Cisco 4G LTE 2.0 Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Cards

The Cisco^® Fourth-Generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Cards (EHWICs) for Cisco Integrated Services Routers Generation 2 (ISR G2) provide the next generation of wireless WAN primary, backhaul, or backup solutions.

Product Overview

4G LTE is being used to provide both primary connectivity and network resiliency for business continuity. With greater agility and speed-to-deployment than wired solutions, 4G LTE reduces network cost and complexity while maintaining ROI. Practical applications of 4G LTE for distributed enterprises such as parallel networks, primary connection, failover, in-vehicle, network convergence, and wireless WAN diversity. The 4G LTE EHWICs with ISR G2 is the industry leader to bring enterprise grade wireline like functionality such as Quality of Service (QoS) for cellular, Multi-VRF for cellular and Unified Communications solutions over LTE.

The Cisco 4G LTE EHWICs (Figure 1) are the first enterprise-class 4G multimode LTE wireless WAN (WWAN) solution. With 4G LTE, WWAN is a primary WAN link solution. Businesses can now run applications such as interactive video and telepresence on a primary 4G LTE WWAN link, which is 10 to 15 times faster and has 5 times lower latency than 3G links. These cards support the latest Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 9 LTE standards. Cisco 4G multimode LTE WWAN EHWICs provide persistent, reliable LTE connectivity with fallback and transparent handoff to earlier technologies. The cards provide bandwidth to support high-definition (HD) and peer-to-peer (P2P) video calls, providing customers with an excellent mobile broadband experience. The Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs are tightly integrated with the services provided on the award-winning Cisco ISR G2 devices, which deliver secure data, voice, video, and mobility services. The Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs are supported on the modular Cisco 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series ISR G2 devices.

Enterprises are looking for ways to reduce deployment time, enable comprehensive media services, increase revenue, and improve business continuity. The Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs, when coupled with a service provider’s wireless data plan, provide a rapidly deployable, high-bandwidth, reliable, and secure solution for branch offices and remote sites. With 4G LTE data rates, the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs offer a primary WAN link solution capable of running comprehensive branch-office services, including voice and video services.

The Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs include the following models:

●   EHWIC-4G-LTE-AU and EHWIC-4G-LTE-GB: Multimode LTE for carriers that operates LTE on 800-MHz (band 20), 900-MHz (band 8), 1800-MHz (band 3), 2100-MHz (band 1), or 2600-MHz (band 7) networks; the multimode LTE Australia and Global EHWICs are backward compatible with DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, HSPA, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS.

●   EHWIC-4G-LTE-AT and EHWIC-4G-LTE-CA Multimode LTE for carriers that operates LTE on PCS 1900-MHz (band 2), 1700/2100-MHz (band 4 AWS), 850 MHz (band 5), 700-MHz (band 17); the multimode LTE ATT and Canada EHWICs are backward compatible with DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, HSPA, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS.

●   EHWIC-4G-LTE-ST and EHWIC-4G-LTE-VZ: Multimode LTE for carriers that operates LTE on 700-MHz (band 13), 1700/2100-MHz (band 4 AWS), extended PCS 1900-MHz (band 25); the multimode EHWICs are backward compatible with EVDO A/CDMA 1X BC0, BC1, BC10.

 

With enhanced data rates and improved latency, WWAN services are an ideal way to replace or supplement traditional wire-line services. 4G LTE WWAN data services offered today have theoretical limits of CAT3 100 Mbps on the downlink and 50 Mbps on the uplink. The actual data speed depends on the service provider’s network. 4G LTE WWAN data services are an alternative in areas in which broadband services either are not available or are very expensive. Cisco is building on these performance milestones and adding support for wireless to our wide variety of WAN interface alternatives.

Main Business Benefits

Primary connectivity: The Cisco multimode 4G LTE WWAN EHWIC provides persistent, reliable LTE connectivity with fallback and transparent handoff to earlier technologies. It enables high-performance, secure, reliable, and transparent multimedia applications anywhere and anytime and allows customers to deploy and manage the same device for multiple applications, simplifying deployment and management. For businesses requiring rapid setup or temporary connectivity, 4G LTE WWAN offers the capability to deploy a new site quickly. Using the integrated services available on the Cisco ISRs, Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs can provide instant and mobile communications during disasters and service outages.

 

 

WAN Backup: Resilient WAN access is a crucial requirement for branch offices connecting to a corporate site or the Internet. Although DSL, Frame Relay, ISDN, and dialup are common choices for backup if a primary WAN link fails, a nonterrestrial data path such as a 4G LTE WWAN provides enhanced WAN diversity (Figures 2 and 3). Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs, combined with the Cisco ISRs, offer the capability to automatically initiate connection over the 4G LTE WWAN when the primary WAN link is unavailable. In addition, you can use Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs to provide supplemental bandwidth when the primary WAN link is overloaded (Figure 4).

