The News: T-Mobile introduced Connected Workplace, a solution that packages nationwide 5G business Internet with Cisco Meraki devices and cloud-managed networking platform, all managed by T-Mobile. Read the full press release on the T-Mobile website.
T-Mobile Enlists Cisco Meraki to Launch Connected Workplace
Analyst Take: T-Mobile and Cisco unite to debut T-Mobile’s Connected Workplace service aimed primarily at midsize businesses. The union combines T-Mobile’s managed services with Cisco Meraki networking solutions to provide 5G business Internet with built-in security assurances and streamlined networking capabilities, particularly throughout retail store and branch environments.
Connected Workplace includes T-Mobile installation, software licensing, and 5G gateway and Wi-Fi access point device upgrades every 3 years at no additional cost. I see the new T-Mobile package energizing the push by T-Mobile for Business to challenge incumbent services offered by key rivals such as AT&T Business and Verizon Business as well as sundry regional Internet service provider (ISP) offerings.
The intricacies of business network infrastructure for midsize organizations, which have multiple retail locations and branches, has proven a broad barrier to improved business outcomes. Frequently, they need to bring together the varied offerings of regional ISPs alongside disparate hardware and software management products to attain a connectivity stack that supports key application such as video monitoring, point-of-sale systems, IoT applications, secure devices, and more. Plus, all these parts typically have their own contracts, support models, and siloed rate plans.
Cisco Meraki Powers Connected Workplace Advantages to Midsize Businesses
I see the fragmented nature of midsize business service offerings providing ample opportunity for T-Mobile for Business to make inroads, especially against the varied service offerings of regional ISPs as well as the nationwide operators. This is where the Cisco Meraki alliance can prove a critical differentiator. Cisco Meraki develops solutions specifically for midsize organizations by enabling T-Mobile to set up devices on a plug-and-play basis that significantly ease adoption.
Essential to driving Connected Workplace’s adoption and differentiation is that Meraki Go access points, router firewalls, and switches protect businesses from cyberattacks by blocking malicious websites, malware, phishing, and other evolving threats, bolstering T-Mobile’s overall business network security proposition. Specifically, I find that Meraki 5G cloud wireless products, such as the MG51 and MG51E models, deliver the fortified security, performance boost, and reduced latency critical to streamlining IT processes and accelerating adoption of T-Mobile’s Connected Workplace offering.
Plus, the support of Meraki cloud managed 5G enables T-Mobile Connected to ease the combination and management of Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity under a unified Connected Workplace managed service. From my view, Connected Workplace directly addresses the growing demand among midsize businesses to optimize the blending of their Wi-Fi and 5G assets to improve business outcomes. Benefits include offloading Wi-Fi traffic to 5G networks with less friction and more network awareness to help tailor services and boost customer experiences according to business environments and priorities.
This directly addresses the complexity issues that many midsize businesses must deal with by unifying the secure management of 5G and Wi-Fi hardware and software components under the unified Connected Workplace solution.
Key Takeaway: T-Mobile Connected Workplace Simplifies and Secures Midsize Business Services
I believe T-Mobile’s Connected Workplace offering fully leverages Cisco Meraki network technologies to streamline the network infrastructure of midsize businesses key to minimizing IT and operational complexity on a comprehensively secure and cost-effective foundation. In turn, Connected Workplace is solidly positioned to make swift competitive inroads across the midsize business landscape, energizing competition to the benefit of customers and partners.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
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Author Information
Ron is an experienced, customer-focused research expert and analyst, with over 20 years of experience in the digital and IT transformation markets, working with businesses to drive consistent revenue and sales growth.
Ron holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from University of Nevada — Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Arts in political science/government from William and Mary.
