FAQ
Cisco 4G-LTE 2.0:
Wireless WAN Cards for ISRs
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Page 1 of 14
Contents
General Product and Technology Information ...................................................................................................... 3
Matching Firmware to Providers and Regions ...................................................................................................... 4
Carrier-Provided Dongles and External Modems ................................................................................................. 5
Product and Technology Compatibilities .............................................................................................................. 6
Feature and Protocol Support ................................................................................................................................ 9
Configuration and Operations .............................................................................................................................. 10
Use Cases and Applications ................................................................................................................................. 12
Glossary and Terms .............................................................................................................................................. 13
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Page 2 of 14
General Product and Technology Information
Q. What is 4G-LTE?
A.
4G-LTE is an evolution of 3G cellular technology, overseen by the Third-Generation Partnership Project
(3GPP) standards body. 4G-LTE standards are defined in the 3GPP Release 8 standard. The 4G-LTE release
improves mobile network speeds by 20 times or more. It also lowers latency by five-fold to compete with wired
WAN connections.
Q. What is Cisco offering with 4G-LTE?
A.
Details about the Cisco® 4G-LTE solution are listed at http://www.cisco.com/go/4g. In summary, Cisco is on
Release 2.0 of its LTE products. We offer:
●
Network Interface Module (NIM) cards for use with the Cisco 4000 (4400 and 4300) Series Integrated
Services Routers
●
Enhanced high-speed WAN interface cards (EHWICs) for use with Cisco ISR Generation 2 1900, 2900, and
3900 routers
●
Cisco 819, 880, and 890 series fixed ISRs, which support 4G-LTE connections with the same options as the
EHWICs
Table 1 provides an overview of the NIM, EHWIC, and router options for 4G-LTE connectivity.
Table 1.
Overview of Cisco 4G-LTE Connection Options
SKU
Description
Cisco IOS Software Image
Availability
NIM-4G-LTE-VZ/ST/NA/GA
NIM for Cisco 4300 and 4400 series modular ISRs
Cisco IOS® XE Software 3.15
or later
June 2015
15.5(1)T1 or later
June 2015
15.5(1)T1 or later
June 2015
15.5(1)T1 or later
January
2015
15.5(1)T1 or later
June 2015
VZ - Verizon
ST - Sprint
NA- North America (AT&T/Bell/Roger/Telus etc)
GA - Europe and ANZ
EHWIC-4G-LTE-VZ/ST/AT/CA/GB/AU
(Replacing EHWIC-4G-LTEV/A/G/BE/JP)
EHWIC for Cisco 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series
modular ISRs.
VZ: Verizon
ST- Sprint
AT - AT&T
CA - Canada (Bell/Roger/Telus etc.)
GB - Europe
AU - ANZ
C899G-LTE-VZ/ST/NA/GA
Cisco 89x fixed ISR series
C898EAG-LTE-GA
VZ - Verizon
C897VAG-LTE-GA
ST - Sprint
C896VAG-LTE-GA
NA- North America (AT&T/Bell/Roger/Telus)
GA - Europe and ANZ
C881G-4G-GA
Cisco 88x fixed ISR series
C887VAG-4G-GA
GA-Europe
C819G-4G-VZ/ST/NA/GA
(replacing C819(H)G-4GV/A/G/BE/JP)
Cisco 819 fixed ISRs (nonhardened only)
VZ: Verizon
ST- Sprint
NA -North America (AT&T/Bell/Roger/Telus/etc.)
GA - Europe and ANZ
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Page 3 of 14
Q. What is the difference between an EHWIC and a NIM?
A.
NIMs run on the newer Cisco ISR 4000 (4400 and 4300) plaforms in a powerful NIM slot, while EHWICS run
on ISR G2 (1900, 2900, and 3900) platforms.
Q. Do the various wireless WAN cards use different 4G-LTE modem hardware, depending on form factor or
region?
A.
The 4G-LTE modems are exactly the same for a given prefix across different series of ISRs. Table 2 shows
which Cisco SKUs (part numbers) use which modems.
Table 2.
