Do You Need an Unlimited Fixed IP SIM? The 60-Second UK Data Maths (2026)
One CCTV camera streaming all day can use more than 300GB a month. A water-pump sensor might use less than 1GB.
Both need a fixed IP SIM. Only one needs unlimited data.
Buying the wrong plan costs you either way. Too small, and your cameras go dark when the data runs out. Too big, and you pay around £90 a month for a sensor that only needs £9.50 of data.
This guide answers one question: do you need an unlimited fixed IP SIM, or will a capped plan do the job? You'll do the maths in 60 seconds, see the real 2026 prices and know which plan to order.
👉 In a hurry? Compare every GleeSim fixed IP SIM plan →
Why do normal data SIMs fail for remote equipment?
Short answer: Most standard UK mobile data SIMs sit behind CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT). That means hundreds of customers share one public IP address, so nobody on the internet can reach your device directly. A fixed IP SIM gives your router its own address that never changes.
Think of CGNAT as a block of flats with one front door and no flat numbers. The postman can't find you. A fixed IP gives your device its own front door with its own number.
That's why port forwarding, remote NVR viewing and IP-whitelisted VPNs break on ordinary SIMs. If you want the full explanation, read why CCTV, POS and IoT devices need a fixed IP.
Once you know you need a fixed IP, the next question is how much data you need.
How much data does 4G CCTV use? The one-line formula
Short answer: Multiply the camera's upload speed in Mbps by 324 to get gigabytes per month of non-stop streaming. One camera at 1 Mbps uses about 324GB a month. Four cameras at 2 Mbps each use about 2,600GB.
Here's the maths, kept simple:
1 Mbps running all day = 0.45GB an hour = 10.8GB a day = 324GB a month
Write down your numbers and use the table.
|
What's on the SIM |
Typical monthly data |
Plan that fits |
|
Sensor, meter or PLC sending small readings (M2M / IoT telemetry) |
Under 1GB |
2GB fixed IP SIM |
|
Router you log into for remote maintenance a few times a week |
1–5GB |
2GB, or a capped plan with headroom |
|
CCTV recording to an on-site NVR; you watch only when an alarm fires |
10–80GB |
100GB multi-network |
|
You watch 1 hour a day of live footage at 4 Mbps |
~54GB from viewing alone |
100GB, or unlimited if several people view |
|
1 camera streaming 24/7 to a cloud or monitoring centre at 1 Mbps |
~324GB |
Unlimited 5G |
|
4 cameras streaming 24/7 at 2 Mbps each |
~2,600GB |
Unlimited 5G (check fair-use terms) |
|
Site office: CCTV + laptops + Wi-Fi for staff (MBB) |
Hard to predict |
Unlimited 5G |
The rule nobody tells you: where your cameras record matters more than how many you have. If they record on site and you only peek in, a capped plan is enough. If they stream to the cloud all day, you need unlimited.
Not sure what bitrate your cameras use? Look in the camera or NVR settings under "video stream" or "bitrate". Use the sub-stream figure for remote viewing and the main stream figure for cloud recording.
Low-data devices? See what 2GB really runs on a fixed IP SIM.
Unlimited vs capped fixed IP SIM: what each one costs in 2026
These are real GleeSim list prices, per month, excluding VAT, as of October 2026. The lowest price is on the longest contract.
|
Plan |
Networks |
Data |
Monthly price (ex VAT) |
Best for |
|
Multi-network, UK/EU/USA roaming |
2GB |
£9.50–£15.99 |
Sensors, meters, M2M controllers |
|
|
Vodafone, O2 & Three |
100GB |
£165.99–£199.99 |
Critical sites where uptime matters more than volume |
|
|
Vodafone UK |
Unlimited |
£89.99–£99.99 |
CCTV streaming, site offices, heavy remote access |
|
|
EE UK |
Unlimited |
£89.99–£110.00 |
Sites where EE is the strongest network |
|
|
Three UK & Ireland |
Unlimited |
£89.99–£115.00 |
Sites where Three 5G is strongest |
The surprise in this table
Unlimited single-network data is cheaper than 100GB multi-network data.
So the real choice isn't "how much data?". It's "how much data, and how much risk can I take if one network goes down?"
- Pick unlimited single-network when you use lots of data and one network is strong at your site.
- Pick capped multi-network when the site must never go offline (alarm monitoring, healthcare, utilities) and your data use is moderate. If one mast fails, the SIM moves to another network.
- Pick 2GB when your device sends small readings. Paying for unlimited here wastes about £80 a month per SIM, which is almost £1,000 a year per device.
Quotable: "Unlimited data fixes a volume problem. Multi-network fixes a downtime problem. Know which one you have before you buy."
👉 Order your fixed IP SIM today. Same-day dispatch on in-stock orders →
Public static IP or private APN: which one does your setup need?
