CCTV and remote security
Building sites, car parks, depots, farms and compounds often have no fixed line. A 4G or 5G router with a fixed public IP lets the NVR and cameras be viewed from the manufacturer’s app, a browser or a monitoring centre. Keep recording local, use the sub stream for live viewing and restrict access to known source addresses. For monitoring centres that require it, a private fixed IP with a site-to-site VPN keeps the video off the public internet.
Typical setup: multi network SIM, fixed public IP, router with an external antenna.
Telemetry, SCADA and industrial control
Water, wastewater, gas, district heating and manufacturing sites rely on PLCs and RTUs that a central SCADA system polls over Modbus TCP, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-104 or MQTT. Polling needs a fixed address for every outstation. A private APN gives each site a permanent private address with no internet exposure, which suits operators of essential services working to the NIS regulations and the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework.
Typical setup: private fixed IP, dedicated APN, industrial router, site-to-site VPN to the control room.
Battery storage, solar and energy
Battery energy storage systems, solar farms and generator sets need reliable links for monitoring, dispatch and firmware updates, often in fields far from any fibre. Resilient designs pair a primary connection with a second network group, and keep the router and modem running on a UPS so the site stays reachable during a power event.
Typical setup: dual SIM router with SIMs on different network groups, private fixed IP, UPS backed power.
EV charging
Chargepoints talk to their management platform using OCPP, and the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 set a high reliability requirement for rapid chargers. A multi network SIM keeps chargepoints online when one network has problems, and a private APN lets operators reach each charger for diagnostics without exposing it to the internet.
Typical setup: multi network or multi-IMSI IoT SIM, private fixed IP, pooled data.
Retail, hospitality and payments
When the broadband fails, a shop cannot take cards. A 4G or 5G router with a fixed IP SIM can take over within moments and keep VPN tunnels to head office running. For card data, a private APN helps keep payment traffic on a closed network as part of your PCI DSS approach.
Typical setup: backup router with automatic failover, private fixed IP or fixed public IP with VPN.
Digital signage, kiosks and vending
Screens in shopping centres, transport hubs and forecourts need content updates and the occasional remote fix. Vending and ticket machines need to report stock, faults and cashless payments. A fixed IP lets your content or management platform reach each unit directly.
Typical setup: IoT SIM with pooled data, private fixed IP for large estates.
Transport and fleets
Buses, coaches, trains, emergency vehicles and plant move between network coverage areas all day. Onboard routers connect CCTV, ticketing, telematics and passenger Wi-Fi. A multi network or roaming SIM keeps them connected across the country and abroad, while a fixed IP lets the depot pull footage and manage each vehicle.
Typical setup: roaming or multi network SIM, vehicle router with GNSS, fixed private IP.
Lifts, alarms and building systems
Lift emergency lines, fire and intruder alarms, door entry and building management systems are moving from copper lines and old 2G and 3G modules as the analogue phone network and legacy mobile networks close. 4G routers and IoT SIMs with fixed IPs let engineers test and manage these systems remotely.
Typical setup: multi network IoT SIM, 4G router or communicator, private fixed IP.
Construction, temporary sites and events
Site cabins, pop-up shops, outside broadcast crews, film sets and festivals need a working network on day one. A 5G router with a high data SIM and a fixed public IP gives internet, VPN access and remote camera viewing within hours, and moves with the project.
Typical setup: 5G router, high data or unlimited SIM, fixed public IP, portable mast antenna.
Agriculture and environment
Irrigation controllers, grain store sensors, weather stations and river level monitors are often miles from the nearest broadband cabinet. Low power IoT SIMs on LTE-M or NB-IoT suit battery devices, while a 4G router with an external antenna covers larger sites.
Typical setup: IoT SIM on the strongest local network, dynamic or private fixed IP.
Healthcare and telecare
Remote monitoring hubs, telecare alarms, pharmacy equipment and mobile clinics need connections that are private and dependable. A private APN keeps traffic off the internet, and multi network SIMs reduce the risk that one network outage leaves people without a service.
Typical setup: multi network IoT SIM, private fixed IP, VPN into the care platform.
Questions we are often asked
Which SIM is best for CCTV?
For most CCTV sites a multi network SIM with a fixed public IP works well, protected by a router firewall that only allows known addresses. Use a private fixed IP if your monitoring centre supports VPN access.
Which SIM is best for SCADA and telemetry?
A private fixed IP on a private APN, reached from the control room over a site-to-site VPN, is the usual choice because no outstation is visible on the internet.
Can one SIM serve several devices at a site?
Yes. Put the SIM in a router and connect the devices to it. Use port forwarding or a VPN to reach each device through the router’s fixed IP.