Data plan issues
This topic describes common issues related to data plans.
What are the differences between individual plans, shared tier plans, and shared pool plans?
Individual plan
You purchase a separate data plan for each Internet of Things (IoT) card. If a card uses more data than its monthly plan allows, the service is suspended. The service automatically resumes the next month. You can also purchase a data add-on to restore the service immediately.
For more information, see Individual plans.
Shared tier plan
Shared tier: Each card in the pool has the same data allowance, such as 100 MB.
Pool: Cards with the same data allowance form a data pool, and the data in the pool is shared among all cards. When the total data allowance for all cards in the pool is used, the service for the cards is not suspended. However, overage fees apply (China Mobile: CNY 0.2/MB, China Telecom: CNY 2/GB, or China Unicom: CNY 4/GB). To avoid overage fees, you can set a data usage-based suspension policy. You can also purchase more cards to expand the pool before the end of the month to cover the overage. Any remaining data expires at the end of the month.
This plan is suitable for scenarios where data usage is consistent and evenly distributed across multiple cards.
For more information, see Shared tier plans.
Shared pool plan
You purchase a data pool. Cards in the pool do not have individual data allowances and share the total data in the pool. When the total data in the pool is used, the service for the cards is not suspended. However, overage fees apply (China Mobile: CNY 3/GB, China Telecom: CNY 2/GB, or China Unicom: CNY 4/GB). To avoid overage fees, you can set a data usage-based suspension policy. You can also purchase more data to expand the pool before the end of the month to cover the overage. This plan is suitable for scenarios where data usage per card is unpredictable.
For more information, see Shared pool plans.
When you select a data allowance tier for individual plans and shared tier plans, note the following:
For low-data plans (100 MB/month or less, or 1 GB/year or less), if a card's monthly data usage exceeds 100 MB, the service is suspended. Purchasing a data add-on does not restore the service. The service automatically resumes the next month.
To restore the service manually, submit a ticket.
For high-data plans from China Mobile (average monthly data usage per card is greater than 100 MB), you must specify the province where the card will be used because of regional restrictions. You can specify only one province.
What is the difference between general-purpose traffic and dedicated traffic?
General-purpose traffic
Allows access to the entire public network.
Dedicated traffic
Allows access to only specified endpoints. After you purchase a dedicated traffic card, you must configure the card's access endpoints in the console. For more information, see Dedicated Service.
What should I do if a card runs out of data, a plan expires, or a card's data expires?
You can purchase data add-ons, renew plans, or expand pools in the console to continue using the service.
Plan type | Card runs out of data | Plan expires | Card's data expires |
Individual plan | Purchase a data add-on | Renew the plan | Not applicable |
Shared tier plan | Activation Card | Renew the plan | Not applicable |
Shared pool plan | Expand the pool | Not applicable | The data is valid for 3 years. After it expires, it can no longer be used. |
For specific instructions, see Top up and renew IoT cards.
Can I change to a different data plan after my current plan expires?
No. You cannot change plans. You can only renew the same plan.