Short answer: Choose a public static IP when an outside system, such as your phone app or a monitoring centre, must connect directly into your router. Choose a private APN when your devices should stay off the public internet and talk only inside your own closed network. GleeSim's Vodafone and EE unlimited plans list both.
|
Your situation |
What to use |
|
Monitoring centre connects in to view your cameras |
Public static IP + firewall whitelist |
|
Hundreds of IoT meters reporting to your own server |
Private APN |
|
Engineers log in from anywhere |
Public static IP + VPN (never open admin pages to the internet) |
|
Device only sends data out to a cloud platform |
Standard data SIM may be enough. Check before paying extra. |
Safety tip: A fixed IP is an address, not a lock. Change default passwords, update router firmware, close unused ports and use a VPN. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre gives the same advice for connected cameras.
For the networking detail, see fixed IP vs dynamic IP for CCTV, IoT and remote access.
5 questions to answer before you order
- Where does the video or data go? It stays on site, goes to the cloud or goes to a monitoring centre.
- What is the bitrate × hours × devices? Use the formula above and add 30% for busy weeks.
- Which network is strongest at the exact spot? Coverage maps like Ofcom's checker are a starting point. A steel cabinet or a basement can cut signal badly. GleeSim checks the masts near your postcode for free and tells you which network to pick.
- Can my router take it? It needs the right 4G/5G bands and APN settings. Industrial routers such as Teltonika RUT241, RUT956 or RUTX50 work well. GleeSim can supply the SIM only, or the SIM and router configured and ready to plug in.
- How long is the job? Temporary site? Choose the shortest term. Permanent install? The 24-month term gives the lowest monthly price.
Why UK businesses buy fixed IP SIMs from a boutique Scottish provider
GleeSim is a boutique UK telecom company based in Livingston, Scotland. It's the trading name of Premier Mobile Solutions GB Ltd, and the team has 30 years of combined telecom experience.
We don't sell one SIM to everyone. We design bespoke connectivity for SMEs, corporates and enterprise:
- M2M and IoT SIMs for meters, EV chargers, trackers and industrial controllers
- Fixed IP SIMs with a public static IPv4 or a private APN, on Vodafone, EE, Three or multi-network
- MBB (mobile broadband) for site offices, construction, events and backup internet
- Business mobile contracts for your team's phones, with or without handsets
- Hardware or SIM only. Routers, antennas and devices supplied pre-configured, or just the SIM.
What you get that a big network's business desk often won't give you: a real person who answers in UK hours, flexible terms, same-day dispatch on in-stock orders and an honest answer when a smaller plan will do.
Running 10, 100 or 1,000 SIMs across several sites? Talk to us about a bespoke plan →
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an unlimited fixed IP SIM for CCTV?
Only if your cameras stream continuously to the cloud or a monitoring centre, or several people watch live footage every day. Cameras that record to an on-site NVR and are viewed occasionally usually fit inside a 100GB plan. Use the formula: Mbps × 324 = GB per month for non-stop streaming.
How much data does a 4G CCTV camera use per month?
A camera streaming non-stop at 1 Mbps uses about 324GB a month. At 2 Mbps it uses about 648GB. Watching live footage for one hour a day at 4 Mbps adds about 54GB a month.
Why can't I reach my camera remotely on a normal data SIM?
Most standard UK mobile SIMs use CGNAT, which shares one public IP address between many users. Incoming connections can't find your router. A fixed IP SIM gives your router its own public address, so remote viewing and port forwarding work.
Is unlimited single-network or capped multi-network better?
Unlimited single-network is better for heavy data use where one network is strong. Capped multi-network is better for critical sites that must stay online if one network fails. At GleeSim, unlimited 5G starts at £89.99 a month ex VAT, and 100GB multi-network starts at £165.99 ex VAT.
Can I get a fixed IP SIM without a long contract?
Yes. GleeSim offers short-term options. The Vodafone unlimited 5G fixed IP SIM starts on a 90-day minimum term, then rolls monthly with 30 days' notice. 12- and 24-month terms cost less per month.
Does "unlimited" mean there is no fair-use policy?
Ask before you order. Unlimited business plans can carry a fair-use policy. GleeSim confirms the current terms in writing for your plan, so a 24/7 multi-camera site never gets a surprise.
Can GleeSim supply the router as well as the SIM?
Yes. You can buy the fixed IP SIM on its own or as a bundle with a 4G/5G router configured with your APN and IP settings, ready to plug in.
- Under 2GB a month? Buy the 2GB fixed IP SIM and save around £1,000 a year per device.
- Moderate data, zero downtime allowed? Buy 100GB multi-network.
- Cameras streaming all day or a busy site office? Buy unlimited 5G fixed IP from £89.99/month ex VAT.
Do the maths once and buy the right plan. That's the difference between connectivity that pays for itself and a monthly bill you keep paying for nothing.
Choose your fixed IP SIM. Same-day dispatch, UK support → Multi-site or enterprise? Get a free mast check and bespoke quote →
Back to the main guide: The Ultimate Guide to Unlimited Fixed IP SIM Cards