Intelligent SD-WAN & Network Control
Your internet is fast, but is it smart? We source platforms that bond diverse connections (Fiber, 5G, Coax) into a single, unbreakable network that prioritizes voice traffic.
Unbreakable Internet
This technology bonds multiple internet lines together. If your main fiber line cuts, the system instantly routes traffic to your 5G backup without dropping your phone call.
Traffic Steering
Not all data is equal. The system identifies mission-critical apps (like Zoom or VoIP) and gives them priority, while pushing YouTube or social media to the slower line.
Why Do Businesses Need SD-WAN?
In the past, businesses relied on expensive “MPLS” private lines to guarantee quality. Today, businesses use public internet (Fiber, Cable, 5G). While cheaper, public internet is “messy”—packets get lost, and jitter occurs. Network virtualization fixes this by placing an intelligent “Brain” at the edge of your network.
1. Packet-Level Steering (QoS)
Imagine your internet connection is a highway. Without management, Netflix traffic from the breakroom gets stuck in the same traffic jam as your CEO’s video conference. We source managed providers that inspect every packet.
If the system sees a “Voice” packet, it opens a fast lane. If it sees “Social Media,” it throttles it back. This ensures your VoIP Phone System stays crystal clear.
2. Seamless Failover
Standard failover is “clunky.” When your primary internet dies, it often takes 30-60 seconds for the backup to kick in, dropping all your calls. Software Defined WAN is different. It keeps both lines active simultaneously.
If packet loss is detected on Line A (Fiber), the system moves the call to Line B (5G Business Internet) in milliseconds—so fast the human ear can’t even hear the glitch.
3. Sourcing the Right Vendor
The edge networking market is crowded. There are dozens of players like VeloCloud (VMware), Cato Networks, Bigleaf, and Aryaka. As your broker, Alamo Telecom helps you navigate this landscape.
- Orchestrator-Based: For IT teams that want full control (e.g., VeloCloud).
- Network-as-a-Service (NaaS): For companies that want a “set it and forget it” global backbone (e.g., Cato).
- Application-Based: Optimized specifically for VoIP/Cloud (e.g., Bigleaf).
Moving Toward SASE
The future of this technology is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). This combines network steering with cloud security (Firewall-as-a-Service). Instead of buying a separate firewall box and a routing box, we can source a unified solution that does both.
Comparison: SD-WAN vs. MPLS
Many of our enterprise clients ask if they should keep their old MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) circuits. While MPLS is reliable, it is expensive, slow to deploy, and rigid. Here is why most Texas businesses are switching:
- ❌ MPLS (The Old Way): High cost per megabit. If you need more speed, it can take 90 days to provision a new line. It creates a “bottleneck” where all traffic must go back to the headquarters before going to the cloud.
- ✅ SD-WAN (The New Way): Uses affordable public internet (Fiber/5G) to create a private-feeling network. It allows “Direct-to-Cloud” access, meaning a remote office can connect to Office 365 directly without slowing down the main HQ network.
For most multi-site organizations, switching from MPLS to a dual-internet design lowers monthly costs by 30-50% while doubling available bandwidth.
Learn more about network virtualization standards at the MEF Forum.