Matching Modems to Wireless WAN Cards
SKU (Part Number)
Modem
NIM-4G-LTE-VZ/ST
EHWIC-4G-LTE-VZ/ST
C8xxG-4G/LTE-VZ/ST
MC7350
NIM-4G-LTE-NA
EHWIC-4G-LTE-AT/CA
C8xxG-4G/LTE-NA
MC7354
NIM-4G-LTE-GA
EHWIC-4G-LTE-GB/AU
C8xxG-4G/LTE-GA
MC7304
Customer can choose a specific firmware package depending on the
region and service provider, and Cisco manufacturing will load that
package prior to shipment.
Q. Are there any bundled ISR offerings with the 4G-LTE EHWIC or NIM?
A.
Yes, please refer to Table 5 in the 4G-LTE data sheet at
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/4g-lte-wireless-wan-enhanced-highspeed-wan-interface-card/datasheet_c78-710314.html.
Matching Firmware to Providers and Regions
Q. What is firmware switching? Why is it needed?
A.
Cisco has tried to consolidate hardware versions across multiple regions and network service providers.
However, because 4G-LTE network services have some nuances that are dependent on the provider and
region, we have created firmware packages to account for differences in features and settings. The
appropriate firmware can be uploaded to the modem in the factory by choosing a specific firmware during the
ordering process, or it can be uploaded in the field by the customer. The process used is the same as firmware
upgrades for any previous SKU. The detailed procedure can be found in the configuration guides for 4G-LTE
on ISR G2 and ISR 4000 routers.
Q. Are different firmware versions available for the Cisco 4G-LTE NIMs and EHWICs?
A.
Yes. Different firmware versions may be introduced from time to time to address feature enhancements or
carrier-specific functions. The firmware will be available for download on Cisco.com, similar to the procedure
for updating Cisco IOS Software images. The current minimum firmware versions required in the field are
listed in Table 3.
Table 3.
Current Firmware Versions
SKU
Default Firmware Version
SKU ending with LTE-AT/CA/NA or 4G-AT/CA/NA
FW 5.5.58.0
SKU ending with LTE-VZ/ST or 4G-VZ/ST
FW 5.5.58.01
SKU ending with LTE-GA/GB/AU or 4G-GA/GB/AU
FW 5.5.58.0
SKU ending with LTE-A or 4G-A
FW 3.5.10.2
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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SKU
Default Firmware Version
SKU ending with LTE-V or 4G-V
FW 3.5.10.6
SKU ending with LTE-G or 4G-G
FW 3.5.29.0
SKU ending with LTE-BE or 4G-BE
FW 3.5.14.0
Note:
For more details on Cisco EHWIC models for ISR G2 platforms, please refer to the
EWHIC data sheet.
Q. Is the firmware bundled with the Cisco IOS Software image?
A.
No, the firmware comes preloaded with the Cisco 4G-LTE wireless WAN NIM and EHWIC.
Q. How do I upgrade my firmware?
A.
When a new firmware version is released, it is made available at the Cisco website. To upgrade the firmware
of your modem, download the correct firmware and copy it to the router flash memory. Then use the Cisco IOS
Software command-line interface (CLI) to complete the upgrade process. Please refer to the software
installation guide for details about the procedure.
Carrier-Provided Dongles and External Modems
Q. Can I use an off-the-shelf USB dongle provided by my service provider for 4G-LTE with my ISR G2 router?
A.
No, the USB dongle is not supported and the router won’t recognize it. A USB dongle-based solution does not
provide an enterprise-class solution. Here’s why:
●
External USB modems and dongles can’t deliver the end-to-end security, manageability, and quality that
Cisco can offer. Cisco wireless WAN solutions are tested and certified with the service providers as an
overall system, not with individual modems such as a USB dongle or modem.
●
External USB based modems will separate the interface into your corporate network from the feature-rich
platform you have chosen to secure your business (i.e., the Cisco router and its industry-leading feature set
of security and routing protocols). USB modems negate the use of these Cisco rich routing features.
●
Cisco router certification tests include not just throughput and performance testing, but also tests for
electromagnetic interference (EMI), noise, and other interference to guarantee overall superior quality and
performance. Though most of the 3G and 4G modems and dongles from your carrier comply with the 3GPP
or 3GPP2 technology specifications, they haven’t been certified as part of the overall system. The result
could be quality and performance degradation, as you forfeit Cisco automated performance management
capabilities.
●
With USB modems, you don’t get the robust management capabilities that Cisco solutions offer, including:
◦ Customer premises equipment (CPE)-based 3G and 4G MIBs for remote management.