 

Main Features and Benefits

●   Integrated 4G LTE WWAN broadband: With the 4G LTE WWAN modem integrated into the router, you gain the benefits of simplified installation and management. In addition, the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs are tightly integrated with Cisco ISRs, which run the industry-leading Cisco IOS^® Software, giving access to all the advanced features of Cisco IOS Software such as quality of service (QoS), intelligent network queuing, and robust security.

●   Performance: With increasing data use and the proliferation of web-based applications at remote sites, there is an increasing need for high-speed (broadband) data connections to run mission-critical applications at these sites. 4G LTE WWAN services promise low-latency links at high speeds.

●   Short installation time: Businesses sometimes have to wait weeks or months to get data circuits installed at new locations. For temporary or seasonal sites, wireless data services allow instant connectivity anywhere there is cellular coverage, and rapid deployment allows you to quickly set up networks with WAN connectivity.

●   Network resiliency through WAN diversity: WAN connectivity is crucial to the functioning of your business, and any downtime means a loss of productivity and lost opportunity. Staying connected and operational during a network outage can be vital. A wireless connection for backup to a remote site provides protection against line outages and an additional level of redundancy, because the 4G LTE WWAN infrastructure is often served by separate facilities, providing redundancy for the entire local loop. With 4G LTE WWAN, Cisco Intelligent WAN (IWAN) provide transport independent, intelligent path control, application optimization, and secure connectivity on any device, over any connection, and to any cloud.

●   Portability: You can easily relocate wireless routers and Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs wherever coverage is available.

●   Multiple-PDN: This feature allows configuration of multiple active (Access Point Name) APN so that Internet traffic can be kept separate from the corporate traffic.

Entrerprise grade WAN Features for 4G LTE

 

●   4G LTE multiple-bearer QoS for cellular: The 4G LTE EHWIC supports 4G LTE multiple-bearer QoS. Detailed information on the bearer is part of show CLI, SNMP-MIBs etc. The QoS feature is service provider (SP) dependent, and requires SP to launch this service.

●   Multi-VRF for cellular: 4G LTE EHWICs now support Multi-VRF for cellular network. Multi-VRF is a Cisco proprietary implementation over and above the 3GPP spec and requires Cisco ASR5K Packet Gateway (P-GW) as the head-end at the service provider’s network. The Multi-VRF feature is service provider (SP) dependent, and requires SP to launch this service.

●   Enterprise grade Unified Communications solutions over LTE: The 4G LTE EHWIC now supports voice and video and can be integrated with Cisco Unified Communications cloud or premises-based infrastructure.

●   Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN Search): UE presents end user with available PLMN search manually. UE can optimize PLMN search procedure using stored information such as RF carriers and cell parameters (support with mainline IOS 15.5(3)M1 or later releases).

 

 

Product Specifications

Table 1 provides specifications for the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs, and Table 2 provides antenna specifications.

Table 1.       Specifications for the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs Among Region Theaters

Please note: LTE CAT 3 download/upload speeds depend on specific carrier channel bandwidth and carrier LTE network provisioning. Cisco LTE 2.0 EHWIC performance also depends on specific ISR G2 platform scalability with services.

Table 2.       Antenna Specifications

* –N antenna works with –N cables and –N lighting arrestor

Ordering Information

To place an order, refer to Tables 3 through 5 and visit the Cisco Ordering home page.

Table 3.       Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs Ordering Information

Table 4.       Antenna Ordering Information

Service and Support

Cisco offers a wide range of services programs to accelerate customer success. These innovative services programs are delivered through a unique combination of people, processes, tools, and partners, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction. Cisco Services help you protect your network investment, optimize network operations, and prepare your network for new applications to extend network intelligence and the power of your business. For more information about Cisco Services, refer to Cisco Technical Support Services and Cisco Advanced Services.

Warranty Information

The Cisco 4G LTE EHWICs have a 90-day limited liability warranty.

Cisco and Partner Services for the Branch

Services from Cisco and our certified partners can help you transform the branch-office experience and accelerate business innovation and growth in Enterprise Networks. We have the depth and breadth of expertise to create a clear, replicable, optimized branch-office footprint across technologies. Planning and design services align technology with business goals and can increase the accuracy, speed, and efficiency of deployment. Technical Services can help you improve operational efficiency, save money, and mitigate risk. Optimization services are designed to continuously improve performance and help your team succeed with new technologies. For more information, please visit http://www.cisco.com/go/services.

For More Information

For more information about the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN EHWICs, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/4g or contact your local Cisco account representative.

For configuration guidance, see http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/routers/access/interfaces/software/feature/guide/EHWIC-4G-LTESW.html.

For installation guidance (-N antenna and cable), see http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps5949/ps11540/ehwic_4g_ltehw.pdf

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/routers/connectedgrid/antennas/installing/Overview.html