Jola Cloud Solutions' Blog

Jola launches RoamNet Voice

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 13-Mar-2024 12:15:01

Jola, the first company to establish an eSIM data MVNO dedicated to the channel in 2019, has gone one step further by including voice and SMS with their brand new global MVNO – RoamNet Voice.  Using a single UK number, customers of Jola’s 1400+ partners can access multiple networks in the UK and Ireland, for voice, data and SMS. This innovative roaming product can be steered or un-steered and is available via eSIM, triple-cut plastic SIM and, uniquely, a simple QR code.

Their first QR implementation saw thousands of demonstration handsets go live in minutes simply by using the phone’s camera to scan a single QR code. There is no alternative quite like RoamNet Voice on the market, and certainly nothing else available to resellers and MSPs. 

Jola partners now have a genuinely differentiated product to win against the Mobile Networks with great recurring margins and the real-time management and control of Mobile Manager.

“One of the great benefits of being a channel-only, independently run company within the Wireless Logic group is that we can quickly productise solutions for the channel using existing networks. RoamNet Voice combines a true roaming SIM with a UK mobile phone number and the flexibility of our fully managed voice network. RoamNet is the most cost-effective multi-network solution we offer and competes with similar offerings from the MNOs.” Adrian Sunderland CEO, Jola.

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Topics: 4G, Multi-network SIMs

Changes create compelling events which create opportunity

Posted by Adrian Sunderland on 25-Oct-2023 13:28:08

This has been true for UK resellers since deregulation in the early 1980s through the launch of the first competing telephone service to BT in 1986, fax, telex, ISDN, 21CN and now the transition of everything to IP. At the same time, the constant need for more speed drives another fibre revolution creating a plethora of local, regional and national fibre companies. Similar to what happened to cable companies in the 1990s these will inevitably consolidate into a handful of national providers. Most will get bought and some will go bust.

This move to full-fibre brings challenges as well as opportunities. BT has led the way with its ‘unbreakable’ proposition and for ISPs to compete it must develop its own Layer 2 4G/5G proposition. Unless they decide to build their own mobile infrastructure, this requires network integration with a mobile data aggregator. Neither solution is technically trivial and ISPs need to be careful to evaluate the technical competence of potential suppliers before deciding which way to go.

The networks are already switching off their 3G networks and there are thousands of routers out there that need to be replaced to work with LTE. This is a great opportunity for MSPs, many of whom are unaware that their customers are using mobile data already. A channel-only aggregator will use their experience to help you find and replace these with high-margin, high-value alternatives.

Finally, the move to all-IP is bad news for customers of the millions of single telephone lines servicing lift lines, retail, alarm lines and healthcare services. Rather than pay twice the monthly rental for a SOGEA service they are choosing to use tailored 4G/5G products. Apart from hitting the price point, these get around logistical issues like laying cable across third-party space.

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Topics: 4G, 5G

Jola hosts a mobile data event for partners at the BT Tower

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 11-Oct-2023 08:40:57

Supported by BT Wholesale and Robustel, the BT Tower was packed with Jola partners and prospects on 27th September. Over seventy channel partners and prospects gathered to hear about the latest hardware and network innovations and how these are creating high-recurring margin opportunities for resellers and MSPs. With legacy mobile and PSTN networks being decommissioned, there is no better time for the channel to sell mobile data.

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Topics: 4G, 5G, mobile data

The Cost of Living Crisis and the impact on the channel

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 01-Mar-2023 14:58:15

The cost-of-living crisis is having an impact. Employees are worried about putting on their heating when working from home, and the rising costs of fuel travelling to the office. Many businesses are worried about how they will carry on with much higher energy bills. 

However, in a crisis, there is also opportunity. The opportunity for employers to react to challenges faced by employees by offering cycle-to-work schemes and cost-of-living bonuses. 

Demand for products such as mobile data is increasing as companies look to implement technology as a way of cutting costs. For example, councils are implementing smart street lighting and smart bin collections. 

Demand for smart meters is high, which creates mobile data opportunities for trusted channel partners to provide and manage. As companies look to cut costs, smart device-as-a-service solutions become more attractive with no upfront hardware costs and the ability to upgrade or switch devices as required. 

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Topics: 4G

Develop a compelling mobile data offering

Posted by Andrew Dickinson on 25-Jan-2023 15:50:41

In the channel, we are seeing an exponential rise in demand for mobile data SIMs, not only for use in 5G/4G routers, pre-Ethernet connectivity and Ethernet back-up but also for digital signage, gaming machines, vending machines, monitoring devices, sensors and ATMs. SIMs are being used in wind and solar farms, measuring and tracking key variables, they are also being used in smart TV cameras, which roam internationally. Manufacturers and service companies are finding new uses for mobile data daily and, as we accelerate towards 5G, this is unlikely to slow down.

It's practically impossible for resellers to provision and control SIM estates without a comprehensive, well-established real-time portal. Choosing a trusted channel-only supplier means the reseller can take advantage of their knowledge and experience when they are bidding for deals. Jola’s most successful partners involve our Partner Managers directly with their customers without fear of disintermediation. Price is really important and mobile data suppliers need to understand that their products have to be priced so that channel partners can win deals at decent margins.

Millions of PSTN lines won’t be able to use a SoGEA or FTTP type replacement due to costs, incompatibility or logistical challenges. Mobile data will be a requirement for customers replacing PSTN lines for intruder alarm monitoring, call points and many other applications.

When the networks made 4G available to the channel around 2016, it changed the game. 3G SIMs running at only a few Mb/s struggled with email but 4G started to be used as a substitute for fixed-line broadband. When, due to political pressure, MNOs swapped out manufacturers recently, they upgraded many towers to support 4G+ which offers download speeds of up to 300 Mb/s. Although the networks do not publish 4G+ coverage it is estimated that over 90% of the UK population has access to 4G+. As 5G becomes ubiquitous it will overtake the number of fixed-line data connections very quickly.

