Enterprise wireless connectivity is mandatory for many businesses. That applies to people using devices and autonomous equipment. For example, processing machines or robotics in a warehouse that require remote monitoring. Or staff in the field who need reliable, around-the-clock communications with fellow team members, different offices, vendors/suppliers, and customers.
Remote business wifi solutions come down to three options:
- Broadband (fiber optic or copper wire)
- LTE (cellular service)
- Satellite (Starlink)
Far and away, the most commonly turned to option in remote areas is LTE. Many times, broadband isn’t an option. Satellites through Starlink are increasing in popularity. However, because it’s relatively new, it’s yet to become the go-to choice for enterprise connectivity. It’s also far more expensive to deploy, and the service is more expensive compared to LTE.
Great, blog over. Rely on LTE for remote enterprise connectivity. Well, not so fast. Choosing LTE and making LTE work in your location or work environment are two different topics.
Let’s explore why and how your remote worksites, offices, factories, or team members in the field may have to do more than carry a cell phone with them if they want business-grade — or even acceptable wireless service.
LTE Signal Strength Vs Service Speed
LTE (a cellular phone service connection) is the first consideration when working remotely. But there’s a lot to understand about using it for remote work. First and foremost, bars are not speed. Let us say that again and in more detail. The LTE service bars on your mobile device do not directly indicate the speed of your LTE service. They only represent the strength of your LTE service.
Next, you must understand that there are different LTE signals. This isn’t a difference between 5G and 4G. Even within those classifications, there are differences.
You can have 5G connections that are lightning fast, and ones that are very slow. Think of your signal as roadways. Sometimes you’re on an interstate and traveling 65mph. Other times, you’re on a side street traveling 30mph. The bars on your mobile device simply indicate whether you’re on a road and how many wheels are connected to it. It doesn’t relate at all to the speed limit of that road. Instead, the speed is determined by other factors.
Why Are Some LTE Speeds Slower than Others?
Not all LTE service plans are the same. Nor are all LTE signals. Understanding the differences will help you make the right choices to ensure your team has the connectivity and performance it needs when working away from the office.
Understanding Data Plans and Prioritization
LTE plans are split into two categories: prioritized and deprioritized data plans. Typically, the more you pay for service, the more likely you are to have prioritized data. That means you’ll have the fastest possible speed from an LTE tower. Conversely, the less a plan costs — especially if it is from a reseller — the more likely you are to have deprioritized data.
Deprioritized data means your connection needs are served last, resulting in slower speeds. The good news is that businesses rarely use deprioritized plans.. They have (or should have) a business-grade service plan providing the fastest possible speeds to their equipment and devices. If you’re working remotely without prioritized data, you should upgrade your LTE service plan.
Now for the tricky part. Having prioritized data doesn’t guarantee high-speed service in remote areas.
The Reason LTE Speeds Are Slower In Remote Areas
The speed of LTE service in remote areas is determined by distance and technology.
The first factor that comes into play is your distance from your provider’s service tower. The farther you are away, the weaker your signal and the slower your speed will be. In urban areas, you are often only blocks away from a tower. In rural areas, the nearest service tower could be miles away.
The next factor impacting LTE speed is the signal’s frequency.
An LTE signal is a radio wave, similar to those you listen to using a car radio. But the waves are in a different bandwidth (not AM or FM). That’s why your car radio can’t detect LTE signals.
In rural areas, LTE signals are transmitted in a “low-band spectrum.” That includes 600 MHz, 700 MHz, and 850 MHz. It isn’t done to punish rural areas. It’s a necessity. The low band spectrum travels farther and penetrates objects like trees better.
Using the low-band spectrum is what allows LTE towers to deliver services from miles away. In developed areas, LTE providers use the mid- and high-band spectrum. That includes 1.7 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.5 GHz, and even mmWave. Those support much faster speeds, but travel much shorter distances. Understanding the difference in band spectrum performance helps you understand why service bars on your device do not equal speed.
Is Prioritized Data Worth It?
You may be wondering why you should upgrade to a prioritized data plan if you primarily work in rural areas. A prioritized data plan ensures you get the best out of slow speeds. Often, those are functional enough for many work tasks. However, being de-prioritized on a slow tower may make doing anything beyond placing calls impossible.
How To Get Great Cell Service In Remote Areas
Your teams, facilities, or remote work locations don’t have to be constrained by the area’s LTE infrastructure. There are enterprise wireless solutions that create high-speed connectivity for short-term projects or permanent locations.
Portable Cell Sites
Your first option for improving LTE speeds is a portable cell site. Those are also called a COW (cell on wheels) or a COLT (cell on light truck).
A portable cell site is a temporary version of a regular cell tower. Instead of being mounted into the ground, the tower is mounted on a trailer, skid platform, or truck, allowing it to be transported and deployed where and when needed.
A portable cell site setup contains all the antennas, radios, power supplies, and a mast. It’s a ready roll, all-in-one solution. It can transmit to each device wirelessly, just like a ground-based tower. When needed, it can also be linked directly to servers or networks through fiber or other wired connections.
