Hybrid Access Improves Quality of Service and Reduces Costs for Network Operators

What is Hybrid Access?

Hybrid Access is a technique for offloading data originally intended for transport across cellular networks onto broadband networks whenever possible. This frees up expensive mobile bandwidth for other customers and allows carriers to take better advantage of existing wired telecom infrastructure.

Some of the primary obstacles are:

• iOS and Android devices are unable to tell when a hotspot is “dead” or not functioning properly
• Manually switching between networks is time consuming and cumbersome
• Consumers end up with interrupted internet access during network changeovers
• Consumer concern about hotspot security

Speedify addresses all of these with seamless channel bonding technology.

Speedify Is an All-in-one Hybrid Access Solution

For MVNOs, the benefits of Hybrid Access through Speedify are twofold – moving more traffic off of LTE and onto Wi-Fi results in bigger savings as well as a better internet experience for customers.

Speedify is a complete solution to channel bonding and Hybrid Access on mobile devices and laptop/desktop computers. It can be built into existing iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS software and runs in the background monitoring and improving network performance for all the apps on the device. The Speedify bonding technology is cost aware and uses policy based routing that can be configured for increased speed or reduced cellular usage. Optional VPN encryption means that Speedify can also keep users secure across public Wi-Fi networks.

Currently, when a consumer connects to a dead hotspot, the device does not automatically fall back to using LTE. Instead, the consumer is stranded without any internet connection. This creates a poor user experience and discourages future use of hotspots. Speedify eliminates this problem.

Speedify Is Used on Millions of Devices Worldwide

Speedify has powered stronger Internet for millions of consumers since 2014

15M

Millions of Speedify downloads worldwide, and growing every day

5⭐️

More than 75,000 5-star reviews for Speedify in the iOS and Android app stores

82

Points of Speedify presence in datacenters around the globe

500TB

Hundreds of terabytes of fast, secure data streamed every week via Speedify

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What Are Hybrid Access Networks?

An ISP with a copper footprint and a cellular network has two ways to reach a customer and, usually, no way to use both at once. Hybrid access is the architecture that changes that – and it has historically needed gateway hardware at both ends.

Speedify is software that bonds fixed and cellular connections without that hardware, which lets an ISP offer a faster, steadier service over the lines it already has.

Take a look at what hybrid access networks are, the forms they take, and how a software approach compares.

What Are Examples of Hybrid Networks?

Here are some examples of hybrid networks:

1. Home Networks: A typical home network often combines Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. Devices like laptops and smartphones connect wirelessly to a Wi-Fi router, while desktop computers and gaming consoles are often connected to the router via Ethernet cables.
2. Enterprise Networks often combine wired and wireless networks to provide flexible connectivity for employees.
   • Wired networks are used for critical infrastructure and servers, while Wi-Fi networks are used for employee devices like laptops and mobile phones.
   • Some enterprises also use cellular networks for remote workers and mobile devices.
3. Campus Networks such as those found in universities and corporate campuses, often combine wired and wireless networks. Wired networks are used for high-bandwidth applications like research and data transfer, while Wi-Fi networks are used for student and faculty devices.
4. Hybrid Cloud Networks combine public and private cloud infrastructure. This allows organizations to leverage the benefits of both public cloud flexibility and private cloud security.

What Are the Main Types of Access Networks?

An access network is a type of network which physically connects an end system to the immediate router (also known as the “edge router”) on a path from the end system to any other distant end system.

The main types of access networks used by ISPs and network carriers are:

• Wired access networks:
  • DSL (Digital Subscriber Line),
  • Cable Internet,
  • Fiber-optic (FTTH),
  • Hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC).
• Wireless access networks:
  • Wi-Fi,
  • Cellular networks (4G, 5G),
  • Satellite.

What Is a Hybrid Access Point? Can CPE Be Used as Access Point?

A hybrid access point is a network device that combines both wired and wireless network technologies. It allows devices to connect to the network using either Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi. This flexibility offers several advantages:

• Unified Network: A hybrid access point simplifies network management by providing a single point of access for both wired and wireless devices.
• Improved Connectivity: It ensures seamless connectivity for all devices, regardless of their connection type.
• Enhanced Flexibility: Hybrid access points can be deployed in various scenarios, from small home networks to large enterprise environments.

When talking about CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) – those too can be used as access points.

A CPE device is typically a network device that connects a user’s premises to a service provider’s network. Many CPE devices, such as cable modems, DSL modems, and routers, have built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing them to function as access points.

Mobile Data Traffic Keeps on Growing

Mobile data traffic is on an exponential rise, accounting for a predicted growth of almost 300% in the following years, according to Statista: “In 2022, the average data used per smartphone per month worldwide amounted to 15 GB. The source forecasts that this will increase to around 46 GB per smartphone per month globally in 2028”. Ericsson’s June 2024 Mobility Report has a similar figure when it comes to mobile data traffic per smartphone. But when looking at total mobile network traffic, they forecast a CAGR of 23% between 2023 and 2029, reaching an impressive 466 EB (exabyte)/month

The main drivers for this growth are the rapid redeployment of 5G networks globally and the escalating consumption of video streaming services, social media and other real-time communication applications. Naturally, the numbers are different from region to region, but the overall trends are the same.

Speedify Business Solutions

Speedify Teams

Get faster uploads and downloads and a more reliable internet connection for all the people and devices in your business.

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Speedify for Routers

Power your OpenWRT, GL.iNET, or Miri router with Speedify and combine Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 4G, 5G, Starlink and other satellite internet connections together.

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Speedify Embedded Solutions and Integrations

Embed Speedify software into your app or hardware products and leverage the core channel bonding technology of Speedify in new and interesting ways.

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