Cloudbrink has become the first vendor to offer software-only mobile hotspot optimization, more than doubling the performance of SaaS and enterprise applications on tethered devices.
The new capability is aimed at roaming users who need secure, performant connectivity in locations such as warehouses, remote manufacturing facilities or conference centers where reliable Internet services are not available.
Cloudbrink employs AI-enabled network detection and optimization technology to improve performance without the need for user intervention. When the Cloudbrink service detects a mobile hotspot in use it automatically finds the fastest edge connection while a proprietary algorithm compensates for packet loss, the major factor in performance degradation.
The Cloudbrink service already boosts application performance over wifi, 4G/5G and broadband connections by more than 30x, according to independent test house Broadband Testing. The service is sold as a VPN replacement and high-performance ZTNA alternative for hybrid work and work-from-anywhere applications.
Manohar Reddy, head of products at Cloudbrink said: “To get acceptable performance over a hotspot can be challenging, particularly if you care about security. Until now, your best option was to connect to a VPN, but that cuts the effective bandwidth by at least 50% depending on the proximity of the VPN server.
“Cloudbrink was already faster than a VPN or other ZTNA over any remote connection by an order of magnitude. Now we’ve tuned the service to optimize mobile hotspots, we’re seeing better than twice the performance we were previously getting on tethered devices. That’s great for existing Cloudbrink users. For anyone coming to the service for the first time, switching from Zscaler or another VPN provider, the performance improvement will be much more dramatic.”
While 5G adoption is expected to alleviate performance problems, only 32% of all cellular connections in the US are 5G and penetration is much lower in the rest of the world. 5G penetration is also highest in metro areas, putting it out of reach of many remote/hybrid workers.
Hotspots are more prone to performance issues than other access modes because there are two wireless links in the connection, one from the tethered device to the mobile, the other from the mobile to the carrier network.
Girl Power Talk, a social enterprise that provides employment training and support for women and girls in developing economies, tested the Cloudbrink service in parts of Africa, where its staff face challenges with poor communications infrastructure. Rachita Sharma, CEO of Girl Power Talk, said: “Mobile networks are often a lifeline for our people on the ground. Cloudbrink’s technology enables our teams to be more productive and efficient in areas where they previously struggled to join meetings or download documents due to poor connectivity.”
Cloudbrink uses a technique called accelerated pre-emptive packet recovery paired with dynamic virtual access points known as FAST Edges to minimize latency and maximize throughput even over unreliable and congested infrastructure. Intelligent packet optimization enables the service to tune connection performance depending on signal strength and other variables.
