1. What a hotel device sends over cellular
A smart hotel covers smart rooms, door locks, self check-in, and in-room control. Door locks, the RCU (room controller), self-service kiosks, and the PMS (hotel management system) report over 4G. The PMS holds reservations, check-in, and room status. The RCU runs air conditioning, lighting, and curtains. Hotels usually need that PMS link, and 4G is what keeps the rooms covered. SimtoLink supplies 4G to hotel groups, with a data pool, a VPDN, and an API into the PMS.
2. Rooms, locks, kiosks, and robots
A hotel link covers rooms, locks, self-service, and energy use. Bandwidth, and how quickly a command has to land, differ by device:
Smart locks and room control
Locks and the RCU report open and close events, energy use, and status over 4G, for remote authorization, energy analysis, and the PMS link.
Self check-in and check-out
Self check-in and check-out kiosks talk to the PMS over 4G, using an ID card, a face check, and self-service check-in.
In-room control and energy
Air conditioning, lighting, and curtains report over 4G, for scene automation, remote control, and energy management.
Service robots
Delivery robots and cleaning robots report location and jobs over 4G, for delivery, patrol, and dispatch.
3. What the hotel link has to cover
- PMS link: Locks and self check-in kiosks have to stay in sync with the PMS, for room status, remote authorization, and ID or face checks.
- Room control: The RCU runs air conditioning, lighting, and curtains, with scene automation and energy reports, plus remote control and energy management.
- Self check-in: Check-in and check-out kiosks need an online identity check and payment. Latency has to stay low so a guest is not left waiting.
- Security and compliance: Guest data and payments need a VPDN, TLS, and an IP allowlist.
- Many device types: Locks, RCUs, kiosks, and service robots are not one fleet. Pick the SIM by device and pool them separately.
4. Which SIM fits which device
Bandwidth and latency differ by device, so the SIM follows the device and the guest journey. Use the table as a starting point:
| Use | Recommended network | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Room-control RCU and self check-in kiosk | 4G | PMS link, live scenes, and online checks |
| Smart locks | NB-IoT / 4G | Unlock log and battery; long NB-IoT battery life |
| Service robots | 4G | Location, jobs, and dispatch; moderate bandwidth |
5. How much data a hotel device uses
One device typically uses about 50–300MB a month. Pool SIMs by device type, keep 20%–30% spare, and use a VPDN to keep the link private.
6. Security for guest data
Treat the link as high security. It needs a VPDN, TLS, and an IP allowlist. SimtoLink provides the VPDN, a private APN, and real-name registration for the SIMs.
7. What SimtoLink would put in the hotel
For room control, self check-in kiosks, and in-room TVs, use a 4G IoT SIM. For smart locks and energy meters, use NB-IoT. Room control has to react as the scene changes, and self check-in has to verify the guest online. SimtoLink plans for 99.9% network availability, a data pool, and an API into the PMS.
8. Opening a hotel rollout
Take a hotel rollout through these stages:
Pick the SIM by device type and check coverage in the target hotel. Set the VPDN or APN and the IP allowlist, and alert at 80% of the data allowance. SimtoLink stays with the project from the first property through the wider group. Contact us for a plan built around those rooms.