How LTE and 5G wireless WAN can transform fixed and temporary locations

 

Post-pandemic recovery has moved away from fixed locations

In the post-pandemic world, customers are more mobile. workers are more distributed, information and applications are increasingly across clouds, and the network edge is expanding.

Wires were necessary for WAN connections when work and computing were confined to stable locations. 

In this new world, we accept that digital transformation can be achieved at speed, because we have lived through accelerated change for the past two years.

It also makes sense that the next phase of digital transformation will focus on increased agility and the continued move away from the restrictions of physical locations and wired connections.

In a highly distributed and changing business climate, organisations need the freedom of secure enterprise-class wireless WAN networking.

 

Credit: Cradlepoint

 

Why wireless WAN works for fixed and temporary locations

Wireless WANs have been transformed in the past two-three years by the growth of LTE and 5G networks, and the development of intelligent 5G native routers. The key features of wireless WAN read like a list of advantages for wireless over wires... 

Rapid availability is the obvious big advantage of a wireless WAN connection. MobileCorp can have a customer location up and running within 24 hours and typically wireless connectivity even with mounting an external antenna can occur in days, rather than the weeks or months of a wired link, and at a fraction of the price. Our NextDay Connect solution provides rapid connectivity for enterprise and business locations without compromising security or performance.

Agile, always-on, resilient connectivity with 5G speeds leaving NBN in its wake and a reduction in downtime - Telstra provides a guaranteed 99.9% uptime guarantee with its 5G Enhanced Enterprise Wireless solution, means organisations have gotten more confident using wireless as their primary connection, either with no wired links or with wired hybrid WANs. Network staff can continuously monitor the quality and strength of the connection and make adjustments for optimal throughput.  

Cloud management allows network staff to securely provision, monitor, analyse and control thousands of devices from anywhere. Advanced out-of-band management support means cellular routers can be reached over the air even it the IP and Ethernet functions are not available.  

Link diversity for many Australian organisations means a second wired connection, often running along  the same physical path as the primary. This is not optimal when the cases of indiscriminate back hoes or widespread riverine flooding for example. A cellular link provides true diversity whether for primary or failover.

 

Policy-based routing and traffic shaping with wireless routers can separate and prioritise traffic based on application, source and destination, or time of day, among other characteristics. This can help ensure that critical traffic is not affected by generic web traffic or large but lower-priority file transfers. Wireless routers can also managed multiple distinct links directing important applications onto the most efficient path or aggregating multiple links to handle peak times.

Bandwidth augmentation is another driver for wireless WANs as we see increasingly demand for large files and video streaming away from fixed locations. Industries such as construction, healthcare,
retail, government, and entertainment are driving wireless WAN deployment using 5G as a functional replacement for fibre. Others are using the inherent flexibility and ample bandwidth of wireless to experiment with augmented reality, enhancing operational productivity and enriching customer experiences.

 

Enterprise-class security is an often overlooked advantage of wireless WANs. Enhanced security capabilities are imperative for enterprise-class networking. Wireless WANsoffer VPNs, application-aware firewalls, and threat management capabilities along with cloud security options to securely connect from the traffic source to the edge of the network. End-to-end encryption, automated public-key infrastructure, and cloaked private address spaces establish the equivalent of private network security over the public Internet.

 

Network segmentation of critical traffic can be achieved using Wireless WANs. Isolating and segmenting distinct types of traffic such as Point-of-Sale terminals, video surveillance footage, HVAC systems, and IoT devices facilitates clear visibility of activity and separates potential attack targets from general traffic.

Air-gapped parallel networks can keep sensitive data and the equipment that uses it separated,
reducing the attack surface and mitigating the opportunities for criminals to gain access to confidential data by breaching a less secure device or application. This can be especially beneficial when deploying new devices or applications at the branch, making it easier to add something new without affecting existing security zones and protocols.

Zero-touch deployment means there is no need for IT personnel to be onsite.   Preconfigured routers, sometimes with a pre-inserted SIM, can be deployed to site for a plug-and-play installation. [NOTE: Should an external antenna be required this would require expertise but a local installer can be utilised. 

 

MobileCorp deploys Australian 5G networks

MobileCorp has deployed many of Australia's first 5G networks including for Marine Rescue NSW and Ticketek. 

At the Westpac Helicopter Base at Botany Bay, Sydney, MobileCorp has installed a Cradlepoint 5G Wideband Adapter that is regularly delivering speeds of 800+Mbps down  and 70 Mbps up. This performance will become commonplace as the 5G signal density grows across Australia.

 

MobileCorp recommends Cradlepoint

Cradlepoint is recognised as a global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G routers, and wireless edge network solutions for mobile, branch and IOT networks.

After launching its first LTE edge router in 2012, Cradlepoint continued to innovate being the first router vendor to move into an SD-WAN cloud management platform with its NetCloud^TM platform. 

NetCloud^TM was the first platform to combine cloud management and software-defined modem technology with software-defined networking, unified edge security and cloud-controlled router endpoints.

In July 2020, Telstra and Cradlepoint teamed up to launch the world's first 5G Enterprise Wireless solution. A few months later, in September 2020, Ericsson announced its acquisition of Cradlepoint for USD$1.1 billion.

 

Cradlepoint LTE and 5G-embedded routers for Australia

When many vendors are just introducing their first 5G routers, Cradlepoint has released its 2nd Generation 5G devices. Currently, the most popular Cradlepoint devices in the Australian market are displayed below. 

 

MobileCorp is one of only 45 Cradlepoint partners to hold the 5G for Enterprise Branch certification which entitles the procurement and installation of the W2005 5G Wideband Adapter.

The W2005 turns existing legacy routers into 5G gateways. The W2005 can be paired with a Cradlepoint router in “captive modem mode” to provide virtual single-endpoint deployment, monitoring, and control. Or, can connect to a third-party router via an Ethernet connection.