C1116-4PLTEEA: Why Is This Cisco Router a Strategic Choice for High-Availability LTE and SD-WAN Deployments?

​​Understanding the C1116-4PLTEEA​​

The ​​C1116-4PLTEEA​​ is a ​​multi-WAN, LTE-Enhanced cloud router​​ from Cisco’s C1100 Series, engineered for enterprises requiring ​​carrier-grade uptime​​ and ​​SD-WAN agility​​. The “4PLTEEA” designation indicates ​​four LTE-Advanced Pro antennas​​ and an ​​Enhanced Enterprise Agreement (EEA)​​ license bundle, combining hardware and software for seamless hybrid WAN operations.

​​Core Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Multi-WAN Connectivity​​: 2x 1G WAN ports (RJ45/SFP combo) + ​​LTE Cat 20 modem​​ (up to ​​2 Gbps aggregate download​​) with carrier aggregation across 5 LTE bands.
• ​​PoE+ Support​​: 4x 30W PoE+ ports to power IP cameras, access points, or IoT gateways without external power.
• ​​Security​​: Integrated ​​Cisco Umbrella​​, ​​IPsec VPN​​, and ​​Zone-Based Firewall​​ with AES-NI hardware acceleration for 2.5 Gbps throughput.
• ​​Edge Compute​​: Dual-core Intel Atom CPU, 16GB RAM, and 120GB SSD to host ​​Cisco IOx​​ applications for localized data processing.

​​Key Deployment Scenarios​​

​​Mission-Critical Retail​​

Ensures uninterrupted POS and inventory management via ​​dual-active WAN load balancing​​ and LTE failover, with ​​application-aware QoS​​ prioritizing transaction traffic.

​​Industrial IoT Aggregation​​

Operates in harsh environments (-40°C to 70°C) while aggregating sensor data from manufacturing floors or remote substations.

​​Healthcare Edge Connectivity​​

Supports HIPAA-compliant telehealth services with ​​MACsec encryption​​ on wired links and ​​private APN​​ configurations for cellular backhaul.

​​Performance vs. C1112-8P​​

The C1116-4PLTEEA advances its predecessor with:

• ​​Higher LTE Throughput​​: 2 Gbps vs. 600 Mbps (C1112-8P) via 5x carrier aggregation.
• ​​Enhanced PoE Budget​​: 120W total (vs. 60W on C1112-8P), powering up to four 30W devices.
• ​​Expanded Edge Compute​​: 2x RAM and SSD capacity for demanding applications like AI-driven predictive maintenance.

​​Licensing and Management​​

The EEA bundle includes:

• ​​Cisco DNA Advantage​​ for SD-WAN, encrypted traffic analytics, and AIOps.
• ​​3-year Umbrella SIG​​ (Secure Internet Gateway) subscription.
• ​​Cisco Threat Response​​ integration for automated threat containment.

For verified Cisco C1116-4PLTEEA routers and subscriptions, check availability here.

​​Addressing Critical User Questions​​

“Can it replace MPLS circuits?”

Yes. With SD-WAN application optimization and LTE failover, enterprises have reduced MPLS reliance by 60–80% in field trials.

“Is 5G upgradable?”

No. For 5G, consider the ​​C1117-4P5GEA​​ variant. However, LTE Cat 20’s 2 Gbps throughput rivals early 5G deployments.

“Does it support zero-touch deployment?”

Yes. Pre-staged in Cisco’s cloud, it auto-configures via ​​vManage templates​​—critical for managing 100+ branch deployments.

​​Field-Tested Insights​​

In a recent smart grid rollout, the C1116-4PLTEEA’s ​​LTE failover sub-500ms switch time​​ prevented SCADA system downtime during fiber cuts. However, its ​​lack of Wi-Fi 6E​​ necessitates external APs for wireless edge devices—a trade-off for all-in-one simplicity. For enterprises prioritizing WAN resilience over integrated wireless, this router is a future-proof investment. Always conduct a ​​cellular signal audit​​ before deployment; urban structures like parking garages can attenuate LTE performance despite Cisco’s advanced antenna design.