◦ The ability to combine the Cisco cellular interface with extensive Cisco IOS Software features to establish
IP service-level agreements (IP SLAs).
◦ Automatic dial backup.
◦ Software and hardware locking to prevent theft.
◦ A robust mechanical design and huge portfolio of certified indoor and outdoor antenna solutions.
●
The lifecycle of a USB modem is about 9 to 12 months. Cisco’s WWAN modems come with a 5-year
support agreement that protects them against any end-of-life or end-of-sale announced by third-party
modem vendors.
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Page 5 of 14
●
The software-locking mechanism allows Cisco customers to negotiate special “business” or “enterprise” rate
plans and discounts from the service providers.
●
USB solutions can’t support the current or future speeds of cellular networks, don’t work with a variety of
antennas, and do not support Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.
Q. What are some other reasons that Cisco solutions outshine external modem options?
A.
Here are a few:
●
Cisco 4G-LTE solutions are certified with more than 100 carriers worldwide.
●
Cisco supports an extensive portfolio of VPN technologies including IP Security (IPsec) VPN, Easy VPN,
Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN), and others.
●
Our 4G-LTE solution supports split tunneling; cloud offerings such as ScanSafe; and rich services such as
Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS), Cisco Performance Routing (PfR), IP service-level
agreements (IP SLAs), and Cisco Application Visibility and Control (AVC).
Product and Technology Compatibilities
Q. Is 4G-LTE supported on the first-generation ISRs?
A.
No, 4G-LTE is supported only on second-generation ISRs (Cisco 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series ISRs) and later
platforms, such as the and Cisco 4000 (4300 and 4400) Series ISRs. It is not supported on the first-generation
ISR routers such as the Cisco 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series or earlier. Built-in connections, however, are
available on non-modular (‘fixed”) 819, 880, and 890 series ISRs.
Q. What 4G-LTE frequencies and bands are supported?
A.
The 4G-LTE solution is a multimode LTE device. It supports various LTE, 3G, and 2G mode frequency
combinations depending on the specific SKU. For exact details per SKU, please refer to Table 1 in the data
sheet at http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/4g-lte-wireless-wan-enhancedhigh-speed-wan-interface-card/datasheet_c78-732559.html.
Q. What antennas and accessories do I need for 4G-LTE to work?
A.
By default, 4G-LTE NIMs, EHWICs, and routers ship with two dipole antennas and one 10-foot extender.
Depending on your placement of the router, an extended antenna and cable may be required for optimal
cellular signal reception. Cisco offers three additional types: ceiling mount, panel mount, and omnidirectional
outdoor antennas with a coaxial cable up to 75 feet in length. Exact SKU and ordering details are listed at
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps5949/ps7272/datasheet_c78-710314.html.
Q. Does the Cisco 4G-LTE solution work on older networks such as 3G and 2G services?
A.
As a multimode solution, Cisco 4G-LTE interfaces can fall back to 3G or 2G networks as per availability and
coverage of your service provider. On the Verizon network, for example, Cisco 4G-LTE can fall back to 1x
Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) and 2G (1xRTT) networks. Similarly, on AT&T and global networks, it can
fall back from 4G-LTE to Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) networks.
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Q. Why do I need two antennas? Can I use just one?
A.
Cisco 4G LTE WWAN NIMs and EHWICs support 2 x 2 multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. Cisco
4G LTE NIMs and EHWICs ship with two 4G, 3G, and 2G multiband swivel-mount dipole antennas and two
extended low-loss RF cables. Technically, only one antenna will transmit or receive at any point in time, but
using both antennas and cables will ensure the most optimal use by taking advantage of MIMO and multipath
diversity. With this setup you get a higher quality signal, which helps improve your throughput.
Note:
The MIMO and multipath diversity improve with distance between the two antennas. Please use the
10-foot cable extenders provided to place antennas as far apart as possible to achieve better radio conditions.
Q. What are Cisco 4G LTE performance and latency?
A.
Cisco 4G LTE 2.0 NIMs and EHWICs support LTE Category 3 (LTE CAT3) with peak uplink and downlink
speeds of 50 and 100 Mbps, respectively, on the 10- and 20-MHz channels. Round-trip time (RTT) on the LTE
is less than 50 ms. Compared to 3G, the bandwidth is 20 times more and the latency is 5 times less.
