CASE STUDY: Quick and easy 4G install to improve the WiFi reliability and speed in a remote location

CASE STUDY: Quick and easy 4G install to improve the WiFi reliability and speed in a remote location

• Training Provider
• Fenny Compton
• 1-10 employees

“Because we are in the middle of nowhere, the internet connection was really unreliable and kept dropping out. Our business is very reactive and this was impacting our workflow, so we needed a solution!“

➤ Andrea Lafferty, Director
Apple Construction Training

About Apple Construction Training

Apple Construction Training (ACT) have over 50 years of experience in the construction and training industry, helping customers to make their working environments a safer place to be.

They are passionate about their ability to offer their client base nationally accredited training that’s of real benefit both to the candidate and to the employer.

Sort-IT have been working with Apple Construction Training since 2013, and currently look after all of their IT needs, providing IT Support, Cyber Essentials Certification and offering advice and guidance
where needed.

The business challenge

Apple Construction Training are based in a remote location, using old analogue phone lines. As a result, the internet connection is very hit and miss, often dropping out and leaving them in limbo.

When this happens, they are unable to send/receive emails or phone calls, resulting in them being unable to communicate with their customers. The main concern is that their business is very reactive and if a customer can’t get hold of them, they will likely take their business elsewhere.

Not only was this affecting their customers, but the employees were also left in limbo, waiting for the internet to reconnect so they could carry on with their work.

They needed a fast and reliable internet connection to ensure downtime was kept to a minimum and the workflow wasn’t disrupted.

The catch?

The router was located in a porter cabin, away from the main office building and the phones were using a static IP address. Due to contractual issues, the phone lines couldn’t be moved.

The solution

Apple Construction contacted Sort-IT to discuss the best route to take. As we were unable to move the existing router, the best solution was to install 4G in the main office building, with the arial placed on the exterior of the building, pointing directly to the nearest 4G mast.

One of the great things about this solution is that there is no lead time, unlike moving business broadband. 4G is quick and easy to install and comparable on quality and price to a fixed broadband line.

The 4G acts as a backup for when the fixed internet drops out, so the team can carry on working. This was the quickest and most cost-effective solution available at the time.