FWA’s Hidden Gem: How Traffic Management Makes Businesses Shine

FWA’s appeal lies in its scalability and affordability, making it particularly attractive for businesses in areas where laying fiber optic cables might be impractical due to high installation costs. Whether in bustling urban centers, sprawling suburbs, or remote rural locations, FWA technology delivers the connectivity businesses need to thrive. However, as the demand for bandwidth explodes – fueled by the ever-increasing number of connected devices, the rise of streaming services, and the growing adoption of cloud-based applications – the limitations of wireless technology become apparent. This surge in bandwidth demand creates unique challenges for FWA providers to ensure a seamless and reliable service experience for their customers, but especially for their business customers who require consistent performance for critical operations.

The Achilles’ Heel of FWA: Sole Reliance on Wireless Connectivity

Unlike traditional wired connections that often provide a built-in Wi-Fi backup or the option to switch to a secondary wired connection in case of service disruptions, FWA networks function solely on the strength of their wireless signal. This singular point of service delivery creates a potential Achilles’ heel. Imagine a critical sales presentation being disrupted by a network outage, or a company’s entire workflow grinding to a halt because they can’t access cloud-based applications due to a congested FWA network. The consequences for business continuity and lost productivity can be significant. For residential customers, a temporary network outage might cause frustration, but for businesses, it can be catastrophic.

Mounting Challenges of Serving Business Customers

FWA providers must navigate several key hurdles to effectively cater to their business clientele:

• The Congestion Conundrum: A survey conducted by Coleman Parkes and commissioned by Allot shows 87% of FWA providers anticipate continued traffic growth, while 57% of the providers already report experiencing congestion in 10-20% of their cell sites. This translates to slow speeds and inconsistent service quality, disrupting critical businesses.
• QoE: Consistent, high-quality internet is essential for businesses. However, only 53% of providers in the survey deliver excellent QoE during peak usage. This inconsistency can disrupt businesses and erode trust in the FWA provider.
• Lack of the Right Tools for the Job: Many FWA providers said that they lack the necessary tools to effectively manage network resources and prioritize business traffic, 38% have only legacy tools. Without the ability to identify and address congestion proactively or prioritize mission-critical applications, it becomes difficult to deliver the superior service levels that businesses require.

The Impact on Businesses

The challenges outlined above can have a significant negative impact on businesses that rely on FWA for their internet connectivity. Here is a closer look at some of the key consequences:

• Disrupted Workflows: Network congestion and outages can lead to disruptions in critical business processes, such as cloud-based applications, video conferencing, and file transfers. This can significantly hinder productivity and cause delays.
• Reduced Customer Satisfaction: When businesses experience slow or unreliable internet, it can negatively impact their ability to serve their own customers. This can lead to frustration and lost business.
• Erosion of Trust: Frequent outages and inconsistent service quality can erode trust between businesses and their FWA provider. Businesses need a reliable partner to ensure their online operations run smoothly.

Traffic Management: The FWA Provider’s Secret Weapon

FWA providers are battling network challenges to ensure consistent, reliable service for businesses. Advanced traffic management solutions offer a powerful toolbox to optimize networks and deliver superior QoE. These solutions unlock tangible benefits for both FWA providers and their SMB customers, as evidenced in the following graph from the recent Coleman Parkes survey mentioned earlier in this blog.

FWA providers achieve 55% customer satisfaction, 50% revenue growth, and 33% more customers through efficient traffic management, reducing OPEX and CAPEX.

Empowering Business Growth with Allot’s Traffic Management Solution

Allot’s Traffic Management solution is specifically designed to address the challenges faced by FWA providers serving business customers. Leveraging advanced AI-driven technologies, the solution provides real-time insights and automates traffic prioritization. This ensures optimal network performance even during peak usage times, ensuring a seamless and reliable experience for business customers.

Building a Winning FWA Strategy in Today’s Market

By adopting traffic management solutions, FWA providers can address congestion, prioritize business traffic, and empower their SMB customers. This translates to a more robust network, exceptional service for business clients, and sustainable growth for FWA providers. Explore our resources for a deeper dive into how Allot’s solutions can help you achieve your business goals.