Note:
These performance numbers are theoretical limits and may not be seen in production networks;
contact your preferred wireless carrier for expected performance rates.
Q. How can I install 4G-LTE on the ISRs?
A.
The 4G-LTE hardware installation guide explains how to install the 4G-LTE on an ISR:
●
The guide for installing NIMs on the ISR 4000 Series router is available at
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/4000-series-integrated-services-routersisr/datasheet-C78-734341.html.
●
The ISR G2 installation can be found at
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/routers/access/interfaces/ic/hardware/installation/guide/EHWIC-4GLTEHW.html.
Q. How do I connect to 4G-LTE networks?
A.
As with any cellular network, you need an active subscription from a service provider. When you subscribe to a
4G-LTE service, you will be given an active subscriber identity module (SIM) card to install in your ISR. The
hardware installation guide explains how to insert the SIM card in the 4G-LTE NIMs, EHWIC, or fixed ISR.
After you install the active SIM card, you need to follow the software configuration guide to set up the router to
make a data call to 4G-LTE networks and get an IP address. After that, it’s the same as routing over any other
WAN interface.
Q. Do the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN NIM, EHWIC, or fixed ISRs ship preloaded with SIM cards?
A.
No. You must obtain the SIM card from a supported wireless carrier, and the card must be associated with an
appropriate rate plan.
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Q. Do you support dual SIM cards?
A.
We support dual SIM cards only on the Cisco ISR 819 platforms where two cellular service providers are
supported by the same 4G-LTE modem. The Cisco 819 platform has one cellular modem and two SIM
cardslots. In the United States, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T have dedicated specific SKUs for the modem to
work on their networks. Thus, the Cisco 819 on the AT&T network cannot work on the Verizon or Sprint
network and vice versa. The dual-SIM feature is not supported on a Verizon or AT&T SKU. The modular ISRs
can have multiple NIMs or EHWICs, providing more flexibility than the dual SIM-based solution, so dual SIM is
not supported on the NIM and EHWIC form factors.
Q. Can I use the SIM card from my personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet, or smartphone in the Cisco 4G-LTE
WWAN NIM, EHWIC, or fixed ISR?
A.
No. Typically service providers have different data plans for different devices. Check with your service provider
for the appropriate data plans for your usage.
Q. How do I configure the 4G-LTE on a Cisco ISR?
A.
The 4G-LTE software installation guide explains how to configure the 4G-LTE interface on a Cisco ISR G2 and
fixed ISRs. You can find the guide at
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/routers/access/interfaces/software/feature/guide/EHWIC-4G-LTESW.html.
The NIM configuration for ISR 4000 routers is provided at
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/routers/access/interfaces/software/feature/guide/NIM-4G-LTESW.html.
Q. Is time-division duplexing LTE (TD-LTE) supported on the Cisco 4G-LTE solution?
A.
Current Cisco offerings work only in frequency-division duplexing LTE (FD-LTE) mode on supported
frequencies. TD-LTE will be supported in future products.
Q. Does the Cisco Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMPVN) feature of Cisco Intelligent WAN (IWAN) support
3G/4G/LTE interfaces?
A.
Yes, using DMVPN, IWAN allows easy multi-homing over any wired or wireless broadband carrier service
offering.
Q. What features are supported on the Cisco 4G-LTE WWAN NIMs, EHWICs, and fixed ISRs?
A.
The following features are supported on the Cisco 4G-LTE WWAN platforms:
●
Cisco Network Mobility (NeMo, Mobile IP, and Mobile Router)
●
2 x 2 MIMO antenna
●
Evolved high-rate packet data (eHRPD) for smooth handover between LTE and EVDO
●
Inter-radio access technology (I-RAT) for smooth handover between LTE, HSPA, and non-3GPP networks
●
4G Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) MIBs
●
Short Message Service (SMS) over IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) using IPv6 IMS bearer; service
provider-dependent
●
Active standalone Global Positioning System (GPS) with external SubMiniature version A (SMA) antenna
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Page 8 of 14
Feature and Protocol Support
Q. Can I use IP Security (IPsec) with the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN modules and cards?
A.
