Jola Cloud Solutions' Blog

A mobile data aggregator partners with all the mobile carrier networks to provide the widest range of mobile data services, at the best possible pricing. Aggregators have one platform for ordering, monitoring and management.

Why do I need a mobile data aggregator?

Mobile data coverage is not universal. The networks use frequencies between 800Mhz and 2600Mhz. This means that the best network for a customer depends on their location, the device they are using and whether they are indoors or outdoors. Companies are looking for providers to meet an increasing demand for 4G services from SMEs. It is much easier to contract with one provider, with one portal, than it is dealing with multiple providers and platforms.

We have developed a unique white label SIM management platform called Mobile Manager which is unlike any other mobile data management platform because it is multi-carrier and has the ability to eliminate bill shock.

Mobile Manager is Jola’s online management portal for ordering and managing estates of mobile data SIMs. The white label portal communicates in real-time with multiple 4G networks and can be used by both resellers and their end users. Mobile Manager handles SIM activations, ceases, suspensions, reports, alerts and bolt-ons.

Why was Mobile Manager developed?

It was designed to help channel partners grow profitable revenue streams from SIM-only solutions, for 4G connectivity. Our partners have found opportunities for DSL and Ethernet back-up, fixed line replacement, multi-network worldwide roaming and multiple IoT and M2M projects. Resellers can brand and package their own 4G data solutions for multiple devices all over the world. We have helped partners to supply 4G routers to UK SMEs in areas of poor fixed line connectivity, as a replacement for satellite services and in cameras for national TV coverage of live events, such as the General Election.

How does it manage overages?

The portal solves the problem of bill shock from data overages by allowing partners to track usage and add bolt-ons to help eliminate overage charges completely. This is the exact opposite of what the market does at the moment. Carriers earn super-profits from overage charges and the channel loses customers because of it. We are the first company in the channel to challenge this and put the resellers and their customers first.

Why is it unique?

Mobile management portals are available from other suppliers, but Mobile Manager is unique and the first of its kind because it communicates with multiple carrier networks and actual devices. With monitored 4G routers (ZyXEL and Teltonika) Mobile Manager has instant access to data usage, avoiding delays from carrier CRDs. As well as usage alerts, Mobile Manager employs a predictive algorithm to track usage and has an automatic bolt-on feature that can eliminate out-of-bundle charges.

I received an email from a reseller recently who said, “I have no interest in selling mobile. It’s competitive, it’s risky and I have been burnt before, however I would like to know about your no bill shock guarantee."

Sound familiar? There are many resellers that see the exponential rise in mobile data usage as a double-edged sword. Data SIMs are quick and easy to order and get live and a fantastic high-margin recurring revenue stream. However, historically the process has been manual and they have had little control and no in-life management tools. Jola has solved this problem with Mobile Manager and our partners are finding new opportunities for 4G.

Slow fixed line connectivity replacement

According to a recent report by Ofcom, 90% of all UK premises (almost 26 million) can access up to 24Mb/s fixed line broadband, however there are at least 190,000 premises that can’t get 2Mb/s and 2.2 million premises that can’t get 10Mb/s. Where the LTE signal is strong, 4G data is a great solution.

Temporary connectivity

Leased lines have traditionally long lead times, so what do you do for internet connectivity whilst you are waiting? 4G can provide a fast, reliable, temporary solution.

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. Resellers can now buy 200GB data SIMs for as little as £60 per month on a 12-month contract.

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.

What is 5G?

5G is a next-generation wireless network, which will provide speeds up to ten times faster than 4G, with ultra-low latency. 5G is predicted to be commercially available by 2020, with many companies preparing to benefit from its capabilities. Some are predicting that 5G will become the backbone of digital society.

The channel

The channel will no doubt be at the forefront of adoption, putting pressure on suppliers to create white-label offerings, which are easy to package, sell and support with excellent management portals.

The opportunity

5G as a replacement for 4G, fixed line and satellite solutions and 5G powered IoT, presents a number of opportunities for the channel. It also raises some challenges. How can we monitor and manage such volumes of data, in a variety of formats from so many different sources? Can data be imported, processed and analysed in real-time?

The Government has made a commitment to help everyone in the UK access a basic broadband service. A subsidised broadband installation is now available if a location cannot access an affordable 2Mb/s solution.

Businesses first need to check they cannot access superfast broadband (speeds of more than 24Mb/s) on this website: www.gov.uk/gosuperfast. They then to check speeds at their location by visiting this website: www.dslchecker.bt.com.

If there are no plans to bring superfast broadband to the business location within the next 6 to 12 months and the current speed is confirmed as less than 2Mb/s, you are eligible for a grant from the Government to access an affordable broadband service. People looking for a cost-effective alternative to satellite often consider 4G and the scheme provides a contribution towards the equipment and installation of a 4G data connection.

For applications where it is critical to have a strong internet connection on the move, businesses choose multi-network roaming SIMs. These SIM cards have no preferred network, therefore always connect to the strongest 4G signal whether at home or abroad. They offer exceptional reliability and coverage but until recently have been difficult to manage and expensive to buy.

Is there such a thing as affordable, easy-to-manage multi-network roaming SIMs?

Yes, there are companies in the UK developing innovative products to address the individual needs of a wide range of industries across the public and private sector. Multi-network roaming SIMs are being used for anything from WiFi hotspots on trains and buses to recording and GPS tracking devices for haulage firms.

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.

As mobile carriers compete to win market share, mobile data packages are likely to further reduce in price. This in turn could put pressure on BT and its rivals to reduce the cost of fibre broadband to compete with 4G. 5G is expected to roll out over the next five years offering superfast speeds and inexpensive data packages.

Falling Prices

A recent study by PwC reported that 43% of the world’s population cannot afford 500MB data packages and for the carriers to win more market share, prices will have to fall. We are seeing this already in the UK residential market, with one of the mobile carriers dramatically reducing the prices of their heavy user packages.

Need to compete

We know many small businesses buy residential products for business purposes, so companies targeting SMEs will need to offer comparative pricing and added-value to compete.

4G as a viable alternative

BT faces mounting pressure from regulators, rivals and customers to cut the price of fibre broadband services and increase their coverage. 4G is already widely available, offering business customers an alternative to fibre today.

The problem with 4G is that it is not unlimited, and customers are often charged extortionate amounts for going over their monthly allowance.

First movers have solved these problems by integrating cost-effective data SIMs into business-grade routers, adding monitoring and control. 4G now presents a real threat to BT and its rivals as it emerges as a substitute for fibre.