Five best practices to optimise 4G LTE network connectivity

4G LTE is a viable enterprise wireless WAN solution for branch network connectivity. It is also the pathway to 5G. Here are five best practices to optimise 4G LTE connectivity.

What is LTE connectivity in Australia?

Compared with standard 4G, LTE offers:

• much higher bandwidth which increases the speed of data transfer
• lower latency resulting in faster response times from the network
• improved spectrum efficiency increasing overall network capacity
•  greater reach in terms of distance than 4G frequencies, creating extra 4G coverage in rural and regional areas
• superior in-building coverage and faster in-building speeds

Five Best Practices to Optimise 4G LTE connectivity

1. Know your Enterprise-grade Equipment

When reliability, performance and control are key, don't rely on low-cost consumer-grade routers, but use  cloud-managed enterprise-grade equipment. Routers are not a 'one size fits all'. Even among enterprise routers, there are significant differences. While a Nighthawk router might be suitable for a small 2-3 person branch, a Cradlepoint router would be the answer for a 200-300 person branch. For remote sites, quality antennas with high gain will also ensure a stable connection.

2. Time and place for on-site Installation and Testing

There is a time and place for 'zero-touch deployment'. The time could be during a pandemic. The place could include the homes of individual employees. However there is also a time and place for professional installation onsite. Proper setup of router and antenna equipment on-site and testing before starting live operations ensures reliable connectivity and mitigates the risk of future issues.

3. Have access to Multiple Local Networks

Having access to multiple 4G/LTE/5G networks is preferable to avoid any blind spots and redundancy, and for failover connectivity. Also, avoid roaming SIMs which are not only expensive but may give a considerably lower performance. Many enterprise grade routers are dual SIM which allow cross-carrier failover. 

4. Remote Cloud Management is critical

Once installed, an intelligent cloud-based platform is crucial to keep control of devices in the field and to avoid having to send IT staff to locations. This is even more relevant in times of limited travel options and social distancing. Traditional SNMP-based systems won't work for 4G connections which rely on dynamic private IP address.

5. Leverage a Managed Service approach

Of course, these best practices can be enforced through in-house management, but using a managed service provider will provide a consistent setup and reliable service at a much lower cost of ownership. MobileCorp offers managed 4G connectivity for a wide range of routers; as well as the Telstra Enterprise Wireless solution powered by Cradlepoint.