Yes. All security features of the Cisco ISR routers are supported on the Cisco 4G WWAN NIMs and EHWICs:
Site-to-Site IPsec Tunnel, DMVPN, Group Encrypted Transport VPN (GET VPN), and Generic Routing
Encapsulation (GRE) tunnels. An appropriate security license must be installed in Cisco IOS Software for the
ISR G2 modular platforms.
Q. Can I use dynamic routing protocols over the 4G-LTE?
A.
Yes. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is supported over 4G-LTE because it’s a TCP-based protocol and can
form adjacency with a routed Layer 3 neighbor. Other dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, and RIP) are
supported over the 4G-LTE using a GRE tunnel. This is because Cisco 4G-LTE WAN interfaces on ISRs have
the cellular provider’s Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW) as an IP-layer next-hop neighbor. Thus
any meaningful routing protocol to route private IP information behind the ISR in an enterprise network will
require configuration of a GRE tunnel over the 4G-LTE to form routing adjacencies between two CPE routers.
Q. Is voice supported on the Cisco 4G-LTE solution?
A.
The Cisco 4G-LTE solution does not support circuit-switched voice such as for a cell phone. Cisco IOS
Software has rich VoIP features, and you can use the 4G-LTE as a WAN interface to transport VoIP calls over
a data connection.
Q. How many VoIP calls does the Cisco 4G-LTE solution support?
A.
According to the service provider guidelines for the average bandwidth per user, Cisco 4G-LTE should support
between 5 and 15 VoIP calls. The number of VoIP calls supported on the 4G-LTE connection depends on how
much bandwidth is available at any time. The bandwidth is affected by many factors including the distance
from the cell tower, received signal strength indicator (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal to interference
noise ratio (SINR), local radio interferences, surroundings, and the number of users trying to access the same
cell tower. Cisco IOS Software has rich QoS features to give preferential treatment to voice packets ahead of
data packets to improve the user experience during the call.
Note:
Any performance guidance is a best effort.
Q. Can I configure advanced Cisco IOS Software features such as VPN and dynamic routing over the
Cisco 4G-LTE interface?
A.
All relevant advanced features in Cisco IOS Software are supported on Cisco 4G-LTE, including VPNs,
dynamic routing, tunneling, Mobile IP, and many more. Please refer to the 4G-LTE WAN deployment guide at
http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/interfaces/software/deployment/guide/c07-73148400-ngewan.pdf.
Q. Can I get guaranteed bandwidth over my 4G-LTE connection? Is QoS supported over 4G-LTE?
A.
Cisco 4G-LTE is hardware-ready to support LTE QoS. Software support will be added in conjunction with
service provider infrastructure support for end-to-end LTE QoS. The 3GPP standards have ratified end-to-end
QoS over the 4G-LTE network (both the backhaul and radio network segments). As part of the standards, the
cellular service provider will be able to guarantee certain bandwidth and QoS over the radio to individual users
based on the subscription. Many service providers are currently working to implement the QoS standards and
are debating the best possible way to make it available to their customers. Cisco will provide software updates
to cover service provider-specific LTE QoS implementation.
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Page 9 of 14
With regard to Cisco IOS Software QoS support, Cisco IOS Software has Hierarchical QoS (HQoS) features
that you can use to give preferential treatment to packets going out of the 4G-LTE interface. Although this QoS
is not an end-to-end QoS, it helps improve the user experience by giving preferential treatment to businesscritical applications over noncritical ones in a branch-office environment.
Q. What management capabilities are available for the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN NIMs and EHWICs?
A.
You can configure and monitor the Cisco 4G LTE WWAN NIMs and EHWICs from the router command-line
interface (CLI) using Cisco IOS Software commands. You can use all of the router management techniques
such as remote Telnet, SSH, SNMP MIBs, and others to manage the 4G-LTE connection.
For remote management capabilities, the interface MIB provides traps for interface up-and-down events.
The MIBs are specifically developed to provide 4G cellular parameters such as signal strength, type of service,
and many more. Supplemental MIBs will be introduced to cover the new capabilities as the Cisco 4G-LTE
solution evolves. For details about the MIB parameters, please refer to the 4G-LTE software installation guide
at http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/interfaces/software/feature/guide/EHWIC-4GLTESW.html#wp1234550. The cellular MIBs provide information about all cellular modes including 4G, 3G,
and 2G.
Q. Can I use Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) Express over Cisco 4G-LTE connections?
A.
