NHS trust secures backup mobile network for remote health services

Medical staff collaborating in a hospital office, working on administrative tasks. Photo: RDNE Stock project/Pexels

Essex Partnership NHS Trust has joined forces with KeySIM to roll out a multi-network IoT SIM solution that delivers on-demand connectivity in locations where conventional networks cannot reach.

The service operates across several UK mobile operators, allowing the trust to maintain steady access even when some providers experience bandwidth constraints. It supports a range of ongoing projects and ensures reliable access where traditional networks fall short.

KeySIM’s IoT SIM entered service in 2023, first being used to back vaccination campaigns during the coronavirus pandemic. Since that time, it has played an important role in maintaining reliable and flexible connectivity, serving as a backup for critical services.

This approach lets the trust set up robust internet links rapidly, removing the need to rely on fixed line infrastructure that can be slow to deploy.

Through the partnership, the trust can deliver consistent service across multiple mobile networks, preserving operational continuity in challenging environments such as remote clinics, temporary testing sites, and mobile health units.

Graham Robinson, Founder of KeySIM, expressed his pride in the collaboration, stating, “We’re incredibly proud to support Essex Partnership NHS Trust and the wider NHS with reliable, flexible connectivity. Knowing that our IoT SIMs are helping frontline services stay connected where it matters most is something we genuinely value.”

Steve Senter, Technical Infrastructure Manager at Essex Partnership NHS Trust, highlighted the benefits of the partnership, remarking, “KeySIM has provided a reliable and flexible connectivity solution supporting teams where Ethernet Networks were temporarily unavailable and alternative Mobile Providers were required.”

KeySIM currently supports over 500 organizations across the UK, providing resilient IoT SIM connectivity that ensures dependable multi-network access for critical applications in sectors such as healthcare transport retail and infrastructure.