Jola Cloud Solutions' Blog

A private APN (Access Point Name) is a point of entry onto an IP network for a mobile device. Private APNs allow connections to a corporate network simply and securely over a Private IP address range, without touching the Public Internet. This is done without the need for multiple VPNs, additional hardware and additional overheads.

What are the benefits? 

• Devices are connected to a private network, avoiding the public internet, therefore increasing security. Secure internet break-out options are usually available.
• Data security is increased as low level malware cannot bypass the APN.
• Jola’s Private APN is self-built solution within a white label portal, with extensive management tools, so resellers retain complete control.

Security – IoT LTE devices can be configured to use a Private APN. Using a Private APN in conjunction with a Fixed Private IP VPN solution terminating at a customer’s data centre, an organisations' data remains on the customer’s private data network.

Configurability – Private APNs offer customers the ability to configure settings such as IP address ranges, static or dynamic addressing, as well as authentication. No VPN specific hardware or client software is required.

Cost-Effectiveness – Private APNs offer a cost-effective mobile VPN solution which allows deployment of corporate security policies on mobile devices.  It allows fast distribution of routing changes to connections to the LTE network. 

Coverage – The EE UK/EU/US M2M SIM allows for access across the UK, Europe and the US.  For VPN applications, it translates into seamless access to all the organisation’s applications and data, conveniently and securely, virtually anywhere in the world.

According to a recent IDC survey, nearly 80% of Communications Providers expect 5G to generate more revenue opportunities. And 35% say they would be able to grow revenue by 5-10% within the first two years.

What are the likely opportunities?

European operators expect early 5G deployments to enhance existing services, such as unified communications as a service (UCaaS) and software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN).

There is an opportunity for Communications Providers to replace fixed line communications with mobile services. Once 5G is deployed it is predicted to make operational savings of over 10%.

Key sectors to target are healthcare, government and public sector services as well as automotive and manufacturing industries.

How important will choosing the right supplier be?

Choosing the right supplier will be critical to ensure Communications Providers win business in these sectors. Choose a partner who has a wide range of wholesale 5G services, managed within self-service portals, to retain control of 5G assets and monitor and manage data usage. Partners with experience delivering solutions to key vertical markets with a competitive 5G proposition will succeed.

Smart Vending machines are allowing businesses to receive real-time information on sales, stock, turnover and condition, directly from their vending machines in real-time. Vending machines are becoming ever more present and Jola partners are realising the benefits of providing purpose built M2M packages, monitored and managed within Mobile Manager.

Businesses choosing smart vending machines are seeing improved margins from real-time stock updates, allowing vendors to refill and fix machines at the most appropriate times.

Partners are choosing Jola for mobile data as they offer the widest range of M2M data packages, at the lowest price points with a unique management portal. The Jola portal allows partners to place orders from multiple network operators and multi-network SIMs, manage SIMs, usage and alerts. Private APNs are also available for an additional layer of security.

4G security cameras are increasing in popularity in remote areas where there is no easy access to power or WiFi, with a strong 4G signal.

4G security cameras, also called 4G LTE security cameras, are mobile monitoring cameras that use the 4G LTE network to deliver live viewing and send instant alerts. Mobile data consumption varies, depending on how many times live streaming is viewed and motion detection alarms are received.

Wireless 4G cameras are now battery and solar powered so are easy to install and move, inexpensive to buy and are easily scalable. Night vision coverage offers clear images during the night.

IT and Security specialists are partnering with key suppliers to put together affordable CCTV packages for rural customers on farms and construction sites to monitor livestock and equipment.

Jola

Jola provides partners with customers in rural areas a wide range of M2M 4G data SIM packages, including cost-effective multi-network roaming packages, controlled within Mobile Manager. Our multi-network SIMs roam to the strongest signal in each area. Our white label management portal allows partners to place orders, manage SIMs, usage and alerts. Data buckets allow partners to price solutions competitively. Private APNs can add an extra layer of security.

