Jola Cloud Solutions' Blog

If you sell M2M SIMs to corporates for monitoring, or data SIMs for 4G back-up solutions, one of the first things you will want to know is, which network has the strongest signal in each location. Many partners use engineers to go to site to measure signal strength, to ensure the right network is deployed. Engineers charge on average £125 per visit. The second consideration is what happens if the primary network fails. With multi-network SIMs, you don’t need to worry about either problem, as they have no home and always connect to the strongest 4G signal. You may think that multi-network SIMs are expensive and still favour one network over another, but this is no longer the case.

It is well documented that 4G internet connectivity is expensive if you go over your monthly allowance. Businesses need to predict their average usage accurately to avoid data overages. Bill shock causes churn, which puts off many suppliers, as someone needs to foot the bill, but what if there was a guarantee of no bill shock?

Jola

Jola is a wholesale provider of 4G solutions to the voice and data channel. We have a managed 4G solution which consists of a managed 4G router and a choice of data-only SIM packages. We offer SIMs from all major UK mobile operators and can provide fixed IP addresses as well as multi-network roaming SIMs.

M2M (Machine to Machine) technology was created to streamline the way data is collected from devices and incorporated into IT systems, without human intervention.

What are the most common M2M opportunities?

M2M opportunities are coming from almost all verticals. We have seen growing demand from the media, electricians, wind farms, vets, farmers, festival organisers and CCTV installers, all with different requirements. Some need IP addresses, others need multi-network SIMs, but all need the ability to monitor and manage usage remotely.

What products are available?

Jola is a leading wholesale supplier of M2M SIMs to the voice and data channel. Jola offers:

• Range of data-only SIM packages from 2GB to 200GB.
• Choice of mobile networks – Vodafone, EE, O2.
• Range of fixed IP data SIMs – Vodafone, EE.
• Range of fixed IP failover SIMs – Vodafone, EE.
• Multi-network UK and EU roaming SIMs – EE, O2, Three, Vodafone.
• 200GB data SIMs on a 12-month contract – Vodafone.

Roam Like Home lets you make calls, send texts and use data in 47 EU destinations at no extra cost. When you are in a Roam Like Home country, data use, calls and texts made to other Roam Like Home countries and back to the UK are included. It is also free to receive calls and texts. If you go over your monthly allowance for calls, texts or data you will be charged. It is worth noting that calls and texts from the UK to international destinations are not included and these will be charged.

What countries are included?

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (Incl. Azores & Madeira), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Vatican City

Canary Islands, French Guiana, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Iceland, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Martinique, Mayotte, Norway, Reunion, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Switzerland

Many of the mobile carriers have extended roaming zones to include 71 countries such as Australia and the US.

How much money can you save?

A customer spending 2-weeks in a Roam Further country using 671 minutes, sending 39 texts and using 2.70GB data, saved £2,322.37.

IoT as a phrase has the ability to both engage and turn off many readers. Internet of Things can be quite specialist and not something customers ring up for. That doesn’t mean however that there are not opportunities from IoT that you could be winning from within your customer base.

Our partners often feedback that IoT is not of interest to them, however as they learn more about the types of 4G data opportunities we are winning with partners, they often change their minds.

4G Data SIMs

Customers who measure or monitor equipment often already have IoT solutions using low consumption, mobile data SIM cards. Problems occur when mobile networks fail, at this point they turn to their IT/Telecoms providers for help.

We provided 4G data SIMs to a partner with a customer waiting to measure how long trains are cleaned for and how often they are cleaned. Jola provided over one thousand data SIMs to be installed into train cleaning equipment to do just that. We were able to displace the existing provider as our SIMs were multi-network with excellent monitoring.

Consider 4G internet connectivity.

JolaNet 4G offers monthly data packages of up to 300GB. It is a managed 4G router with an integrated data SIM. Choose from a selection of data SIMs from O2, Vodafone and EE, as well as multi-network EU roaming SIMs and Fixed IP SIMs.

Control

The solution is managed by the Mobile Manager portal, which gives you the ability to view real-time data usage, set-up alerts, apply SIM-swaps, add bolt-ons and bar SIMs. Using Mobile Manager, you can maximise margins and eliminate overage charges.

The ZyXEL LTE3302 4G router provides wireless broadband connectivity over any available mobile data signal. The router comes with support for external antennas and will support 32 simultaneous Wi-Fi connections. You can rent the router on either a 12 or 24-month contract or choose to buy the router and pay monthly for monitoring.

Demand is growing for managed 4G solutions from businesses who; cannot get fast, fixed line services, who need a temporary solution until leased lines can be installed, and who need a cost-effective 4G back-up. The biggest benefit is the real-time data usage report you can view in Mobile Manager and auto bolt-on facility to eliminate bill shock. 

According to McKinsey, revenues from mobile data are set to increase dramatically in the next 7 years. Factors driving growth are the availability, speed and reliability of 4G, the trend of embedding data SIM cards into devices and the availability of cost-effective SIM-only packages on 30-day contracts.

UK SMEs are turning to their trusted IT and telecommunications suppliers for help sourcing mobile data SIMs. Management and control of data is becoming increasingly critical to avoid bill shock across growing estates.

Jola is one of the channel’s fastest growing mobile data providers. The company is experienced in developing and managing portals for the channel and was the first to launch an innovative data management portal called Mobile Manager.

Mobile Manager is an online management portal for managing estates of mobile data SIMs. The portal communicates in real-time with Vodafone and O2 networks, enabling Jola partners to create customers, manage activations and control SIM swaps, bars, ceases and tariff changes.

Catastrophic failure often effects multiple services going into a building, so a fixed line back-up to a primary internet connection is not guaranteed to provide business continuity. Until now, the alternative, mobile data, has been slow and expensive with only dynamic IP options on offer. Customers have had to estimate the amount of data needed in the event of a primary failure and pay for it whether it is used or not.

With the introduction of 4G management portals for fixed IP SIMs and unique overage protection, 4G becomes a cost-effective alternative. Customers pay a small monthly fee for the back-up service and when the data fails-over, they pay for the additional usage, only for the period it was used.

Fixed IP Failover SIMs offer customers significant cost savings, due to the unique way they are managed. Data usage is monitored and additional data bolt-ons automatically added as required and removed again when the primary route is restored.

The Jola partner

Amvia is one of Jola’s voice, data and cloud application partners, based in Sheffield. Amvia was founded by experienced telecoms professionals, with a vision to provide customer-centric solutions. The company supplies services to a range of prestigious companies including Oracle, SodaStream, CIMB investment bank and JHS Logistics.

Amvia’s customer

JHS Logistics is a logistics and international haulage company based in Hampshire, close to the Fawley Power Station on the western side of Southampton Water. ADSL speeds are very slow in the area. Leased circuits are not cost-effective, due to excess construction charges, however 4G is available.

The Solution

Amvia, supported by Jola, worked with JHS to provide a 4G/Draytek LTE service that has allowed JHS to work effectively from the site, running both voice and remote/hosted application services over a 4G internet connection. JHS are delighted with the service, which was up and running in only three working days.

Demand for fixed IP SIMs is building, as customers realise the benefit of using 4G data in a wide range of devices, across multiple verticals;

In temporary sites

Fixed IP SIMs are useful in temporary locations such as site offices, to give site managers access to the internet. These sites can operate in the same as their head office, with access to corporate software, document drives etc. behind a corporate firewall.

As a back-up

Internet connectivity is a business-critical service. Having a back-up solution is essential and can be expensive. 4G fixed IP failover solutions, where customers pay for usage in the months their services failover, are realising the cost savings.