Connectivity Services
Selecting the appropriate connectivity type when creating a plan is crucial as it determines the services, coverage, and cost structure for your IoT deployments.
In general, there are two connectivity types:
- Cellular Connectivity: Refers to data, SMS and voice services provided through traditional cellular networks for defined geographical coverage areas.
- Satellite Connectivity: Applies to data services delivered via satellite technology offering global coverage for remote isolated areas where cellular networks may be unavailable.
Data Services
Data services enable internet access and transmission for IoT applications and devices, utilizing cellular networks (3G/4G/LTE/5G) or satellite technology.
- Cellular Connectivity: Offers broad coverage in populated areas, with rates varying by provider, plan, and usage. Cellular Connectivity is typically implemented using 1 KB charging units, billed in larger units (MB/GB).
- Satellite Connectivity: Provides connectivity in remote or isolated areas lacking cellular coverage and ensures global coverage.
A comparison of the cellular and satellite connectivity rates is provided in this table.
| Feature | Cellular Rates | Satellite Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Structure | Vary based on network provider, plan type, and usage; often includes bundled packages. | Tend to be higher due to infrastructure costs; typically no bundled packages. |
| Charging Units | Implemented using 1 KB charging units. Can also be billed in larger units such as megabytes (1 MB) or gigabytes (GB). | Implemented using 1 byte charging units for precise billing on data consumption. |
The CMP Dashboard includes a Data Usage chart that shows the total Data usage of all SIMs for a specified duration of time or per account.
SMS Services
Short Message Service (SMS) enables text-based communication between IoT devices. This type of message is useful for IoT device configuration , device information transmission, alerts and error codes.
You can view the usage of Data and SMS for any specified timeline via the CMP dashboard. An example screen capture of the Data and SMS usage charts is shown here.
Voice Services
floLIVE provides precise usage tracking and billing of voice and VoLTE over 3G and LTE networks. Voice services integrate seamlessly with the CMP dashboard, plan management and reporting tools. An example of how Voice services are reported is shown here.
A description of the voice data fields is provided in this table.
| Feature Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Service Type |
The type of service charged |
| Start Time | The time stamp when the call session was initiated. |
| End Time | The time stamp when the call session was terminated |
| Quantity | The duration of the call from Call Answer to Call Termination |
| Quantity Units | All voice sessions are measured in Seconds |
It is important to note that voice consumption is calculated based on a "Rounding Up" method. The "round-up factor" for each voice session is 6 seconds.
An example of how the Round-Up calculation method works is shown in this table
| ICCID | Start Time | End Time | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8935711001100017571 | 2025-09-15 11:09:16 | 2025-09-15 11:10:46 | 84 |
| 8935711001100017571 | 2025-09-15 11:05:01 | 2025-09-15 11:05:09 | 6 |
| 8935711001100017571 | 2025-09-14 10:37:26 | 2025-09-14 10:37:55 | 24 |
NOTE: You should note that the Quantity column is calculated based on a "round-up" figure of 6 seconds.