cited by 55 percent of enterprises with IoT deployments. In terms of non-technical or commercial factors, flexibility in setup led the way at 53 percent, closely followed by a portfolio of value-added services (52 percent) and customer support levels (48 percent).
Similar expectations exist among enterprises without current cellular IoT deployments, with customer support (50.5 percent), flexibility (49.5 percent) and value-added services (42.5 percent) among their top priorities.
“We’re seeing a notable shift in expectations here,” continued Davidson. “Enterprises are no longer just connecting devices – they’re embedding IoT at the very heart of their operations. This demands value-added solutions that cover everything from initial setup and optimisation to ongoing management. Services like business intelligence, professional support and robust security have become essential. It’s a clear call for connectivity providers to raise their game with more sophisticated and tailored offerings.”
According to the survey, permanent roaming restrictions have become a key factor influencing eSIM adoption. Almost a third (32 percent) of current cellular IoT adopters report over-the-air capabilities to optimise network choice, such as through eSIM or multi-IMSI, influenced their choice of IoT connectivity provider. This is especially important in the energy and utilities sectors, with 42 percent considering it a guiding factor.
Additionally, 45 percent of organisations across all industries said that avoiding permanent roaming restrictions and operator lock-in were reasons for choosing eSIM, following security (50 percent) and long-term cost reduction (47 percent).
eSIM provides businesses with greater flexibility by enabling in-life network switching, allowing a single SIM type to be used in all devices regardless of their destination. This reduces stock keeping unit (SKU) management complexities and is particularly advantageous for sectors like energy and utilities, with over half (55 percent) recognising it as a factor in adopting eSIM.
However, despite these benefits, many enterprises remain cautious about eSIM, often seeking a wraparound service that extends beyond technical connectivity.
Among enterprises that opted against eSIM, 30 percent cited uncertainty around its benefits as a primary reason.
Among those that have adopted eSIM several key concerns were highlighted by the survey:
- Limited support for both GSMA M2M and consumer eSIM profiles by some mobile network operators (37 percent)
- Issues with quality and performance, including weak service level agreements and interoperability challenges (32 percent)
- Cost and time constraints involved in switching network profiles (32 percent)
- Required integration with mobile network operators for visibility and control of the device fleet (32 percent).
“With eSIM now fundamental to long-term business success, enterprises looking to unlock its full potential need a partner that evolves with their needs,” said Davidson. “Our research indicates that resilient, flexible connectivity has moved from a ‘nice-to-have’ to a strategic necessity for tackling technical challenges, simplifying operations and staying competitive.”
For further information or a copy of the full report, follow the link below.
