--- title: "Activate mobile data with your Card Reader or Smart Terminal" slug: "mobile-data-plan-for-helcim-hardware" description: "Get 4G/LTE for your Helcim Smart Terminal. This guide covers the benefits, setup instructions, and costs of the Helcim mobile data plan." updated: 2026-02-10T21:22:35Z published: 2026-02-10T21:22:35Z canonical: "learn.helcim.com/mobile-data-plan-for-helcim-hardware" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.helcim.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Activate mobile data with your Card Reader or Smart Terminal Want to take payments anywhere with your [Helcim Smart Terminal](/v1/docs/what-is-the-helcim-smart-terminal) or [Card Reader](/v1/docs/about-the-card-reader-gen-3), even without Wi-Fi? The Mobile Data Plan gives you reliable 4G/LTE connectivity, perfect for businesses on the go or as a backup for unstable internet. We've made it simple to get started. This article will walk you through the self-service process to activate your data plan and enable mobile data directly on your terminal. --- **In this article** - [Which devices have mobile data?](/v1/docs/mobile-data-plan-for-helcim-hardware#which-devices-have-mobile-data) - [Benefits of the Mobile Data Plan](/v1/docs/pos-data-plan-for-smart-terminals#benefits) - [How to get started](/v1/docs/pos-data-plan-for-smart-terminals#how-to-get-started) - [Tips for conserving data](/v1/docs/mobile-data-plan-for-smart-terminals#tips-for-conserving-data) - [Next steps](/v1/docs/pos-data-plan-for-smart-terminals#next-steps) - [FAQs](/v1/docs/mobile-data-plan-for-smart-terminals#faqs) ## Which devices have mobile data? --- Our mobile data plan can be enabled for the following Helcim devices. - [Helcim Smart Terminal](/v1/docs/using-the-helcim-smart-terminal) (Gen 1 or Gen 2) - [Helcim Card Reader](/v1/docs/using-helcim-card-reader) (Gen 3 only) The data plan is **free until April 1, 2026**. After that, it's just **$7.00 USD** or **$9.00 CAD** per month on a flexible, month-to-month basis. ## Benefits of the mobile data plan --- The Mobile Data Plan could benefit your business in the following ways: - **Fast and reliable:** 4G/LTE data connectivity ensures quick transactions without relying on potentially unstable Wi-Fi networks. - **Simple setup:** Once you have your SIM card, you can activate the plan yourself right from the terminal. - **Secure transactions:** Maintains a secure connection for processing payments, even in areas with limited or unreliable internet coverage. | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/settings.png) | The plan includes a free, multi-network SIM card (2G, 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, and NB-IoT compatible). | | --- | --- | ## How to activate your data plan --- Getting started is a simple, two-part process. --- ### Get and install your SIM card Before you can activate the plan, you need a Helcim SIM card. **For new Smart Terminal or Card Reader orders:** Your Smart Terminal will arrive with the SIM card pre-installed. You can skip ahead to the next section. **For existing owners of a 1st generation Smart Terminal:** You can request a free SIM card by contacting our support team at 1-877-643-5246 or by submitting a support ticket. Once it arrives, follow these steps to install it. - Power off your Smart Terminal. - Remove the back cover and the battery. - Insert the SIM card into the slot (Standard size: 15mm x 25mm). - Reassemble the Smart Terminal and power it back on. --- ### Activate the plan on your terminal Once the SIM card is installed, you can activate your data plan directly from the Smart Terminal or Card Reader. **Step 1: Activate the Data Plan** 1. Make sure your device is updated to the latest software version. 2. From the main screen, tap **More**, and then **Settings**. 3. Navigate to **Hardware Settings**, then tap **Network**. 4. Toggle the **Mobile data plan** switch to ON. 5. Follow the on-screen steps to review the terms and activate your plan. ![Activating the mobile data plan on the Helcim Smart Terminal](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/enable-mobile-data-plan.png) **Step 2: Enable the Mobile Data Connection** 1. After the plan is successfully activated, **restart your device**. This is a required step for the new settings to take effect. 2. Once your device has restarted, log back in and go to **Settings**. 3. Navigate to **Hardware Settings**, then tap **Network**. 4. Tap on **Internet connectivity**. 5. Toggle the **Mobile data** switch to **ON**. ![Enabling mobile data connection on the Helcim Smart Terminal](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/enable-mobile-data-connection(2).png) | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/sparkle.png) | Your Smart Terminal or Card Reader will now connect to the 4G/LTE network. You should see the mobile data signal icon in the status bar at the top of your screen. | | --- | --- | ## Next steps --- Now that your mobile data is active, you're ready to take payments anywhere! Check out these other helpful articles about our payment devices: - [Conserving data on the Smart Terminal](/v1/docs/smart-terminal-data-conservation-guide) - [Set up the Helcim Card Reader (3rd Generation)](/v1/docs/set-up-the-card-reader-gen-3) - [Set up your Helcim Smart Terminal](/v1/docs/set-up-your-helcim-smart-terminal) --- ### FAQs **How do I request a SIM card?** If you're ordering a new Smart Terminal or Card Reader, it will come pre-installed. If you are a previous owner of the 1st generation Smart Terminal, please contact our support team at 1-877-643-5246 to request your free SIM card. **How do I activate/deactivate my Mobile Data Plan?** You can do this yourself! On your Smart Terminal, go to **Settings > Hardware Settings > Network** and toggle the **Mobile data plan** switch. **What is the monthly charge?** The data plan is free until April 1, 2026! After that, it's just $7.00 USD or $9.00 CAD per month on a flexible, month-to-month basis. **Can I use data for updates?** No, firmware and app updates require a Wi-Fi connection because of their large size. **Can I use my own SIM?** Yes, you can. However, to guarantee connectivity we recommend you use the Helcim provided SIM. If using your own, you will need a Standard SIM (15mm x 25mm). We do not recommend using a smaller SIM with an adapter, as it may not be recognized or could get stuck.