Boosting Business Efficiency: AT&T and Cisco’s 5G FWA Gateways

The Need for High-Performance WAN Solutions

In today’s fast-paced business environment, reliable and high-speed connectivity is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and competitiveness. Traditional wired WAN options, while dependable, often require significant deployment time and may not be feasible in all locations. To address these challenges, AT&T has partnered with Cisco to leverage the newly introduced Cisco Meraki 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) gateways. This collaboration aims to provide a versatile and robust WAN service for business branch offices.

The Solution: Cisco Meraki 5G Fixed Wireless Access Gateways

Cisco’s latest additions to the Meraki cellular gateway family, the MG52 and MG52E, are designed to meet the high-end requirements of modern businesses. These gateways offer a significant performance boost with 2 Gbps/300 Mbps throughput, doubling the capacity of existing high-end models. Additionally, they feature two 2.5GbE ports, ensuring high-speed, always-on cellular network connectivity for critical business operations.

Key Features and Advantages of the Meraki 5G FWA Gateways:

High Throughput: With 2 Gbps/300 Mbps, these gateways provide the necessary bandwidth for data-intensive applications.
Dual 2.5GbE Ports: Enhanced connectivity options for seamless integration with existing network infrastructure.
Centralized Management: Managed via Meraki’s cloud-based dashboard, offering zero-touch provisioning, role-based security, firmware updates, configuration changes, and email alerts.
Robust Security: Leveraging Cisco Talos-powered cybersecurity capabilities, including firewall policies, content filtering, IDS/IPS, and advanced malware protection.

Versatility in Deployment

The Meraki MG52 and MG52E gateways are particularly suitable for various challenging deployment scenarios:

Rural and Remote Regions: Ideal for locations where wired WAN deployment can take over nine months.
Space-Constrained Locations: Perfect for small, tight spots where traditional WAN gateways are impractical.
Pop-Up Sites: Offers quick and reliable connectivity for temporary locations.
Nonconventional Locations: Suitable for basements or rooftops far from wired WAN access points.

Seamless Integration with AT&T’s 5G Wireless WAN Service

Through the Meraki cloud-based dashboard, businesses can plug in new devices and provision AT&T’s 5G wireless WAN service with ease. This streamlined process allows customers to connect secure Cisco SD-Branch and SD-Campus networks across multiple branches, significantly reducing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.

Benefits for Businesses:

Immediate Connectivity: Quick deployment with minimal downtime.
Connectivity Diversity and Redundancy: Provides an alternative to traditional wired WAN, ensuring continuous operation.
Scalability: Supports large branch deployments, connecting thousands of sites simultaneously.

Partner Support and Broader Market Reach

In addition to AT&T, other service providers are also adopting the MG52 and MG52E gateways as part of their service packages:

T-Mobile: Offers the gateways through its managed Connected Workplace solution.
Verizon Business: Incorporates Cisco gear into its 5G FWA service.

Expert Insights: Enhancing Business Operations

Pratik S. Desai, product marketing lead for 5G fixed wireless access and WAN application assurance for SD-WANs at Cisco, emphasizes the importance of combining wired and wireless WAN options. Desai notes that while wired WAN remains a reliable choice, FWA offers a strong complement, especially when integrated with Cisco’s traffic orchestration features such as load balancing and traffic shaping.

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Conclusion: Embracing the Future of WAN Connectivity

AT&T’s adoption of Cisco’s Meraki 5G FWA gateways marks a significant step forward in WAN connectivity. These advanced gateways provide a versatile, high-performance solution that meets the evolving needs of modern businesses. For more detailed information on how Cisco’s solutions can revolutionize your WAN strategy, visit Router-switch.com.