No, WAAS Express is only supported on serial and Gigabit Ethernet connections. The full WAAS solution,
however, is supported on Cisco 4G-LTE 2.0 solutions.
Configuration and Operations
Q. Can I use the GPS clock from the 4G-LTE interface to set the router clock?
A.
No. The router clock cannot be set with the GPS time-stamp information.
Q. Can I use multiple 4G-LTE NIMs or EHWICs in a modular platform?
A.
Yes, you can use 2 or more 4G-LTE NIMs or EHWICs in one ISR 4000 or ISR G2 platform, respectively. We
support maximum NIM or EHWIC slot density on the given platform; for example, 2 on the Cisco 1900 Series
and 4 on the Cisco 2900 or 3900 platforms. On the ISR 4000 series, you can run 2 NIMs on the 4321 and
4331 model or 3 NIMs on the 4351, 4431, and 4451 models. You can use the multiple NIMs or EHWICs as
multiple independent WAN interfaces per service provider in a given region. Cisco IOS Software has rich
routing features that allow you to do load balancing, standby, or other combinations across the multiple WAN
interfaces. For details about platform density, please refer to
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10536/prod_series_comparison.html.
Q. Do multiple NIM/EHWICs interfere with each other? Do I need to choose specific NIM/EHWIC slots?
A.
In a multiple-NIM/EHWIC scenario, the NIMs and EHWICs are independent of each other and can be placed
in any slot. If they are for the same service provider, they will share the radio, and keeping the antennas as far
apart as possible is recommended. If they connect to two different service providers, they operate on different
radio frequencies and will not interfere with each other, so there are no limitations on relative antenna
placements.
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Page 10 of 14
Q. Can I bond 2 4G-LTE NIMs and EHWICs like channel bonding for more throughput?
A.
No. Because you’re running a logical Layer 3 connection, bonding at the Radio Link Control (RLC) level is not
possible. The 4G-LTE connection to the network is considered a Layer 3 point-to-point connection from the
cellular modem to the Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW) in the cellular network. However, Cisco
IOS Software contains rich features that enable bandwidth aggregation at layer 3 using load-balancing
techniques such as Performance Routing (PfR).
Q. Can I use multiple NIMs and EHWICs to get more throughput?
A.
Yes, with certain limitations. The NIMs and EHWICs connecting to the same service provider share the
bandwidth over the air because they are served by the same cell tower. This setup may limit the amount of air
time each card gets. If the NIMs and EHWICs are from two different service providers, the throughput will be
better because the NIMs and EHWICs use two different cell towers. The bandwidth aggregation should be
done at Layer 3. Cisco IOS Software provides various load-balancing methods across two or more WAN
interfaces.
Q. Do I need a special license to use the 4G-LTE on a Cisco ISR?
A.
The 4G-LTE NIMs/EHWIC cellular interfaces work with the IP-BASE license on Cisco ISR G2 modular
platforms. For advanced features in conjunction with the 4G-LTE-based cellular interface, follow the Cisco IOS
Software licensing guideline for advanced Cisco IOS Software features such as security (VPNs), Mobile IP,
and voice over IP (VoIP).
Q. Is Verizon Mobile Private Network (MPN) service for 4G-LTE supported on the ISR 4000?
A.
Verizon MPN services use Cisco Network Mobility with Mobile IP (NeMo with MIP). The ISR 4000 router is
based on Cisco IOS XE Software and does not support NeMo. The alternative is to use the Proxy Mobile IP
(PMIP) protocol, the next generation of NeMo with MIP. It enables support for IPv6.
Q. Do I need a special license for Verizon Mobile Private Network (MPN) service for 4G-LTE on the ISR G2?
A.
Verizon MPN services’ use of the Mobile IP protocol requires a DATA license to be installed on the modular
ISR G2. Similarly, if VPNs are part of the deployment, the SEC-K9 license on modular platforms must be
installed.
The fixed platforms come with an advance IPservices license by default and do not need any other license.
Q. Can I make the Cisco 4G-LTE work in a specific mode such as LTE-only, 3G-only, or 2G-only?
A.
Yes, the Cisco IOS Software has an enable-mode CLI:
Device# cellular 0/0/0 lte technology ?
auto
Automatic LTE Technology Selection
cdma-1xrtt
cdma-evdo
CDMA 1xRTT
CDMA EVDO Rev A
cdma-hybrid HYBRID CDMA
gsm
GSM
lte
LTE
umts
UMTS
User Equipment (such as routers, cell-phones) can only set the preference but the
Service Provider network can deny it based on their network and service settings.
