5 Business Use Cases for Cellular Connectivity

Connectivity is king in today’s world, with a majority of the global population reliant upon digital connections for work, education, shopping, security and social interactions. Most Americans say fast, reliable Internet access is no longer a luxury but a basic necessity, according to various studies.

Nevertheless, conventional high-speed broadband options are not always readily available where we need it. There are certain applications and locations that simply can’t be reached by wired telecom infrastructure.

Cellular connectivity is an increasingly viable option for a variety of applications, thanks to continued enhancements of mobile networks. Emerging 5G broadband cellular networks that support multigigabit data transmission speeds further extend the possibilities.

Here are five important business use cases for cellular connectivity:

1. IoT Applications

IoT devices have typically required LAN or Wi-Fi connections to transmit data across private networks or the public Internet, which meant they were tethered to specific locations where those options were available. However, cellular networks provide near-global coverage with no additional infrastructure investments. IoT devices only require standard SIM cards to connect to cellular networks. More important, the greater speeds and capacity of 5G can support bandwidth-intensive use cases that require always-on connections with extremely low latency.

2. Popup Locations

A variety of businesses establish temporary “popup” locations for limited periods in order to provide space for seasonal events, test new products or solutions, conduct market research or enhance brand awareness. Although they aren’t permanent facilities, they usually require point-of-sale connectivity with the same reliability and security of a permanent facility.

The problem is that the lead time for establishing traditional WAN services is typically measured in months, which simply isn’t practical for the fleeting nature of popups. However, cellular network connections can be established quickly with minimal involvement of IT.

3. Digital Signage

Connecting digital signage solutions to the data network allows organizations to synchronize content across multiple devices, with the ability to update and change messaging from a central point of control. However, traditional connectivity options such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi require significant infrastructure and tech support — and those options may not even be possible for some outdoor environments.

Cellular networks deliver the bandwidth necessary for such applications with none of infrastructure, setup or maintenance requirements. 5G networks will enable even faster content delivery. It allows companies to deliver higher-resolution content and update it more frequently without worrying about latency issues. 5G also opens up other possibilities such as live streaming and the use of 3-D holographic imaging.

4. Remote Broadband

Internet connectivity is a challenge in rural and remote areas without reliable broadband. Last-mile fiber networks are costly in sparsely populated areas, and physical barriers such as hills, mountains, forests and bodies of water interfere with line-of-sight Wi-Fi connections. Gaps in the electric grid further complicate matters.

However, remote locations can establish Internet connectivity over broadband cellular networks, which are accessible with portable wireless hotspots from anywhere within the 20-mile range of a cell tower. 4G cellular data transmission speeds are competitive with DSL, low-speed cable and satellite offerings, and emerging 5G solutions should be on par with high-speed fixed broadband options such as cable.

5. Managed Failover

A recent survey found that U.S. business experience an average of 501 hours of Internet downtime each year, yet more than half have no formal network backup plan in place. Managed failover solutions enable continued Internet connectivity by automatically redirecting traffic over high-speed cellular networks — without the need for any manual intervention.

How SageNet Can Help

The absence of cable or other physical connectivity options shouldn’t prevent you from extending broadband access to the people and places who need it. Through our SageCONNECT practice, we provide customers with a full suite of connectivity options — including cellular — to match their precise requirements. Contact us to learn more.