Backup Internet for Tampa Bay Businesses

We install automatic cellular failover. When your internet provider goes down, your network switches to a 4G LTE or 5G connection, usually within seconds to a few minutes, so phones, cameras and card payments keep working.

Illustration of connected devices over a city

Backup internet that takes over on its own

Your router or firewall watches your primary internet connection. When it detects an outage it switches your network to a cellular connection, and your phones, cameras, card payments and cloud applications keep working while your provider repairs the line. Depending on the equipment and the kind of outage, the switch takes from a few seconds to a few minutes, and calls in progress usually drop and reconnect over the cellular line.

Why Tampa Bay businesses add a backup line

Most outages are local: a fiber or cable line cut during construction, a provider outage, storm damage or a failed modem. Florida has more lightning per square mile than any other state, and hurricane season adds to the list. A cellular connection reaches your building a different way than your wired line, so a cut cable or a provider outage does not take both down.

What we install

Most systems need a dual-WAN router or firewall, a cellular modem or gateway, and a SIM card with a data plan. Some routers already support failover; we check yours during the assessment and tell you whether anything needs to change. Where the signal inside the building is weak, an outside antenna is added. On standby the cellular line carries only a small amount of data to check that it is working, so data costs stay low until your primary internet fails.

What stays online

Anything connected through the failover router and still powered: VoIP phones, credit card processing, security cameras, cloud services and remote access. A battery backup on the network equipment keeps those systems up through the short power blips that often come with the same storm.

How the job goes

We look at your current internet setup and what your router or firewall can do, choose the equipment and antenna for your building, install and configure it, and test the switchover before we leave. Cellular is usually slower than fiber, but fast enough to keep essential systems running during an outage. How cellular failover works, in more detail.

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FAQ

Internet cellular failover is a backup internet connection that automatically activates when your primary internet service goes down, keeping your network online using a cellular data connection.

Your router or firewall monitors your primary internet connection. If it detects an outage, it automatically switches to a cellular network connection until your primary service is restored.

Common causes include fiber and cable cuts (often from construction), internet provider outages, storm damage, and failed modems or other equipment.

Depending on the equipment and the type of outage, switching takes from a few seconds to a few minutes. Phone calls and other connections in progress usually drop and reconnect over the cellular line.

Failover systems typically use 4G LTE or 5G cellular networks, depending on availability and coverage in your area.

Cellular connections are usually slower than fiber, but they are fast enough to keep essential systems running during an outage.

Most systems require a dual-WAN router or firewall, a cellular modem or gateway, and a SIM card with a data plan.

Some routers already support failover. During the network assessment, we check your equipment to determine if upgrades are needed.

Failover can keep critical systems running, such as VoIP phones, credit card processing, security cameras, cloud services and remote access tools, as long as that equipment is connected through the failover router and has power. A battery backup on the network equipment helps with that.

Usually not. On standby, the cellular line uses only a small amount of data to check that it is working, and carries your traffic only when the primary internet fails, which helps keep data costs down.