by Webbing Team
Mission-critical communications demand high availability connectivity, and that means not only extensive coverage or backup mechanisms that guarantee continuous connection. There are also other important parameters to ensure reliability, such as latency.
What is latency?
Simply put, in telecommunications, latency is the delay between when the data is transmitted and the moment it reaches its destination. The time that data transfers across the cellular network can be affected by various factors, such as network type, the distance between the device and the cell tower, network congestion, and the technology being used (e.g., 4G, 5G). Connectivity providers typically aim to minimize this delay to ensure a high-speed connection. However, every process, no matter how fast, takes some time, and data transfer is no exception. Latency is one of the key factors to consider when choosing a connectivity provider for specific deployments.
Why low latency is important?
Various usage scenarios have different latency requirements. For some of them, longer latency may cause minor inconvenience, but mission-critical applications demand low latency communications. In many cases, how fast the data is transmitted is critically important for people’s safety or the performance of devices or systems. For example, latency is a crucial connectivity parameter for first responders, as their ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions in emergencies relies on it. In many mission-critical IoT use cases, such as connected cars or remote surgeries, lives may depend on low latency. It is also critical for applications like predictive maintenance of equipment, where rapid data transmission enables instant responses to malfunctions, preventing downtime.
How latency can be reduced?
To ensure minimal delay and smooth data transmission, connectivity providers implement high-performance network equipment, optimize routing and use intelligent communication protocols. Besides, actual latency depends on the architecture of the core network: the data sent by the device needs to travel all the way to the connectivity provider’s data center before going to its destination.
Also, as cellular technology evolves, latency becomes more important: one of the key use cases for 5G technology is Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC). It is designed to meet the demanding requirements of mission-critical applications where extremely low latency and high reliability are crucial.
How Webbing’s solutions ensure low latency?
Mobile network operators (MNOs) typically have their core network elements located in a single country or region, so if a device is roaming in another country, the data it sends still would be routed back to the MNO’s home network data center, which can significantly increase latency, especially for global deployments. In contrast, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Webbing may build their own core network infrastructure with data centers spread all over the world, which helps reduce latency by providing more localized data routing.
Webbing is a full MVNO that owns its core network, which is a fully redundant, distributed network with data centers on every continent. It features local breakouts and a variety of network solutions to support high-performance connectivity. In 2024, Webbing further enhanced its global network by adding new data centers in Japan, Singapore, and Australia. This infrastructure allows to guarantee high data throughput and low latency to all connected devices. As such, Webbing’s network is well suited to support mission-critical, high-data consumption type of use cases. Besides, it gives enterprises the ability to quickly scale their deployments or adjust their existing devices fleet management to any business scenario. The network fully supports all cellular technologies including 4G and 5G.
To learn how Webbing can optimize your mission-critical communications and reduce latency with a custom connectivity solution, contact us today.
