Business has forever changed with millions of employees working from their homes, on the road or in other remote locations. Staying connected to customers, family and friends can sometimes prove challenging in these conditions. If you need permanent, reliable access to the Internet, a cellular router may be the best solution to help you connect. Cellular routers can provide a fast, secure and resilient enterprise-grade network that changes the work-from-anywhere experience for good.
What are Cellular Routers?
Cellular routers are portable devices that connect to the Internet through the cellular gateway. This wireless interface makes it easy to connect to tablets, computers, cell phones, IoT technology and more. And, unlike a standard router that accesses the Internet via cable, cellular routers allow you to access the Internet through a cellular data network – eliminating the running of or access to cable, telephone or fiber-optic lines.
What do Cellular Routers Do?
Cellular routers come in two types. Bundled routers with built in modems or modular routers that need a separate cellular modem. You need the modem to connect to the internet. The cellular router only uses the Local Area Network (LAN) to access data directly between connected devices or the LAN and the web. A cellular router connects to the carrier network, then uses the received signal to securely route data between the connected LAN devices and their endpoints. It allows businesses to provide data connections virtually anywhere. They come in a wide range of structural specifications and strengths. Cellular routers that have dual SIMs can also automatically connect to an alternative cellular network to ensure maximum uptime.
The ability to move while connected to the Internet is a major advantage of cellular broadband. Most people already enjoy mobile broadband on a web-powered cell phone. A cellular router takes this easy access and creates a Local Area Network (LAN) for all your mobile or portable wireless devices. It can be used as a primary wide area network (WAN) link, or in a situation where traditional access is not available or implementation is not cost-effective.
Example Applications
- Industry – agriculture, construction, oil refineries, factories, manufacturers or warehouses require routers with strong features such as zone coverage and private access over blanket coverage with traditional Wi-Fi to monitor equipment, control heating and cooling equipment, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance and more. Diary farms can run their home, office, farm robotics and keep track of their tagged livestock throughout the farm.
- Energy – wind, solar and smart grid applications rely heavily on the reliable connectivity of cellular routers.
- Digital Signage – durable in extreme weather conditions of both heat and cold, cellular routers ensure maximum uptime.
- Transportation – the portability of cellular routers to be installed in buses, trains, tractors and other vehicles allows these businesses data connections to collect fare, passenger counts, and telematics, have digital signage, and provide Wi-Fi connections to passengers.
- Traffic Management – out with the old and in with the new, cellular routers are replacing, copper and fiber with low cost, easy to deploy cellular connectivity.
- Mining – cellular routers provide the important safety needed connection for mining operations that are commonly in areas without traditional Internet capabilities.
- Homeschooling or Virtual Schooling – students have reliable access to the Internet anywhere they may go.
- Work-at-Home, Second Homes, Portable Offices, RV’s – the convenient portable nature of the cellular routers allows users to work from anywhere.
- Rental Properties, Airbnb’s, BnB’s – property owners use cellular routers as their guest-only Wi-Fi options to keep their private network system secure.
Benefits of Cellular Routers
- No Viable Internet Service – cellular routers can be life-saving for people working in rural areas and groups who need to be mobile or where there is slow or no access to traditional wired connections and modems.
- Backup System – if you need uninterrupted access to the Internet and your traditional wired services goes down or a line it accidentally cut, cellular routers provide a reliable backup option.
- Portable for Travel – cellular routers work where traditional routers won’t, giving staff on the constant go such as sales associates, delivery personnel, and service technicians, those working in remote locations or those wanting to stay connected while on vacation or working at their cabin or mobile home reliable and secure Internet connection.
- Easily Share Internet – with many different providers available and the portability to go anywhere you can easily give outside users access without comprising reliability, security or speed.
- No Need to Rely on Public Access – when away from your home or business, cellular routers give you the reliability and security you need for not only your personal use, but also for employee access on a job site or company outing.
There are a range of proven, purpose-built cellular router options available. Any office, business or residence that is outside of other high speed carriers serviceable areas, that have cellular connectivity available at that location is a candidate for this service. With cellular data throughput speeds of up to 100 Mbps, cellular broadband may be the solution for you’ve been looking for.
REACH continues to stay on the forefront of communications technology and works with you to evaluate your needs, provide and explain the solution that best fits those needs and can assist you in choosing and managing the best carrier, device or software to solve your work-from-anywhere challenges. REACH can remotely monitor routers and Wi-Fi gateways to make sure there are no issues, isolate faster data bands to provide fast reliable speeds, or make adjustments if there are changes to the networks. From concept through installation, let REACH help you be proactive in ensuring you are staying connected. Schedule a free signal evaluation by contacting Ryan at 715-298-4414 or fill out our contact form.