Portable Satellite Internet
It’s worth noting that the lightest and simplest to deploy method for remote wireless connectivity is the Starlink mini. It is a small panel, larger than a standard business letter. It weighs very little and includes a self-contained router. The Starlink Mini can even be run off a portable battery. The same type you’d use to charge your phone on a trip. For all of its upsides, it is not an enterprise-level solution. It also faces challenges in areas without a clear view of the sky. Latency (the delay between input and action) can also be a significant issue. Those factors mean the Starlink Mini cannot always be relied on for business connectivity — especially video conferencing. But it can be a good option for a small team in the field needing a no-nonsense way of temporary connectivity. We consider the Starlink Mini a use-case-specific solution that should only be in the IT solutions tool chest for some companies.
The Mini isn’t Starlink’s only connectivity option. They also offer larger receivers and permanent mount options. Starlink also has a business-class service that promised (but has yet to deliver) gigabit speed in 2026. However, as stated, issues with latency will remain in place.
Starlink delivers incredible speeds, but it has some of the worst latency performance. This isn’t a knock on them or satellite wireless service. Instead, it acknowledges the reality that it takes a longer time for a signal to reach low-orbiting satellites than an LTE tower.
Improving LTE Wireless Speeds Indoors
Whether your people are working in rural areas or urban environments, buildings and other obstacles can impair signal speeds. Sometimes, they can even make them totally inaccessible. For example, many elevators and basements can’t receive LTE signals because of the thick concrete walls, metal framing, or location beneath the ground. Fortunately, all of those impediments can be overcome to deliver fast, reliable, expansive wireless connectivity.
Personal Cell Tower
The name makes it sound like a personal cell site, but it’s pretty different. Instead of requiring a truck, trailer, or skid platform, a personal cell tower is about the size of a household modem. It’s essentially a mini LTE tower that you place on a table or desk.
A personal cell tower connects to your LTE service provider through an alternative internet connection (copper, fiber, etc). Your wireless devices and phones then connect to the personal cell tower to access LTE service.
The process fixes issues with poor reception indoors. It also provides access to LTE services in remote areas with widely dispersed towers.
A personal cell tower covers up to 100 feet, so a business may have numerous ones located throughout its workspaces.
Wi-Fi Boosters and Wi-Fi Repeaters
People tend to group Wi-Fi repeaters and Wi-Fi boosters together — and we’ll do the same for simplicity — but they aren’t the same thing.
Let’s break it down.
Wi-Fi Repeater
A Wi-Fi repeater is like a mirror. It reflects/repeats whatever it receives. The drive receives the existing Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcasts it into the areas or directions where the unaided signal doesn’t reach. It won’t create a network; it only extends the existing network into unserved areas. Ideally, a Wi-Fi repeater should be positioned at the outer edge of the strongest possible signal. That allows it to rebroadcast at the fastest speed possible. If you place it in an area with a weak signal, it will only share a weak signal.
Wi-Fi Booster
These aren’t gimmicks; however, the term “booster” can be used as a marketing term for some products.
A Wi-FI booster is often just a repeater that rebroadcasts an LTE signal, or an extender, which rebroadcasts the LTE signal while also creating a new network. In rare (but essential) products, a Wi-Fi boost is precisely what most people expect it to be. A device that amplifies the strength of an existing signal and rebroadcasts it. With Wi-Fi boosters, it’s essential to understand your specific situation and what the product you’re considering does.
Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
DAS is where’ getting serious. It’s a business-class solution for expansive spaces like stadiums, distribution centers, airports, and farms.
Instead of relying on one big antenna (like an LTE tower), DAS uses many small antennas strategically positioned around a facility or property. Each antenna is connected to the carrier’s network. That’s correct, DAS links right to the source.
The DAS process:
- DAS receives an LTE signal via radio waves or (ideally) a fiber optic or Ethernet connection.
- DAS shares the signal via a distribution network that uses hardwired connections.
- DAS shares the signal via remote radio antennas located inside or outside the facility
Deploying a DAS solution solves signal loss/deflection challenges created by concrete, steel, and low-E glass. It’s designed for large spaces with a high density of users that can overwhelm LTE towers. In fact, it’s the preferred communication technology for emergency first responders. Many cities require DAS for public safety radio coverage inside new construction.
Ready to Future-Proof Your Infrastructure with Remote Connectivity?
Remote connectivity away from the office will future-proof your business’s IT infrastructure and operations. Identifying and deploying the best way to achieve that comes from working with an expert. Matrix-NDI helps you overcome operational challenges and maximize the ROI of your technology investments. We design and install networks built for maximum speed and perfectly matched to bandwidth demands.
Why Work With Matrix-NDI?
With on-staff Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDDs), coast-to-coast service coverage, and partnerships with leading data networking providers—including Extreme Networks, Nile, and others—Matrix-NDI delivers the expertise and reach to support your technology goals. We invite you to connect with us to see how our expertise, partnerships, and national reach can help solve your challenges.
Contact Matrix-NDI to get started. Let’s build smarter, safer, more connected spaces — together.