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Page 11 of 14
Q. What bands does Cisco support for LTE?
A.
Please see Table 4 for specifics.
Table 4.
Cisco 4G-LTE Band and Frequency Support by Carrier
Use Cases and Applications
Q. Can I use the 4G-LTE interface as backup to the primary WAN interface?
A.
Yes, Cisco IOS Software has a rich feature set to achieve the transition based on customer requirements such
as dialer-watch, object tracking, etc.
Q. Can I use the 4G-LTE as a primary interface?
A.
Yes. As per the service provider guidelines, 4G-LTE offers speeds in the range of 5 to 12 Mbps in the downlink
direction and 2 to 5 Mbps in the uplink direction. With such high speeds, it certainly can be a primary WAN
connection for many deployments.
You can send an email message to Cisco at 4g-interest@external.cisco.com to request a discussion of your
individual deployment to help you decide if 4G-LTE will suffice as a primary link for you.
Q. When might I use 4G-LTE as a primary WAN? And what are some applications for Cisco 4G LTE WWAN
NIMs and EHWICs?
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A.
Cisco 4G-LTE offers a secure, simplified, and cost-effective WAN alternative to terrestrial broadband services
(cable, DSL, Frame Relay, T1) in places where they are not available or are expensive. For businesses
requiring rapid setup or temporary connectivity, Cisco 4G-LTE enables you to bring up a new site quickly and
cost-effectively. Using the integrated services available on Cisco ISR routers, Cisco 4G LTE WWAN NIMs and
EHWICs can provide instant and mobile communications during disasters and service outages.
Cisco 4G-LTE is particularly suitable for applications that need high data bandwidth, low latency, and high
security requirements such as interactive business video and telepresence. They are also ideal for
transactional applications, such as bank ATMs and gas station kiosks, and for telemetry sites.
Q. How many users does the Cisco 4G-LTE interface support?
A.
Please refer to the ISR G2 and ISR 4000 platform guidelines for a guide to the number of users supported. In
enterprise deployments, the number of users depends on the type of applications used and the amount of
bandwidth and latency those applications require. It also depends on the number and type of networking
features being used. In addition, the characteristics of the 4G-LTE interface such as variable bandwidth,
average bandwidth, and shared nature of radio network should be factored in.
Glossary and Terms
Q. What is Cisco Network Mobility (NeMo)?
A.
Cisco NeMo is an ISR capability that enables service providers to transform the way they integrate and scale
wireless-to-wireline VPNs. Cisco NeMo Version 4 is for service providers that deploy the Mobile IP (MIP)
solution to extend private routing over 4G-LTE, similar to Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) WAN access.
For more details about Cisco NeMo, please refer to:
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios/solutions_docs/mobile_ip/mobil_ip.html.
Q. What is Proxy Mobile IP?
A.
Proxy Mobile IP is an IETF protocol (RFC 5213) designed with cellular WAN links in mind. This protocol,
supported in Cisco 4G-LTE, allows network mobility of private enterprise subnets and CPE and maintains
private IP routing convergence. This protocol takes care of connectivity, routing convergence, and security
without relying on dynamic routing protocols or other methods. This is simple to deploy and scale to hundreds
of thousands of CPE across the same or multiple virtual routing and forwarding instances (VRFs). It has MultiVRF, multipath support along with Network Address Translation (NAT) Traversal, UDP tunnel mode, and many
more advanced features. This is the ideal protocol to use for enterprise deployments given the relatively high
packet loss, delay, and jitter characteristics of a cellular link. More details are available at
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/mob_pmipv6/configuration/xe-3s/deployment/mob-pmipv6deploy/Proxy_Mobile_IPv6_Network-Based_Mobility.html.
Q. What is LTE-Advanced (LTE-A)?
A.
LTE-A is the name often used in the United States and South Korea for the next generation of cellular network,
which has greater speeds of up to 100 Mbps in the downlink direction and up to 50 Mbps in the uplink
direction. Depending on carrier and country, you might also see LTE-Advanced referred to as “4G+” and
“XLTE.”
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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Printed in USA
© 2015 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
C67-641302-05
07/15
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