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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hologram.io/llms.txt

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Activating SIM cards is easy with Hologram. Whether you are activating one or one thousand devices, you can quickly activate SIM cards in your dashboard using this step-by-step guide.

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How activation works in your dashboard

During the activation process, you will select a data plan for your new SIMs, review coverage and rates, set data usage limit preferences, organize your SIMs with tags or name prefixes, then finally pay and activate the SIMs so that they can connect for the first time. If you are activating SIMs for the first time, please note that you’ll need to add payment details and a billing address to complete the activation process. Learn more about adding a billing address.
Limited access: Learn more about Test Mode and streamline your deployments by contacting our sales team.
You can navigate away from and return to the activation process at any time without losing your progress. Your progress is saved until you log out.
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Step 1 – Add SIMs to activate

First, enter the ICCIDs of the SIMs you want to activate. You can add SIMs individually, by entering a range, or by list upload using a CSV file. You can enter ICCIDs or EIDs when activating SIMs. Read about how to find SIM ICCIDs

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Enter SIMs individually by ICCID

Enter an ICCID by typing or copy/paste. You can add multiple ICCIDs separated by a comma, space, or line break. Barcode scanners can help quickly enter ICCIDs using the bardcode printed on each SIM card.
Enter ICCIDs individually

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Enter a range of SIMs

To choose a range of SIMs, enter the first and last ICCIDs in the range of SIMs to activate. You can find these ICCIDs printed on the box of SIMs you receive as the “ICCID Start” and “ICCID End”.

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Upload a CSV

You can add a list of SIMs by uploading a list of ICCIDs in a CSV file using the template linked on the page. Click the Download this template link to download the CSV template, or use the format shown below this step.Upload CSV
CSV template format
ICCID
YOUR_ICCID_1234567890
YOUR_ICCID_1234567891
YOUR_ICCID_1234567892
Once the ICCIDs are successfully verified, you will see the ICCIDs displayed in a table along with the profiles installed on the SIM, which determines the coverage and data plans available to the SIM. If there are any errors when verifying an ICCID, you will see a red or yellow notification callout with an explanation. 
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Step 2 – Select coverage and rates

After entering SIMs, you can choose from data plans available to those SIMs. Data plans define the coverage and pricing available to a SIM, based on its installed connectivity profile(s).
Activation step 2 - Choose coverage and rates, selecting a data plan
The page only shows data plans that have coverage or favorable rates for the SIMs you have entered. However, you can display all data plans available to your account by toggling off the Show only recommended plans switch at the bottom of the page. If you have contracted rates available to your organization this reads Show all data plans.Any data plans without coverage or negotiated rates for the SIMs you’ve selected are marked in the list.
Activation step 2 - Show all available data plans including those without coverage or negotiated rates
 
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Step 3 – Review coverage and rates

Next, you’ll review all of the rates and coverage details for the data plan you’ve selected.
Activation step 3 - Review coverage and rates, setting data usage limits
Optional. Here you can also set data usage limits to pause SIMs automatically if they use over a certain amount of data to help avoid unexpected usage or charges. SIMs can use unlimited data without a data limit set. Read more about data usage limits.
Activation step 3 - Review coverage and rates, setting data usage limits
 
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Step 4 – Organize SIMs with name prefixes and tags

Optional. In this step you can rename your SIMs using a custom prefix, or add tags to help you better manage and organize your fleet. Tags are an especially useful way to organize and report on your fleet, and are useful to get notified of events for specific groups of SIMs when creating alerts.
Activation step 4 - Configure SIMs with name prefixes and tags
 
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Step 5 – Review and activate

You’re almost there!In the final step, you have the chance to review all the selections you have made so far, confirm payment information and activate your device.
Activation step 5 - Review charges, choose payment method, and activate SIMs
If your account is prepaid and draws down from an account balance, you can set up account auto-refill to ensure that your devices never go offline due to insufficient funds. Read more about auto-refill.An auto-refill card appears in the page if you have not yet set up auto-refill for your organizationAfter configuring auto-refill you'll see auto-refill configuration in the Payment method card 
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Step 6 – Set the APN for your device

Once you click Pay and activate, you will see a final confirmation screen with a reminder to set the APN for your device before you are taken back to your dashboard. Read more about setting the APN for your device.
After activation, you'll be prompted to set your device's APN based on the profiles installed on your SIMs
 

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Activating SIMs out of Test Mode

SIMs in Test Mode will automatically activate after their free testing period ends with no downtime or action required on your part. Learn more about Test Mode. If your devices have limited connectivity windows or other constraints, you can force activate them out of Test Mode. This can also be used to activate SIMs with legacy Global-1 (G1) profiles, which experience a brief disconnection when activating to update profile states.

SIM connectivity overview

How to find SIM ICCIDs and EIDs

Read more about data plans, pricing, and coverage

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Activating SIMs using the REST API

REST API: Activate SIMs (bulk)

Activate SIMs (bulk) POST /links/cellular/bulkclaim

Activate SIMs out of Test Mode

Force-activate SIMs that are in Test Mode

Set data usage limits

Configure per-SIM data and SMS limits