Across Australia and New Zealand, businesses are adding connected devices to collect data, automate operations and deliver services. But with more devices comes the need for reliable, secure connectivity, and for many, this starts with a SIM card.
Unfortunately, what seems simple on the surface quickly becomes a cost centre. Rigid fixed-data SIM plans are still widely used by providers and they often leave businesses paying for unused data or scrambling to avoid penalties when usage spikes unexpectedly.
Paying for what you might use, or worse, getting penalised for using too much, is a model that doesn’t serve the modern connected business. Whether you’re connecting energy meters, medical equipment, vending machines or payment terminals, every megabyte matters.
That’s why pay-as-you-go IoT SIMs are gaining momentum and helping companies like RedEarth cut costs by over 30 percent.
What Is a Pay-As-You-Go SIM?
A pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SIM plan charges you only for the data your devices consume. There’s no need to predict usage in advance or select a fixed plan tier. You’re billed based on actual activity.
This is different from traditional SIM contracts, where you typically choose a data cap, say 1GB per month, and pay the same whether you use 100MB or 999MB. Worse, going even slightly over often triggers heavy overage charges or throttling.
With a PAYG model:
- If your device is idle, you pay a fixed monthly active fee.
- If your device transmits 2MB this month and 200MB the next, you’re only charged for what’s used.
- No usage = minimal cost. High usage = controlled cost.
This model is ideal for devices with sporadic, seasonal or low-bandwidth needs.
The RedEarth Case Study: 30% Cost Savings
RedEarth Energy Storage is a leading Australian manufacturer of battery storage systems. Their devices are distributed across commercial and residential sites and rely on reliable cellular connectivity to send and receive system data.
Before working with Thinxtra, RedEarth faced several challenges:
- Unexpected data usage caused monthly cost spikes
- Customers in remote or indoor locations experienced inconsistent connectivity
- Their existing SIM solution locked them into one network, limiting flexibility
By switching to Thinxtra’s multi-carrier, PAYG SIMs, RedEarth achieved significant improvements:
- Over 30% reduction in connectivity costs by only paying for actual data used
- Increased uptime and coverage thanks to multi-carrier support
- Improved security and compliance through local data routing and sovereignty
RedEarth didn’t need to overhaul hardware or deal with technical headaches. Thinxtra’s SIMs were designed to be flexible, compatible and easy to manage at scale.
This cost-saving shift not only improved margins for RedEarth, but also enhanced customer satisfaction, a win-win outcome for the business and the end user.
Why Bill Shock Is Still a Risk for Many Businesses
If you’re running a distributed network of connected devices, you already know the risks of data overage charges.
Consider these common examples:
- A vending machine downloads a software update without warning
- A lift monitoring device sends more alerts than usual due to a fault
- A fire alarm system performs a firmware check and pulls extra data
If your SIM plan isn’t flexible, all of these scenarios can result in unexpected charges. And if you have hundreds or thousands of devices in the field, the impact can be dramatic.
The good news? Thinxtra’s PAYG model ensures you never pay for more than what’s used. This helps prevent bill shock, improves budgeting accuracy and allows your business to scale with confidence.
More Than Just Pricing: Why Thinxtra SIMs Stand Out
Of course, pricing is only part of the story. Thinxtra’s cellular SIM solution is designed with enterprise needs in mind, solving several other critical problems:
1. Multi-Carrier Support, Globally
Thinxtra SIMs connect to multiple Tier 1 networks in each country, choosing the best signal available. This reduces dropouts and boosts reliability, especially for mobile or indoor deployments.
2. Onshore Data Routing & Compliance
Data transmitted via Thinxtra SIMs stays onshore (in Australia or New Zealand) whenever possible. This supports compliance for privacy-sensitive applications like medical or payment systems, and aligns with growing local data sovereignty requirements.
3. Remote Device Access Without VPNs
Need to access a device in the field to troubleshoot, reconfigure, or update firmware? Thinxtra enables secure remote access to any connected device in just a few clicks, no VPNs, no relay servers and no agent software required.
This saves time, reduces truck rolls, and helps IT and field teams respond faster when things go wrong.
4. Built-In SIM Management Platform
From a single interface, you can monitor usage, activate or deactivate SIMs, and set alerts or thresholds. Whether you’re managing 10 devices or 10,000, you stay in control.
Who Benefits Most from Pay-As-You-Go IoT SIMs?
While any business with IoT deployments can benefit from flexible connectivity, the impact is especially strong for:
- Facility operators managing fire alarms, lifts, HVAC systems and lighting controls
- Utilities deploying smart meters, leak sensors and outage detection
- Health organisations with connected medical equipment or alert systems
- Logistics and transport using tracking devices and sensors in the field
In short, if your devices don’t use the same amount of data every month, or they need better connectivity coverage, a PAYG model is likely a better fit.
Businesses don’t need to choose between reliability and cost-efficiency. With Thinxtra, you can get both, all while staying compliant and future-ready.
Whether you’re struggling with data overages, frustrated with coverage limitations, or simply tired of rigid contracts, it’s time to explore a smarter solution.
