What is Wireless WAN?

Cellular broadband is faster and more pervasive than ever before — which is great news for the wide area network (WAN). Based on 4G LTE and 5G technology, Wireless WAN is when an organization uses public or private cellular routers or adapters as WAN infrastructure. It’s the new wave of network transformation — enabling connectivity to people, places, and things anywhere with greater simplicity, agility, and security.  

Wireless WAN is the future.

Cellular wireless has always been ideal for failover and connecting critical assets in places wires can’t go, such as in vehicles, field forces, and IoT. However, today’s cellular networks are more pervasive and getting faster with the deployment of Gigabit-Class LTE and 5G. With flat-rate pricing beginning to eliminate overage anxiety, Wireless WAN is becoming the preferred broadband connectivity for branches, stores, and other fixed sites — the last exclusive domain of wired networks. In fact, the percentage of organizations that use 4G/5G for Wireless WAN increased from 41% of respondents in 2018 to 67% in 2021, according to IDG survey results in the State of Wireless WAN 2022 Report.

Connectivity beyond branch sites — and beyond wires

Demand for Wireless WAN routers and adapters with Cellular Intelligence is growing dramatically as organizations expand beyond fixed locations, and as connected fleet vehicles and IoT devices explode in number.  

Improving reliability

Wireless broadband provides a diverse and protected connection that avoids challenges like backhoes and falling trees. Further, with SD-WAN and QoS capabilities, organizations can precisely control network traffic while ensuring high availability.   

Wise Employment decided to go 100% wireless for both its WAN and local-area network (LAN) with Cradlepoint’s all-in-one routers – reducing downtime and improving performance.  

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Strengthening security

Wireless WAN routers have integrated security capabilities beyond wired connections, including SIM card authentication and private APNs, which are carrier-provided private networks.   

BrainBox AI leveraged a Cradlepoint solution for cellular IoT connectivity to help provide a separate and secure network for each deployment of its “smart building” sensors – ensuring the flow of valuable HVAC data.   

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Increasing flexibility

With cloud-managed Wireless WAN routers, 5G and LTE are simple to deploy and easy to relocate. Cloud-managed routers and adapters can be effortlessly moved to a new room or site without the pain and expense of pulling new outside cable.  

Samaritan’s Purse utilizes a Cradlepoint solution to provide reliable connectivity that takes minutes to deploy and enabling this nonprofit to help communities rebuild after disasters. 

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Getting Faster

Cellular-based connectivity goes farther faster than many types of wired connections – especially since the arrival of 5G. These fiber-like speeds help accelerate innovation and expansion of all types of business.   

Accurate data collection for a fleet’s on-board technologies and applications requires fast and reliable connectivity. Seattle Transit implemented Wireless WAN routers to ensure the collection of real-time metrics – including GPS and AVL information.  

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Enabling scalability

From buildings and vehicles to IoT devices and staff, enterprise networks can grow incredibly fast. Cellular networks are designed to support millions of routers and adapters across a seamless nationwide footprint.  

The Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations run by franchisee Henley Enterprises implemented all-in-one hybrid WAN routers at their location to ensure reliable connectivity to support customers nationwide – diminishing downtime and improving efficiency.   

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How to Get Started with Wireless WAN

Sites

Gain flexibility and nonstop reliability in your fixed and temporary sites, branch offices, and stores by deploying LTE or 5G as primary or failover connectivity through centrally managed wireless edge solutions.

Sites

Gain flexibility and nonstop reliability in your fixed and temporary sites, branch offices, and stores by deploying LTE or 5G as primary or failover connectivity through centrally managed wireless edge solutions.

Vehicles

Deliver enterprise-grade connectivity — including LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi — and security throughout your fleet with mobile solutions built for vehicles that can be managed from anywhere.

Vehicles

Deliver enterprise-grade connectivity — including LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi — and security throughout your fleet with mobile solutions built for vehicles that can be managed from anywhere.

loT

Connect, protect, and centrally manage every "thing" your company needs by leveraging purpose-built wireless edge solutions for loT.

loT

Connect, protect, and centrally manage every "thing" your company needs by leveraging purpose-built wireless edge solutions for loT.

SOHO

Equip your organization’s remote employees with secure, high-performance SOHO routers to work from home, and enable your IT team to manage it all from headquarters or elsewhere.

SOHO

Equip your organization’s remote employees with secure, high-performance SOHO routers to work from home, and enable your IT team to manage it all from headquarters or elsewhere.

Cradlepoint will help your organization

Find Your 5G

5G for business certainly isn't "one size fits all." Variations in use cases, spectrum, and network operators abound. Find the 5G wireless networking experience best-suited for your stores, offices, vehicles, and beyond.

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Explore how Cradlepoint can help you unlock the power of LTE and 5G cellular for your network.

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