In a rural community, the internet connection into your facility may be a single line run by a single provider, and a single backhoe, ice storm or equipment failure can take it down. When your EMR, phone system, eFax and even some nurse call features depend on that connection, an outage quickly becomes an operational problem, not just an inconvenience.
Redundancy is the answer, but in rural areas the options are more limited than in cities. Here is how to think through them.
Before buying anything, list what stops working when the connection fails. For many facilities that includes:
Cloud-based EMR access
Voice over IP phones
Email and eFax
Pharmacy and lab connections
Remote vendor support
Security cameras with cloud features
Resident and guest Wi-Fi
Then decide what must continue, what can pause and what can run at reduced speed. Your backup connection can often be smaller than the primary one if you prioritize traffic correctly.
Availability varies by address, so request quotes and ask providers to confirm service at your exact location.
Fiber is generally the most reliable and fastest option, when available. Having fiber from two different providers or on two different routes into the building offers strong protection.
Cable broadband is common in small towns. DSL may still be the only option in some areas, with lower speeds. Both can serve as a backup if they run on different infrastructure than your primary.
Some providers deliver internet using radio links from a tower to an antenna on your building. It can work well in areas without cable or fiber, though performance depends on line of sight and weather conditions.
4G and 5G cellular routers offer a convenient failover path. They are quick to deploy and independent from wired infrastructure. Check signal strength at your site, data plan limits and whether the carrier prioritizes your traffic during congestion.
Low-earth-orbit satellite service has expanded availability in rural areas. It can provide a path that is independent of local wired infrastructure. Latency and performance vary, and it may be better suited as a backup than as the primary for voice-heavy operations. Evaluate it for your location instead of assuming.
Two connections that share the same underground conduit or the same upstream provider can fail together. Ask each provider about the physical route and the upstream network. The best combination uses different technologies, such as fiber plus cellular, so that a single event is unlikely to take out both.
A backup line you must plug in by hand at two in the morning is not much help. Use a firewall or router that supports dual WAN with automatic failover.
It monitors the primary link and switches when it fails
It returns to the primary when service recovers
It can apply quality-of-service rules, so critical traffic gets priority on a slower backup link
Consider how your phone system behaves. Hosted voice services need a working path to the provider, so test whether calls survive a failover. Ask your voice provider about call forwarding to cell phones if all connectivity fails.
A redundant internet connection does no good if the router loses power. Put modems, routers, firewalls and core switches on battery backup, and ensure the equipment room is connected to generator power. Remember that outdoor equipment from your provider or wireless gear may also need power.
Record account numbers, support phone numbers and circuit IDs for each provider
Keep a printed copy in case you cannot reach online records
Test failover at least twice a year by disconnecting the primary line during a planned window
Confirm that critical applications still work on the backup
Monitor both links so you know when one is down, since you may not notice a failure that failover hides
Costs vary by provider and location, so get written quotes. Weigh them against the cost of a day of disrupted operations. Cellular failover is often the least expensive place to start, and many facilities build from there.
What is the committed repair time for outages, and does it differ for business accounts?
Is there a service level agreement?
What is the actual physical route into the building?
Is a static address available, and does it work with our VPN and phone system?
UnityCare IT designs and supports networks for healthcare facilities across Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas, including rural locations with limited choices. If you are relying on a single line, we can review what is available at your address and set up tested failover.
Call or text: 405-285-3845
New customers: start@unitycareit.com
Existing customers: support@unitycareit.com
Address: UnityCare Technologies, 2524 N Broadway Ste 554, PMB 947974, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034-4172