Best IoT SIM Cards in Brazil

Eseye

IoT Hardware and Connectivity Specialists

LinkedIn

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the leading enablers of digital opportunities in Brazil. A surge in demand for IoT connectivity has been stimulated in recent years by government initiatives establishing IoT as one of the pillars of the Brazilian Digital Transformation Strategy. But despite the potential, restrictions on permanent roaming and coverage gaps make Brazil a challenging environment for local and global IoT initiatives. 

So, how do you choose the best IoT SIM card or mobile chip provider in Brazil?  

Understanding IoT connectivity in Brazil

Brazil has taken a slightly different approach to IoT compared to other countries in the Americas. While in some respects the Brazilian market is more welcoming of IoT initiatives, in others licensing requirements are tougher. 

The Brazilian National IoT Plan

The National IoT Plan, unveiled in 2018, is an initiative bringing together Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC), the Ministry of Economy, and the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) with public and private organizations to ensure that Brazil benefits from IoT technology.

The National IoT Plan is one of the core pillars of the Brazilian Digital Transformation Strategy established by the government and is geared towards strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem. Because IoT is considered a value-adding infrastructure under the government definition, rather than a communication service like the rest of the telco sector, IoT initiatives are exempted from various fees to stimulate investment. 

Permanent roaming regulation

However, Brazil takes a much stricter stance versus other countries in the Americas for the provision of IoT and M2M connectivity. The Brazilian regulator, ANATEL, has banned permanent roaming and also requires connectivity providers to have a local presence.

IoT device certification

According to Brazilian regulations, ICT products sold and used in Brazil – including IoT devices – must have a Certificate of Conformity approved by ANATEL and go through IoT device certification.

So, while the government stance creates an environment encouraging of IoT initiatives, there are certain challenges regarding local connectivity, licensing, and provisioning that need to be considered. 

Choosing the right IoT SIM for your needs in Brazil

Although SIMs, or mobile chips, are a small component in the IoT tech stack, connectivity is the most important factor in the IoT initiative overall. 

When dealing with vast geographical footprints like Brazil, coverage gaps are a challenge and single-operator solutions struggle to provide nationwide connectivity, especially for IoT applications that include vehicles or moving devices like fleet management or logistics tracking. 

As technology evolves, the use cases for IoT applications in Brazil have expanded to include smart agriculture, livestock, machinery, and equipment in rural areas, and smart cities, utilities, healthcare and education in the metros. 

For organizations eyeing an IoT initiative, the big question isn’t just, “which SIM provides the best coverage for Brazil?” It’s “which SIM can guarantee 10 years’ of reliable connectivity, while remaining affordable and adapting to my evolving needs?”

Key criteria for selecting the best IoT SIM in Brazil

Reliable cellular connectivity is the key to unlocking the potential of any IoT or M2M application, from a water or electricity meter deep underground to a truck delivering goods around the country. 

But for large geographies like Brazil, provisioning connectivity from the single biggest Mobile Network Operator (MNO) in the country might not yield the best results and coverage gaps are common. 

Furthermore, IoT devices use cellular networks differently to consumer smartphones.

IoT devices typically:

• Transmit small volumes of data packets infrequently (but not in all cases!)
• Operate in remote or inhospitable environments often on the fringes of cellular coverage
• Sleep for long periods and wake up on event then poll the network
• Scale from hundreds to tens of thousands as part of the estate

Because of the way IoT and M2M applications work, IoT also requires a different approach to connectivity pricing. Your SIM or chip provider should offer pricing that is aligned with how IoT devices behave, including low data throughput, long deployment lifespans, and large-scale fleets or estates. 

Furthermore, an IoT device may need to connect to one operator in one location, and to a different operator elsewhere. This creates a logistical challenge, but one that is often solved by an IoT specific SIM, which will enable network redundancy and allow for the easy provisioning of connectivity to a different network if the designated connection fails. 

Ultimately, an IoT SIM provider influences:

• Where your devices can be deployed – both locally and globally
• Roaming capabilities
• The kinds of cellular networks and network technology you can use, such as LTE-M or NB-IoT
• Data connectivity costs
• Data network capacity and throughput, which may dictate the capabilities of your application
• The security of your data in transit
• The SIM form factors are available to your devices

Due to the often long-term deployment requirements of IoT applications, it’s very difficult to change connectivity provider once your devices are in the field, especially if you’re relying on a physical SIM tied to a single network.

