What is data pooling?

Data pooling means that a common data quota is used for the M2M SIM cards used.

Data pooling: A pool for active M2M SIMs.

Data pooling refers to a data quota shared by all of a customer's active M2M SIM cards. So instead of setting a separate data volume for each M2M SIM card, all active SIMs are combined in a large pool and the end devices consume the data from a shared quota. If one device consumes more data than others, the lower consumption can compensate for the additional consumption. This procedure makes particular sense if M2M SIM cards with different and fluctuating data requirements are used in a M2M plan . The data from the pool is then offset against each other so that the pool is rarely exceeded due to individual M2M SIMs.

At wherever SIM , we differentiate between a dynamic and a static data pool. With the static data pool, the data quota remains the same for all SIM cards, even if new M2M SIM cards are activated. So if 50 SIM cards are already active and have a data pool of 100 MB, the data pool remains at 100 MB even if five more SIM cards are activated. With the dynamic data pool, on the other hand, the data contingent grows: if another M2M SIM is activated in addition to the 50 SIM cards, the 100 MB data pool for all SIM cards increases by a size specified by the customer, in this example 2 MB per M2M SIM. This means that a total of 110 MB is available in the data pool for the 55 M2M SIM cards.

Alternative data limit: Prevent excess consumption by setting limits.

An alternative to using the data pool can be to set up a data limit. This specifies the maximum amount of data the M2M SIM may consume. If the limit is reached, no more data can be transferred. Whether or not it makes sense to set a data limit depends on the intended use. There are devices that can do without data transmission. However, there are also cases in which data must continue to be transmitted in any case, for example in telemedicine.