The opportunity for the channel is significant and for those resellers not sure where to start, Jola has productised its unique process of helping customers successfully sell mobile data. It is called The Mobile-Data Revenue Generator (The MRG) and it helps partners to identify low-hanging fruit and win their first significant mobile data opportunity. From there they can start to productise mobile data and develop the eco-system required to sell, support and bill it.

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Topics: 4G, mobile data

Digital Signage powered by 4G

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 29-Sep-2022 12:23:21

The advertising world has changed dramatically in the last 20 years with social media platforms competing directly with traditional media companies, forcing them to innovate to survive. One of the biggest transformations is in digital signage, which is now one of the fastest growing media markets in the world.

However digital signage has its own challenges. Interactive signs need to be updated remotely with software and messages but often connecting them to a fixed internet connection is impractical and expensive. Where they use 4G/5G, the network has to prevent anyone hacking into the devices as well as protect them from DDOS attacks, which would take them offline.

The routers containing the SIMs must be robust, secure and capable of being provisioned and reconfigured remotely.

Jola’s Solution

We invented an intelligent 4G solution for digital signage, which arrives ‘plug-and-play’ at the customer’s site. It will work anywhere with an electrical socket, can be managed remotely via a portal and is protected from threats at both device and network levels.

Un-steered multi-network SIMs negate the need for expensive site surveys as they connect to the strongest signal and switch automatically if the primary network becomes unavailable.

 The Opportunity

  • Connectivity for digital advertising boards in the UK
  • Scalability, reliability and ability to deploy rapidly across the country
  • Control and ease of connectivity management

 The Solution 

  • Robustel R1510, preconfigured with device security
  • Aggregated 2GB MultiNet SIMs

 The Outcome

  • Dramatically reduced operational overheads
  • Great support from Jola development team in building the bespoke configuration
  • Reduced costs, increased revenue, improved margin
  • Complete control over the SIM estate via Mobile Manager®
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Topics: 4G, mobile data

4G/5G L2TP provides ISPs with a solid failover solution

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 29-Sep-2022 11:54:47

100% SLAs backed by compensation SLGs are a key differentiator in an increasingly competitive fibre Ethernet market. However, ISPs offering a fixed line backup run the risk of a cable cut or exchange failure taking both primary and secondary routes. Until recently 4G/5G failover was expensive, slow, and only a partial solution but Jola has solved this problem with a multi-network Layer 2 product costing only a few pounds a site.

The Jola management team ran Griffin Internet so we understand the challenges facing ISPs and we have the technical expertise to design and manage solutions. Connecting at Layer 2 means that all services failover seamlessly and multi-network ensures against coverage issues and mobile mast/network failures. This is not a hybrid VPN solution so there are no speed or routing problems.

ISPs cross-connect at Layer 2 directly into the Jola platform and, although a fairly new innovation, some of the world’s largest ISPs are using it, so it is tried and tested. ISPs control every SIM through Jola’s real-time, automated white-label portal, Mobile Manager®️.

4G/5G L2TP is inexpensive, reliable and easy to set-up and it gives ISPs full control over routing and IP addressing.

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Topics: 4G

Need a mobile data supplier?

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 22-Jun-2022 17:26:41

Jola is a multi-award-winning MVNO and mobile data aggregator, which means we offer services from all the major UK networks and hundreds of networks globally. We sell a wide range of options, including Fixed IP and Private APN, and we are a well-established, channel-only company. On average, we launch two new products and product extensions every month, so you will always have a differentiated offering to resist being commoditised. We have our own IP addresses and number ranges, and our superfast HA network runs over Cloudflare, the world’s #1 DDOS protection company.

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Topics: 4G, mobile data

4G in Distribution

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 18-Nov-2021 13:27:50

A shift towards online shopping has driven demand for fulfilment and distribution centres. These new spaces require reliable connectivity. Where no existing fibre is available, MSPs are turning to 4G.

MSPs are quoting online retailers for bespoke 4G connectivity packages that meet their exact requirements. They are offering solutions that can be preconfigured and delivered to multiple locations to meet tight deadlines.

MSPs are turning to Jola for their multinetwork roaming SIMs controlled in Mobile Manager.

MSPs partnering with Jola are offering multinetwork solutions. Data is managed within Mobile Manager, an online management portal for ordering and managing SIM estates globally.

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Topics: 4G, Multi-network SIMs

Thinking about offering 4G primary and backup solutions?

Posted by Cherie Howlett on 06-Oct-2021 09:52:27

Are you thinking about adding a 4G connectivity solution to your proposition? Are you being asked about it from customers, or are you looking to enhance service or reduce risk for your clients?

4G primary is often called mobile broadband and is used for both temporary and permanent connectivity solutions. Resellers can often provide temporary connectivity until a broadband or Ethernet circuit goes live and can also be used as a 4G failover solution should the primary circuit fail.

4G backup is commonly used to back up primary networks to add an extra layer of resilience; however, managing 4G can be challenging for the reseller and expensive for the client. You need to consider applications that work perfectly well over Ethernet or broadband, which need to work equally well over 4G should the primary network fail. You also need to consider the cost of using 4G data should the primary network fail and the ongoing cost of a 4G solution that no one is using whilst the primary connection is stable.

Need Fixed IP or L2TP?

Many MSPs require one or more Fixed IP addresses on their SIMs. ISPs often require SIMs to be using L2TP so they can control the IP addressing and routing. Jola can supply both.

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Topics: 4G, 4G Back-up

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