A solution is to ensure your connectivity provider uses ​​eUICC (embedded universal integrated circuit card) SIMs, otherwise known as eSIMs, which provide the capability to store multiple network profiles that can be provisioned and managed over-the-air (OTA) through a centralized, cloud-native platform.

This means you are no longer locked into a single provider and can move to a new connectivity provider with ease, ensuring your IoT project is delivered with a favorable ROI, and you never run the risk of your devices being irrecoverably offline. 

Overview of leading IoT SIM providers in Brazil

In Brazil, connectivity providers, including MVNOs and MNOs, must have a local presence or office and be fully licensed by ANATEL. 

Some of the leading specialist IoT SIM providers in Brazil include:

• Emnify
• Eseye
• KORE Wireless
• Things Mobile
• Vivo
• 1NCE 

What matters most is selecting an IoT connectivity provider that matches your deployment footprint and technical requirements, including if your SIMs need to travel abroad and automatically connect to local networks without roaming fees.

With growing demand for international connectivity, specialist IoT MVNOs like Eseye are emerging as the best option for global mobile connectivity when delivering an enterprise-centric IoT platform. 

With a partner list of over 800 networks in 190+ countries, Eseye’s AnyNet Federation offers the widest choice of local network connections and roaming partners and also avoids the risks of permanent roaming – including devices being disconnected with little or no notice.

Eseye’s AnyNet+ eSIM is a multi-IMSI SIM that delivers multi-network access around the globe by partnering directly with networks so you don’t have to. The AnyNet+ eSIM dynamically switches to the strongest network available in the local area, minimizing downtime and connection loss.

AnyNet+ also integrates with Eseye’s Infinity IoT Platform for easy management of your entire IoT estate, improved security, and optimization of your application at scale.

Why Eseye stands out as the best choice for IoT connectivity in Brazil

With a local presence in Brazil and partnerships with multiple accredited MVNEs and MNOs, Eseye has strengthened its position in the region, achieving the top spot among IoT-focused accredited MVNOs in Brazil, according to data from ANATEL. 

Eseye Brazil is the only IoT SIM provider offering a true multi-IMSI solution across the region. We integrate directly with accredited MVNEs in Brazil, including NLT Telecom (Vivo) and Surf (TIM). Your devices can localize instantly, legally, and securely.

Eseye’s success in Brazil is built on a foundation of strategic partnerships and advanced technology, providing customers with access to all major networks across Brazil and the wider Latin America region ensuring reliable and consistent connectivity.

Overcoming multi-network roaming challenges

IoT roaming in Brazil presents a significant challenge because permanent roaming is banned by ANATEL, with IoT devices limited to 90 days on a foreign network before they are blocked. 

To ensure continued connectivity, organizations deploying IoT initiatives in Brazil must use SIMs or chips with locally provisioned profiles, or partner with specialized IoT connectivity providers like Eseye, which provide multi-IMSI eSIM solutions to provision devices with a local Brazilian network profile. 

Eseye’s federated localization, also known as eSIM localization, offers a compelling alternative to traditional roaming and avoids the risks of permanent roaming – including devices being disconnected with little or no notice.

Instead of the traditional approach of a home SIM roaming onto a visited network, federation works by localizing device connections across a series of approved operators, so that device looks like it is using a local operator SIM.

Ensuring connectivity in remote regions

Federated localization and multi-IMSI SIM approaches can solve the challenges of coverage gaps, where reliance on a single network provider might fall short. But when operating in large or complex regions like Brazil, it’s not just about reliable network connectivity. The real deal breaker when it comes to choosing your IoT SIM provider is the overall experience and level of customer support. 

IoT initiatives are fraught with challenges and there is a lot to be said for having access to expert professional services in overcoming these obstacles and ensuring timely project delivery.

Eseye delivers rapid technical troubleshooting and out-of-hours support to guarantee priority resolution, minimal downtime and maximize performance of your IoT devices, including ensuring certification. Eseye boasts a 98.3% customer satisfaction score and an overall Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 50 and has proven expertise in a range of industries, including smart cities, manufacturing, agriculture, retail and more.  

In this article

• Understanding IoT connectivity in Brazil
• Choosing the right IoT SIM for your needs in Brazil
• Key criteria for selecting the best IoT SIM in Brazil
• Overview of leading IoT SIM providers in Brazil
• Why Eseye stands out as the best choice for IoT connectivity in Brazil
• Overcoming multi-network roaming challenges
• Ensuring connectivity in remote regions