Internet failover & 4G/5G backup in Adelaide
Keep the business connected when the primary internet service goes down, with a fallback planned before an outage.
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On-site work from $180 an hour, Adelaide metro travel included. Remote work from $115 an hour. See all our prices
The short answer
Internet failover adds a second connection, often 4G or 5G with its own SIM, through a router that switches over automatically when the main NBN or fibre link drops. WaTo Consulting installs it on-site for Adelaide businesses, checks mobile signal where the equipment sits, proves it by unplugging the main line and retests it from time to time.
What does internet failover & 4G/5G backup involve?
A second internet connection, often a 4G or 5G service with its own SIM, is connected to a router that watches the main NBN or fibre link. When the main link drops, traffic moves across automatically and moves back once service returns. Part of the job is deciding what must keep working on the backup, such as EFTPOS, phones and cloud apps, and checking the backup has enough signal and data allowance to carry it.
What WaTo can help with
Risk check
Identify which services stop when the connection fails.
Backup connection
Choose a suitable secondary internet or mobile-data option.
Automatic failover
Configure the network to move across with as little interruption as practical.
Regular testing
Make sure the backup still works when it is actually needed.
Who it is for
- A retailer or cafe that can't take card payments whenever the NBN drops out.
- An office running VoIP phones, where an outage means customers ring and get nothing.
- A clinic or practice whose bookings and records system lives in the cloud.
- A business that has already lost a day of trading to an outage and doesn't want a repeat.
How it works
- We work out what an outage would stop. We list the systems that depend on the internet and rank them, so payments and phones are planned for first.
- We test mobile signal on site. 4G and 5G coverage varies inside buildings, so we check which network gives the best signal where the equipment will sit.
- We install and configure the failover. The backup connection goes in through a router that switches automatically, and we unplug the main connection to prove it works.
- We schedule regular checks. Backup SIMs can expire or run out of data without anyone noticing, so the failover is retested from time to time and alerts are set where the equipment allows.
Why WaTo for internet failover & 4G/5G backup
- We prove the switchover by unplugging the main line while your systems are running.
- Signal is checked where the equipment will sit, since a strong signal out the front can be weak in a back room.
- We plan around the systems your business can't trade without, such as EFTPOS, phones or cloud software.
- Adelaide owned and operated since 2001, and on-site when equipment needs installing.
Internet failover & 4G/5G backup questions
What are the ongoing costs of a backup connection?
Mainly a mobile data plan for the backup SIM, plus any router or antenna needed upfront. Because the backup only carries traffic during outages, a smaller data plan is often enough. We help size it so you aren't paying for more than you need.
Will our phones and EFTPOS terminals use the backup automatically?
They will if they connect through the same network as the failover router. Some terminals have their own SIM or connect differently, so we check each device and include it in the failover test.
Should the backup be with a different provider from our main internet?
Usually, yes. A backup on a different carrier's network is less likely to fail at the same time as the main service. We look at what is available at your address and suggest a pairing that makes sense.
What happens to our business when the internet goes down?
Usually email, cloud files, phones over the internet and card payments all stop at once. A backup connection, often 4G or 5G, takes over automatically so the important things keep running until the main service is back.
Does 4G or 5G backup internet actually work for a business?
Yes, for keeping the essentials running. It may not match your main connection's speed, but it keeps payments, email and phones going. We set it up to switch over automatically and test it regularly.
Guides on this topic
- How to keep taking payments when systems are disrupted
- Business continuity and IT recovery planning for small business
Ready to get internet failover & 4G/5G backup sorted?
Tell us what happens to your business when the internet drops and what connection you have now. We will recommend a backup link that takes over when it fails.
Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5pm