GSMA published their latest mobile report at the MWC19 this week. According to the report, by the end of 2018, 5.1 billion people around the world subscribed to mobile services, accounting for 67% of the global population.

5G

The report described how 5G is now upon us, bringing with it the promise of a host of exciting new services. As the boundaries between mobile and the wider digital ecosystem continue to blur, and as data monetisation poses a continued challenge, many operators are moving beyond their traditional telco businesses to explore new opportunities in a fast-changing competitive landscape.

IoT

The report predicts that between 2018 and 2025, the number of global IoT connections will triple to 25 billion, while global IoT revenue will quadruple to £0.83 trillion. With connectivity becoming increasingly commoditised, mobile operators are looking to expand their role in the value chain – from providing essential tools and capabilities for ecosystem partners to build IoT solutions, to becoming end-to-end IoT solution providers themselves.

Devices

The report suggests that although smartphones will remain the focal point of the consumer internet economy, the range of connected devices (and therefore internet access channels) is greater than ever. In the most advanced countries, today’s digital consumers (using PCs and smartphones) will likely become tomorrow’s augmented customers, adopting emerging technologies such as AI (via smart speakers) and immersive reality.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) will invest more than £3 million to enhance its Electronic Patient Care Records (ePCR) during the next two years and they are not alone. Ambulance Services across the UK and internationally are being encouraged to ‘go digital’ to improve the care and treatment received by patients and to get the very most out of their budgets. They are turning to MSPs with experience in upgrading software, networks and communications.

MSPs who previously worked with the mobile networks directly have found partnering with companies that can offer multi-network services and a management portal, give them so much more control and remove the headache of dealing with multiple carriers and manual requests for changes.

Smart Devices

Ambulance crews are using tablets containing 4G SIM cards to access online information about medical and traumatic conditions and treatment on the move. They are completing incident forms online and accessing ePCRs and information about healthcare providers and plans.

Smart Communications

Ambulance crews can electronically send details about the patient to the emergency department including appropriate photographs from the scene of the incident e.g. road traffic collision or electrocardiogram readings, to help doctors determine the extent of injury that may have been sustained. This allows staff in the hospital to prepare and be ready to act when the patient arrives. 

Push to Talk Radio

Two-way walkie-talkie radio technology is being upgraded to 4G. This has created an opportunity for partners, who are already familiar with selling 4G data solutions. However, suppliers are finding identifying the strongest 4G signal for each device challenging.

The Government’s £1 billion Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) was developed to enable Britain to become a world leader in Emergency Services communications, and a 4G pioneer. EE was selected by the Home Office back in 2015 to provide Britain’s Emergency Services with a resilient national mobile network, giving 300,000 critical emergency workers access to 4G voice and data for the first time.  

UK police forces are using technology to become more productive, efficient and visible. The digital policing vision aims to improve investigations and make it easier for the public and police to communicate. Forces are collaborating with EE and their partners, generating mobile data opportunities for scenarios such as; mobile forensics, digital interviewing, and smart services.

Mobile forensics

Police are now using mobile fingerprinting systems that allow them to check the identity of an unknown person against a database of 12 million records in less than a minute. Many officers carry hand-held scanners connected to their 4G smartphone, allowing them to scan fingertips. The scans are checked against the database.

Digital interviewing

Many police forces are using digital audio-visual interview equipment and touch screens for custodial interviews, which provide improved access to recording for police, legal representatives and suspects.

Smart devices

4G smart devices such as mobiles, tablets and cameras are being used to complete reports much more efficiently. Police Officers are able to record arrests on body cameras and send content in a live stream to officers nearby for assessment and support.

Push to Talk Radio

Two-way walkie-talkie radio technology is being upgraded to 4G. This has created an opportunity for partners, who are already familiar with selling 4G data solutions. However, suppliers are finding identifying the strongest 4G signal for each device challenging.

