5 GB
UK 4-network
£8.85a month per active SIM, ex VAT
Order 5 GBStatic and fixed IP SIM cards for routers and cameras
A static IP SIM card gives a 4G router, camera or controller a fixed public address you can connect to directly. What it costs, when you need one and when you don't.
A static IP SIM card, also called a fixed IP SIM card, is a data SIM with a fixed public internet address. Most people look for one when they want to connect to a 4G router, CCTV camera or controller directly, from home, the office or a monitoring platform, and find they can't.
Why an ordinary SIM can't be reached
Every ThingSIM gets a private IP address. A device on a private address can connect out to anything, which is why uploads and cloud apps work, but nothing on the internet can start a connection to it. That is a safe default: a device nobody can reach from the internet can't be attacked from it.
A static public IP changes that for one SIM. The SIM keeps the same public address for as long as you need it, so you can connect to the device by that address from anywhere.
What it costs
A static public IP is £8 a month per SIM, on top of the SIM's data plan, and you add it to any SIM yourself from the portal. A camera on a 5 GB UK 4-network plan at £8.85 a month with a static IP is that plus £8.
Do you actually need one?
| You want to | What to use |
|---|---|
| View a camera through its manufacturer's app | Usually nothing extra: most apps relay through the camera's own outbound connection |
| Connect to a router or camera yourself, by address | A static public IP |
| Forward ports on a 4G router to devices behind it | A static public IP; see port forwarding on a 4G router |
| Reach a fleet of devices from your own systems, without exposing them to the internet | A Private APN or IPSec VPN instead |
Secure the device first
A public address is reachable by anything on the internet, not just you. Before you add one, change default passwords, update the firmware and close anything you don't use. The checklist for securing a device on a public IP walks through it.
Common questions
What is a static IP SIM card?
A data SIM with a fixed public internet address, so you can connect to the device it is in directly. On ThingSIM it is any SIM with the static public IP extra added.
Is a fixed IP SIM the same as a static IP SIM?
Yes. Fixed IP and static IP mean the same thing: the SIM keeps the same public address on every connection, for as long as you need it.
How much is a static IP SIM?
£8 a month per SIM for the static public IP, plus the SIM's data plan. There is no contract.
Do I need a static IP for a 4G CCTV camera?
Only if you want to connect to the camera directly by its address. If the camera's own app works for remote viewing, you usually don't. See why you can't reach a 4G camera remotely.
Is a static IP SIM the same as a private APN?
No. A static public IP makes one device reachable from the internet. A Private APN keeps devices off the internet and joins them to your own network. The comparison guide sets out which fits.
Can I add a static IP to a SIM I already have?
Yes. Add it from the portal to any ThingSIM.
Recommended plan
UK 4-network, 5 GB a month
Roams across all four UK networks and uses whichever is strongest where the device is.
Compare every plan