SIM Types

Soracom provides several types of SIM modules to fit a wide variety of cellular devices. Soracom works directly with SIM manufacturers and network carriers to provide each type of SIM module.

Following standard telecommunications terminology, each SIM on the Soracom platform may be termed a subscriber when referring to its network properties or functionality. The terms SIM card or Embedded SIM are used when referring to the physical SIM module.


Characteristics

Each SIM is categorized by the following three characteristics:

Physical Form Factor

Form factor

Soracom offers both SIM card and Embedded SIM (eSIM) form factors. SIM cards provide flexibility and work with a wide variety of cellular hardware (such as 3G/LTE modems and development kits) that use SIM card slots. Most Soracom Air SIM cards come in a "trio" pre-cut card that can be resized to fit standard/mini- (2FF), micro- (3FF), and nano-SIM (4FF) slots. For hardware applications with space constraints or security requirements, eSIMs (MFF2) provide the same cellular connectivity in a smaller package that can be soldered directly on the device.

Network Coverage

Soracom Air SIMs differ by their cellular coverage: Global or Japan-only. Global SIMs offer network connectivity in Over 140 countries around the world (including Japan!), through roaming agreements between Soracom and each country's cellular network operators. Japan SIMs offer network connectivity only in Japan (connecting to other networks outside of Japan is not supported), and provides separate platform functionality tailored for customers whose devices will be deployed in Japan.

Subscription Plan

In addition to Global and Japan coverage, SIMs also consist of subscription plan that determine different levels of connectivity service.


The following tables provide an overview of Soracom Air for Cellular form factors, network coverage, and subscription plans:

Soracom IoT SIM Soracom IoT SIM for Japan
Plan plan01s plan01s - LDV plan-US plan-NA1 plan-D (Data/SMS) plan-D (Data-only) plan-DU plan-K plan-KM1
Design

Pricing Pay-As-You-Go Pay-As-You-Go with bundled data Pay-As-You-Go Pay-As-You-Go with bundled data Pay-As-You-Go
Bundled Data Plans available from 1MB to 10GB 3MB / 20MB / 50MB / 100MB 10GB / 50GB / 100GB
Coverage Over 140 countries *1, *2 84 countries *1 United States *1 United States & Canada *1 Japan (NTT Docomo) Japan (au/KDDI)
Connectivity 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, LTE Cat-M1, NB-IoT *3 4G/LTE, 5G, LTE Cat-M1, NB-IoT *3 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, LTE Cat-M1 *3 3G, 4G/LTE 4G/LTE 4G/LTE LTE Cat-M1
Form Factors 3-in-1 (Standard/Mini-, Micro-, and Nano-SIM) ecoSIM package
Embedded SIM (eSIM)
3-in-1 (Standard/Mini-, Micro-, and Nano-SIM) ecoSIM package Standard/Mini-SIM
Micro-SIM
Nano-SIM
Micro-SIM
Nano-SIM
Nano-SIM
Embedded SIM (eSIM)
Data
SMS
USSD
Voice
Subscription Containers
Optional Subscriptions planP1
planX1
planX2
planX3
plan-US-max
plan-US-NA
plan-US-max

*1 - Refer to the Supported Carriers documentation for carrier information.
*2 - Total coverage changes based on any optional subscriptions added to the SIM.
*3 - Actual network availability varies by country and local operator.

Optional Subscriptions
Plan planP1 planX1 planX2 planX3 plan-US-max plan-US-NA
Pricing Pay-As-You-Go Pay-As-You-Go with bundled data Depends *4 Pay-As-You-Go with bundled data
Bundled Data 5MB Depends *4 Same as plan-US
Coverage Asia Pacific *5 Japan (au/KDDI) Global *5 United States *5 North America *5
Connectivity 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE *6 4G/LTE 4G/LTE, 5G 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, LTE Cat-M1 *6 2G, 4G/LTE, LTE Cat-M1 *6 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE *6
Form Factors Over-The-Air (OTA) update
Data
SMS MT-SMS only *7 Limited *8 MT-SMS only *7
USSD
Voice

*4 - When adding a plan-US-max Subscription Container to a plan01s SIM, pricing follows Pay-as-you-Go without any bundled data. When adding a plan-US-max Subscription Container to a plan-US SIM, pricing follows Pay-as-you-Go with the same bundled data as plan-US.
*5 - Refer to the Supported Carriers documentation for carrier information.
*6 - Actual network availability varies by country and local operator.
*7 - Mobile Terminated SMS, or SMS delivered from Soracom to a device.
*8 - Only supported between plan-US-max SIMs.


Hardware Compatibility

Soracom IoT SIMs (Global coverage) require a SIM-free (or carrier-unlocked) device. When using a Global Air SIM in a device that is carrier-locked or carrier-branded, you may receive an error message indicating that you cannot use the Soracom Air SIM card. You will need to contact the carrier in order to obtain a code to unlock your device.

Soracom IoT SIMs for Japan (Japan-only coverage) work with both SIM-free (or carrier unlocked) devices, as well as NTT Docomo-branded devices when using plan-D or plan-DU, and au/KDDI-branded devices when using plan-K and plan-KM1. NTT Docomo- and au/KDDI-branded devices do not need to be carrier-unlocked when used with their respective subscription plans.


Network Compatibility

In general, Soracom Air SIM modules do not have any limitations with cellular networks around the world. However, you must check that your hardware device is compatible with the network frequencies in the country of use.

For example, when using a Soracom IoT SIM in a device in the United States, you must check that your device supports the 2G, 3G, or 4G/LTE frequency bands that are available in the United States.

In some cases, 2G, 3G, or 4G/LTE coverage may not be available on a particular network. Even if your device supports the correct frequency bands, it will not be able to connect on a particular radio type (such as 4G/LTE) if none of the available networks in that country have deployed the corresponding network.


Coverage Types

Whether you use the Soracom User Console's intuitive user interface to manage your subscribers directly from your browser, or the Soracom API or Soracom CLI to integrate or automate management tasks with your application, Global and Japan subscribers are organized into separate coverage regions, due to their different platform functionality.

When managing subscribers from the User Console, ensure that you have selected the correct coverage type, Global or Japan, corresponding to your subscriber's network coverage.

SIM Type plan01s plan01s - LDV plan-US plan-NA1 plan-D plan-DU plan-K plan-KM1
Subscription Container planP1 planX1 planX2 planX3 plan-US-max plan-US-NA
User Console Coverage Global Japan
API Endpoint

https://g.api.soracom.io

https://api.soracom.io or
https://jp.api.soracom.io

CLI Flag

--coverage-type g

--coverage-type jp