Intelligent routing dynamically distributes network traffic across multiple WAN links — cellular, broadband, MPLS, and satellite — selecting the best path for each application based on real-time link quality, application requirements, and policy rules that prioritize critical traffic over background data.
Organizations with multiple WAN links often use them inefficiently — routing all traffic over the primary link until it's saturated, then failing to cellular as a last resort. Intelligent routing platforms measure per-link quality continuously and make per-packet or per-flow routing decisions that optimize application performance across all available links simultaneously. RLM advises on intelligent routing architecture and SD-WAN platform selection.
A structured advisory process — from environment assessment and carrier/vendor evaluation to deployment support and ongoing optimization.
We assess your current WAN architecture — link types and capacities at each site, routing policy, application performance issues, and the link utilization patterns that identify routing inefficiencies.
We document application performance requirements — latency sensitivity for VoIP and video, throughput requirements for data-intensive applications, and the quality thresholds below which application performance degrades unacceptably.
We evaluate SD-WAN and intelligent routing platforms — Cradlepoint NetCloud, Peplink Balance, Cisco Viptela, Meraki MX — against your site types, link diversity, and the policy flexibility needed to implement application-aware routing.
We design the routing policy framework — application classification, per-application path preference, quality-based path switching thresholds, and the fallback logic that maintains connectivity when all preferred paths degrade.
The dimensions that separate high-performing mobility deployments from costly ones — and the questions RLM helps you answer before any commitment.
Full SD-WAN platforms provide orchestration and analytics alongside intelligent routing. Evaluate whether full SD-WAN capabilities are required or whether intelligent routing appliances deliver the needed functionality at lower cost and complexity.
Bonding combines link bandwidth for throughput; steering selects the best link per application without combining. Evaluate which approach fits your use cases — bonding adds complexity and requires session-aware processing.
Intelligent routing requires accurate application identification. Evaluate the DPI and application signature database quality — misclassified applications route to wrong paths, defeating the purpose.
Treating cellular as active routing capacity (not just failover) increases carrier data costs. Evaluate the cost implications of intelligent routing over cellular vs. restricting cellular to failover or low-priority traffic.
VoIP and real-time video are highly sensitive to jitter and packet loss — quality metrics that vary rapidly on cellular links. Evaluate whether the routing platform can respond fast enough to protect real-time application quality during link quality changes.
"RLM helped us rationalize our mobile fleet across four carriers and cut our monthly spend by 31%. They handled the whole transition — we didn't lose a single device."
"We needed private LTE across 12 distribution centers. RLM mapped the vendors, ran the RFP, and had us live in 90 days. Their knowledge of the carrier landscape is unmatched."
Talk to an RLM advisor who specializes in enterprise mobility. Vendor-neutral guidance from assessment through deployment.