TL;DR
LTE backup internet sounds like a smart safeguard, but too often it’s misused, misunderstood, or misrepresented. Businesses that rely on consumer-grade LTE for failover may experience hidden costs, poor performance, or even complete failure when it matters most. This article unpacks the hidden risks—and how to avoid them.
What LTE Failover Should Do
When properly implemented, LTE-based backup internet offers:
- A secondary pathway when fibre, DSL, or cable fails
- Automatic failover without human intervention
- Consistent application availability (VoIP, VPN, cloud tools)
- Continuity of business operations during outages
But most off-the-shelf or unmanaged LTE solutions fail to deliver that.
5 Hidden Risks of DIY LTE Backup
1. High Latency Can Break Real-Time Apps
LTE connections typically have 20–60% higher latency than wired circuits. This leads to:
- Choppy VoIP calls or dropped calls altogether
- Lag in video conferencing (Zoom, Teams)
- Delays in EMRs or point-of-sale sync
- Frustration during remote desktop or cloud file access
If your app depends on low latency, LTE needs to be properly tested, monitored, and tuned.
2. Rate Limiting and Throttling Kill Performance
Even with a “unlimited” LTE plan, your carrier may:
- Throttle speeds after 10–50 GB of use
- Deprioritize your traffic during peak hours
- Reduce upload speeds—crippling cloud backups, EMR syncing, or VoIP QoS
And you won’t always get a warning before it happens.
3. Usage-Based Billing Surprises
Many business LTE plans charge:
- By the GB (e.g., $10 per GB after a soft cap)
- Or jump to higher rate tiers automatically after thresholds
- Without alerting the business until the monthly bill arrives
During a weekend outage or with multiple users online, LTE backup usage can exceed 30–50 GB/day—easily translating into hundreds of dollars in unexpected fees.
Example: A restaurant running a cloud POS, online ordering, and kitchen displays might burn through 8–12 GB/hour during lunch or dinner rush.
4. Weak Signal = Weak Failover
LTE failover often lives inside a network rack, under a desk, or in a basement. Without:
- External antennas
- Signal boosters
- Proper mounting or line-of-sight to a tower
…it’s just as likely to fail as your wired line. Some LTE devices silently connect at 1–2 Mbps, rendering the connection useless for business.
5. Security and Device Risk
Off-the-shelf LTE devices may lack:
- Tunnel encryption (traffic travels over the open internet)
- Firewall configuration or NAT rules
- Firmware updates
- Device lockdown (USB sticks can be stolen or reused elsewhere)
A compromised failover path could leave your business vulnerable to interception, compliance violations, or rogue access.
Bonus Risk: False Sense of Security
Perhaps the biggest danger is this:
Businesses believe they have backup internet…
but don’t realize it’s failing silently or breaking things during switchover.
If your VoIP phones deregister, VPN collapses, or your team is kicked out of Microsoft 365 during failover, you’re not protected—just delayed.
How to Get LTE Failover Right
If you rely on LTE for backup, here’s what to look for:
| Must-Have Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Static IP continuity | Keeps cloud apps, VoIP, VPNs stable |
| Encrypted tunnel (IPsec/GRE) | Protects traffic + enables IP preservation |
| Usage alerting | Prevents billing surprises |
| External antenna & signal test | Ensures usable speed and resilience |
| Managed deployment & testing | Confirms that failover works the way it should |
| 24/7 monitoring + human support | Because robots don’t answer at 4 PM on a Friday |
Fidalia UltraSwitch: LTE Failover Without the Guesswork
Fidalia’s UltraSwitch™ offering is built to eliminate every one of these risks.
It includes:
- Pre-configured LTE modem with signal-tested antenna
- Static-IP tunnel for uninterrupted apps
- Encrypted failover with SOC 2-compliant logging
- Real-time monitoring from our Canadian NOC
- Data usage thresholds and alerts
- Expert support for healthcare, VoIP, legal, and remote office users
Get a readiness assessment before your next outage finds you unprepared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LTE reliable for business failover?
LTE can be reliable if properly configured with static IP tunnels, signal-boosting hardware, and usage monitoring. Consumer-grade LTE modems often fail in business environments due to signal issues, IP changes, and lack of failover readiness.
What happens if I go over my LTE data limit?
Exceeding your data cap on an LTE failover plan can trigger speed throttling or expensive overage charges. Businesses may unknowingly accumulate hundreds in additional costs during outages without proper usage monitoring or flat-rate plans. Fidalia’s UltraSwitch backup internet service monitors data usage and can make changes and send alerts to let you know when your LTE data limit is at risk.
Can VoIP or VPN work over LTE failover?
Yes—but only if the LTE failover maintains IP continuity. Without a static IP tunnel, VoIP and VPN sessions often break during failover, causing dropped calls and forced logouts. It’s also important to note that LTE’s latency is notoriously unpredictable – and latency affects VoIP in a big way. So if VoIP is really important to your business, LTE may not be the best option. Fidalia offers many alternatives to LTE for failover and primary connections.
What risks are there with consumer LTE modems?
Consumer LTE modems may be prone to poor signal strength, lack of IP control, no encryption, limited failover logic, and theft. They are not typically designed for business continuity or compliance.
How can I make LTE failover more secure and reliable?
Use managed LTE with encrypted tunnels, static IP preservation, proactive monitoring, and signal-optimized deployment. Fidalia’s UltraSwitch™ service includes all of this in one managed solution.