IoT SIM card for Germany: multi-network on Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and O2
Multi-network SIM with access to all three German networks (Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica O2) via data-roaming agreements, switching automatically to the strongest signal. Germany is an EEA market: permanent IoT roaming is allowed under EU roaming regulation and M2M SIMs are exempt from the consumer 90-day cut-off. 3G was shut down on all three networks in 2021 — plan on 4G LTE, LTE-M or NB-IoT.
Key facts: IoT SIMs in Germany
Why iot.cards for IoT in Germany
Three German networks on one SIM
Data-roaming agreements with Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica O2. The SIM connects to the strongest signal at each location — from Munich to the Baltic — and switches automatically if coverage degrades, with no device reset. Real redundancy against single-carrier rural coverage gaps.
Permanent roaming allowed (EEA)
Germany is an EEA market: permanent use of a European SIM is tolerated for IoT under EU roaming regulation, with no local registration and no deadline. iot.cards M2M SIMs operate there indefinitely, without the 90-day cut-off consumer SIMs suffer.
Post-3G since 2021
All three German operators shut down 3G in 2021; 2G remains as a fallback with retirement expected toward the end of the decade. New deployments should run on 4G LTE, LTE-M or NB-IoT — all supported by the same SIM, with NB-IoT and LTE-M deployed by the main operators.
Europe's logistics crossroads
The same SIM works on 750+ networks across 190+ countries. Trucks and assets crossing the German corridors toward Benelux, Poland, Austria or France keep their connectivity without a SIM swap or a new contract — one platform, billed in euros.
Bulk management via portal and API
Unified portal and REST API: batch provisioning, tags per project or site, usage alerts and HMAC-signed webhooks. Integrate the SIM lifecycle into your systems from the first unit.
Engineering support in English and Spanish
Technical team in Seville, on CET hours (the same time zone as Germany). Onboarding with per-site coverage validation, APN configuration and network-switching tests. 24/7 support with SLA on enterprise plans.
Coverage in Germany
In Germany the SIM connects to Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica O2 via data-roaming agreements and automatically picks the network with the best signal at each location, from the big cities to industrial parks and rural areas. Outside Germany, the same SIM operates on 750+ networks across 190+ countries, including the whole EU.
Networks in Germany
- Deutsche Telekom
- Vodafone Germany
- Telefónica O2 (Germany)
Available technologies
3G was shut down on all three German networks in 2021, and 2G remains as a fallback with retirement expected toward the end of the decade. Any new deployment should plan on 4G LTE, LTE-M or NB-IoT. LPWAN availability varies by operator and area — validate per-site coverage during your pilot with the SIM Test Kit.
Capabilities for deploying in Germany
Beyond basic connectivity, the IoT SIM carries the layers a German deployment needs:
Private APN with IPSec/WireGuard
Dedicated APN with your CIDR range and an IPSec or WireGuard tunnel into your VPC or corporate network. Your German devices send telemetry without touching the public internet — the architecture industrial security officers expect.
See private APNStatic IP from the first SIM
Private static IPv4 per SIM, in a dedicated APN, available from the first unit with no enterprise minimums. For machines reachable from a central platform, cameras and firewalls filtering by IP.
See static-IP SIMREST API for bulk management
Activation, pause, plan change and usage queries by API. CSV or JSON batches, ICCID-keyed idempotency, usage alerts and HMAC-signed webhooks to integrate the SIM lifecycle into your systems.
API documentationPooled data across devices
One pooled data allowance across the whole fleet: heavy users compensate light ones. Useful in mixed deployments of sensors, trackers and routers with uneven usage profiles.
See pooled plansTypical use cases in Germany
- Industrial machinery and OEM telemetry (Industrie 4.0)
- Fleets and logistics on the German corridors (Rhine-Ruhr, Hamburg, the Polish border)
- EV charging points (OCPP)
- Migrating legacy alarms and telemetry after the 2021 3G shutdown
- Smart metering and energy submetering
- 4G/5G video surveillance on construction sites and remote assets
- Industrial routers and SD-WAN for multi-store retail
- Vending machines and micro-markets
- Shared micromobility (e-bikes and scooters)
- Precision agriculture and farm machinery
Pricing and billing
Same pricing structure as the rest of the platform: you pay for the data you use, billed in euros from Spain, with no lock-in. Germany bills in the EU zone — the same zone as Spain.
Pay-as-you-go
From €0.005/MB depending on volume and zone. No per-SIM minimum fee. Ideal for pilots and small fleets.
Pooled data bundles
Monthly packages shared across the whole fleet, with usage alerts and configurable cut-off.
Enterprise
Custom rates with SLA, dedicated private APN and 24/7 support for permanent large-scale fleets in Germany and the EU.
Exact per-zone, per-volume prices are confirmed in the proposal. Request a quote with your estimated usage profile and we send it within 24-48 business hours.
Frequently asked questions about IoT SIMs in Germany
- Is permanent roaming allowed in Germany?
- Yes. Germany is an EEA market: permanent use of a European SIM for IoT is tolerated under EU roaming regulation, with no local registration and no deadline — unlike markets such as Saudi Arabia or Brazil. iot.cards M2M SIMs operate there indefinitely. The full regulatory map is at /recursos/blog/roaming-permanente.
- Which networks does the SIM use in Germany?
- All three national networks: Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Germany and Telefónica O2. The SIM is non-steered: it automatically selects the network with the best signal at each location and switches if coverage degrades, with no intervention or device reset. In rural areas with uneven coverage, switching across three networks makes the difference.
- Do 3G devices work in Germany?
- No. All three German operators shut down 3G in 2021. 2G remains live as a fallback, with retirement expected toward the end of the decade. Any new deployment should run on 4G LTE, LTE-M or NB-IoT; legacy devices must migrate. Our guide is at /recursos/guias/sunset-2g.
- Does the consumer 90-day roaming cut-off apply?
- No. The 90-day fair-use rule affects consumer SIMs. iot.cards SIMs are issued with M2M profiles: they do not expire on inactivity and are not cut off for prolonged roaming in Germany or the rest of the EU.
- Is there LTE-M and NB-IoT coverage?
- Yes. NB-IoT and LTE-M are deployed by the main German operators and available on the networks the SIM uses. For basement meters, battery-powered sensors and low-power devices they are the recommended option. Validate per-site coverage during the pilot.
- Do you offer a private APN and static IP for Germany?
- Yes. We configure a dedicated APN with your CIDR range and an IPSec or WireGuard tunnel into your VPC or corporate network, and static IP is available as an add-on from the first SIM at /sim-iot-ip-fija. The architecture is the same for your whole European fleet.
- How do I test coverage before deploying?
- With the SIM Test Kit (€15 VAT included, 5 SIMs, free shipping to Spain): validate coverage, network switching and your integration before rollout. For large fleets, book a technical call and we review coverage per site.
Request a test SIM for your Germany project
We ship you the SIM Test Kit (€15 VAT included, 5 SIMs, free shipping to Spain) so you can validate coverage and network switching before deploying in Germany, or we book a technical call to review your case and the connectivity architecture of your European fleet.