Update:
Since writing AIS, I have not (yet_ received any support or assistance, either from the main call center or the direct email into the NB-IoT team.
I'm close to putting this AIS-NB-IoT project on the shelf (since it was only meant to be a "quick impression" test), and moving on to (1) the
SIM5360E 3G Shield and a scheduled (2) LoRaWAN gateway test on Thursday.
My initial impression with AIS NB-IoT is that the service and network coverage is not ready for "serious" Arduino shield development; and so it is better to move on to LoRa testing and SIM5360E_3G testing.
NB-IoT (at least this in the context of these test results) can be summarized as a line-of-site, low data rate, low bandwidth messaging technology with spotty network coverage, at least the network I tested this past weekend.
It's time to move on to other tests and put the AIS NB-IoT shield on the shelf until the coverage and support improves, or I decide that LoRaWAN or the .SIM5360E_3G_Shield do not perform well, comparatively speaking.