4G & 5G Applications: Leveraging Wireless Networks for Smart Results

By Bastien Leclair
Demand Generation Specialist
August 16, 2025

Companies, governments, and research institutions across all industry sectors are leveraging the power of wireless networks and smart technologies to transform operations. The goal is to obtain measurable gains in efficiency, productivity, and responsiveness, while streamlining workflows and reducing costs. Here, we will look at three case studies in agriculture, public safety, and utilities that demonstrate how smart technology, wireless networks, and networking hardware are used to solve complex challenges to unlock transformative value.

Smart Agriculture: The Conjunction of AI, IoT, and Sustainable Farming Practices

Agriculture is undergoing a profound transformation as Virtual Reality (VR), the Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable farming practices converge to create more efficient, data-driven processes. A compelling example of this evolution can be seen in the work of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), where advanced wireless connectivity powers a groundbreaking virtual breeding garden.

In the case of the DFKI, wireless connectivity enables the integration of AI, VR, and IoT to monitor a breeding garden. This system utilizes a battery-operated robot — named Valdemar — that captures large volumes of plant development data and sends it via an IRG LTE Router to a base-station container. This data is then transmitted with an IRG 5G Router to a cloud-based data center, allowing for real-time analysis and immersive VR inspections — ultimately enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and crop yield.

The societal implications are numerous: enhanced food security, sustainable farming, economic growth, climate resilience, educational opportunities, and more. As wireless technologies continue to transform agriculture, their effect is also consequential in the realm of public safety and law enforcement.

Leveraging cloud-based surveillance solutions

Wireless connectivity is changing the way public safety and law enforcement entities operate, with surveillance being one such area experiencing significant advancements. Legacy surveillance systems are often limited by their reliance on fixed infrastructure and wired connections. Conversely, modern wireless surveillance solutions enhance law enforcement by offering flexibility, lower costs, and enhanced reliability.

More specifically, modern surveillance systems:

• Eliminate the need for dedicated on-site servers
• Allow seamless data transfer to the cloud for processing and management
• Enable rapid deployment and scalability across diverse environments

We have seen a massive surge in demand for cloud-based surveillance solutions, says the owner of Eli Controls, Will Litrell. To address these evolving needs, Eli Controls implemented a wireless cloud-based surveillance solution for a municipal project aimed at enhancing public safety. Utilizing Perle IRG LTE Routers, the system provides robust and reliable connectivity with dual-SIM functionality, allowing for automatic failover and carrier redundancy to ensure uninterrupted data transmission.

Furthermore, for Eli Controls, wireless connectivity:

• Enables seamless integration with solar-powered installations, ensuring continuous operation even in areas without stable power sources
• Facilitates rapid deployment and scalability, allowing for efficient coverage of areas that are remote or with limited infrastructure
• Supports real-time high-definition video streaming to the cloud, where advanced processing and management of surveillance data could be conducted off-site — improving real-time decision-making and emergency response

This technological advancement fosters safer communities, optimizes resource allocation, and supports proactive crime prevention strategies.

Beyond public safety, the utilities sector is also harnessing the power of cellular connectivity to modernize infrastructure, enhance service delivery, and ensure operational efficiency across communities.

Enhancing Power and Utility Management with Advanced LTE and 5G Solutions

The utilities sector relies on remote monitoring systems to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of critical infrastructure. For example, Greenville Electric, a company that sells, installs, maintains, and manages Cummins Generators, uses Perle IRG LTE Routers to enhance its service delivery and meet stringent Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

These LTE routers, embedded with AT&T data SIM cards, are installed at every new generator site, enabling Greenville Electric to remotely monitor run-time parameters — such as oil pressure, water jacket temperature, and battery conditions. Real-time monitoring extends to sending maintenance alerts, alarms, and exercise and outage notifications directly to the headquarters, ensuring prompt response and maintenance.

Philip Leonelli, CEO of Greenville Electric, spoke to the benefits of this technology: The IRG LTE Routers allowed us to implement a reliable and manageable cellular-based setup. This system is flexible and entirely independent, reducing the need for unscheduled service calls and enhancing overall customer satisfaction.

For Greenville Electric, adopting next-generation LTE technologies ensures continuous generator operation, minimizes maintenance costs, and achieves higher operational efficiency through reduced downtime and proactive maintenance. For the utilities sector more generally and its implications on the public’s day-to-day lives, such technological advancements lead to increased reliability of essential services, reduced operational costs, and improved customer satisfaction — ultimately contributing to a more resilient and efficient infrastructure.

Across agriculture, public safety, and utilities, a common thread is the need for reliable, secure, and scalable connectivity — a need met by industrial cellular routers from Perle. These devices serve as the backbone of next-generation solutions, bridging sectors and enabling smarter societies.

Perle IRG Cellular Routers: Connecting Systems, Sectors, and Societies

Perle’s enterprise-class edge routers, supporting 4G LTE and 5G bands, are designed to deliver reliable and secure connectivity across sectors — even in the most challenging environments. Key features of Perle IRG cellular routers include:

• Dual-SIM functionality, providing automatic failover and carrier redundancy for uninterrupted connectivity.
• Extensive protocol support, including RIP, OSPF, BGP, and VPN capabilities, allowing integration into complex network structures.
• Robust security features, such as TACACS+, RADIUS, and LDAP, ensuring secure data transmission and device management.
• Ultra-low power consumption and rugged design, enabling reliable operation in harsh environmental conditions.
• Integrated GPS/GNSS capabilities, facilitating real-time location tracking and time synchronization for critical applications.

Perle gives you all this functionality — without subscription costs. Learn more about Perle’s IRG cellular routers.