Ericsson has introduced a new in-vehicle router, the Cradlepoint R2400, aimed at enhancing connectivity for public safety agencies, transit operators, and commercial fleets. This launch underscores the company’s commitment to improving in-vehicle technology, particularly in high-mobility and high-risk environments.
The Cradlepoint R2400 is equipped with advanced features, including dual-SIM/dual-standby (DSDS) capabilities, Wi-Fi 7 support, and centimeter-level positioning. This new router is designed to provide robust connectivity and on-board edge AI functionalities, which are crucial for applications like live video feeds and vehicle-to-command communications. The DSDS capability offers carrier failover approximately ten times faster than traditional methods, significantly enhancing the reliability of data connections for critical operations.
Enhancements in Connectivity and Positioning
The R2400 can support up to five simultaneous cellular connections and integrates low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite links, allowing for versatile connectivity options. A significant advancement lies in its positioning capabilities, which leverage real-time kinematics (RTK) combined with dead reckoning. This upgrade boosts location accuracy from standard meter-level GPS to approximately one centimeter. Such precision facilitates lane-level vehicle tracking, asset monitoring, and coordination of drones.
In terms of processing power, the R2400 provides 2.5 times more on-device computing than previous Cradlepoint platforms. This enhancement supports local AI inferencing and computer vision tasks without needing to send data back to centralized cloud systems. Organizations can seamlessly scale their wide area network (WAN) capacity or adopt new 5G capabilities by pairing the R2400 with Ericsson‘s extensible RC1250 modem. The modular design aims to avoid the need for complete system overhauls as 5G standalone (SA) and network slicing services become more prevalent.
Security and Future Readiness
The new router also doubles the security processing throughput to accommodate NetCloud SASE (secure access service edge) and SD-WAN services. Additionally, Ericsson‘s NetCloud platform introduces AI-assisted operations, including a virtual expert designed to assist IT teams in managing large vehicle fleets.
According to data cited by Ericsson, nearly half of first responders anticipate daily AI usage within the next five years. Furthermore, most transit agencies are planning to assess autonomous buses within the same timeframe. Jason Leigh, an analyst at IDC, emphasized that the increasing reliance on vehicles as essential hubs for information and incident coordination makes reliability and adaptability critical.
The Cradlepoint R2400 and the RC1250 modem are projected to be available by mid-year, reinforcing Ericsson‘s strategic position within the enterprise WAN market following their acquisition of Cradlepoint for $1.1 billion in 2020. This launch is a significant step in establishing wireless WAN as a foundational infrastructure for modern connectivity needs.