Leased lines typically have long lead times, so what do your customers use whilst they are waiting? In an existing location, businesses may be able to continue with their slower broadband connection, but for new premises, 4G presents a solution and an opportunity for partners to add value to their proposition.

A leased line is a dedicated, fixed-bandwidth, symmetrical data connection. Leased line installation times can vary and depend on several factors, such as what local infrastructure is already in place. Usually the results of the site survey give a good indication of how long an installation may take, although there is rarely a guaranteed delivery date, because multiple parties need to work together to deliver the circuit. For example, if a road needs to be dug up to install a new duct, applications to implement road closures or restrictions need to be made to the local council. These leased line orders may take many months to complete.

4G

Where the LTE signal is strong, 4G data is a great temporary internet solution, however high out-of-bundle rates and delayed usage information from the networks can make costs unpredictable. Jola proposes a unique solution with JolaNet 4G.

JolaNet 4G is a managed 4G router with an integrated data SIM on either Vodafone, EE or O2 networks. Fixed IP SIMs are also available. The solution is managed by Jola’s Mobile Manager portal, where partners have complete control to view real-time data usage, set-up alerts, apply SIM-swaps, add bolt-ons and bar SIMs. Using Mobile Manager, they can maximise margins and completely eliminate overage charges.

Many of Jola’s ISP partners are offering 4G as part of their leased line packages to give businesses instant access to faster, more reliable connectivity, until their leased line goes live.

With JolaNet 4G, partners send a pre-configured router to their customers, which works out-of-the-box, doesn’t need cabling or a land-line and can be monitored in real-time. Packages are competitively-priced, providing the opportunity for healthy recurring margins for partners and eliminating ‘bill shock’ entirely for end-users.

Are you winning clients who need private networks to carry financial transactions over IP with 4G back-up? Have you ever struggled with the 4G element? Do you manage multiple in-country suppliers, with multiple manual ordering processes? Do you ever get frustrated with the lack of visibility across your customers’ SIM estates? Would you benefit from direct control over the SIM assets and the ability to aggregate data across countries?

Jola provides a range of data-only SIM packages including multi-network roaming SIMs with pooled data options. Partners only need to contract with one supplier. They have access to an automated management portal and complete visibility and control over their entire SIM estate.

They don’t need to survey each site to establish the best signal. Our multi-network SIMs connect to the strongest available signal in the EU. Having all the networks isolates issues to the device rather than the network.

Partners are able to order new SIMs and pools, add SIMs to pools, set up alerts and monitor the pool. If any site fails, they have a data pool to draw from and a buffer. They can even set up and manage private APNs.

We partner with some of the world’s largest MSPs, managing private networks for blue chip companies globally. We position ourselves as a viable alternative to partnering with multiple in-country mobile network operators.

In the channel we are well-versed in productising products and services. We know how to package them, how to promote them and how to sell them, promoting our USPs over the competition. We seem to accept processes as part and parcel and rarely productise them. Are we missing a trick?

When the processes we offer form part of our USPs, we are definitely missing a trick by not productising them. Everyone says they offer ‘excellent customer service’, but what if this is the one thing you know makes you different from the competition? By productising your processes, you can demonstrate the value to your customer base and reap the benefits.

Where to start?

By defining your customers needs. What are customers looking for? How do you meet these requirements better than the rest? What evidence do you have to support this? By noting down the journey, you can productise your unique process, reflecting back the customers’ needs and how you are meeting them.

Understand success

By mapping processes next to KPIs to help you track success, you can start to see how you achieved success. Analyse your biggest customer deals, where did the original lead come from? How was it generated? How was it converted? How was the first opportunity generated? How was this closed? How was the order placed and processed? How did you prevent any installation issues? How did you ensure the customer was billed correctly? How did the customer feel when the first order had gone live? What support was given along the way? How does the customer rate the support given?

Map your unique process

Once successful order journeys have been mapped, unique processes ensuring success become visible. Describe and name each step of the process. Write it up as a flyer and advertise it on your website and as part of your proposals.