Cisco C1111-8PLTEEA: How Does It Enhance Remote Network Reliability? LTE Failover, PoE+, and Licensing Unpacked

​​Product Overview and Target Market​​

The ​​Cisco C1111-8PLTEEA​​ is a compact, ruggedized router-switch combo designed for branch offices, retail sites, and industrial environments requiring ​​always-on connectivity​​. Combining ​​8x Gigabit Ethernet ports​​ with ​​LTE Advanced Pro failover​​, it ensures uninterrupted operations in areas with unreliable wired ISP infrastructure.

​​Core Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port Configuration​​: ​​8x 10/100/1000BASE-T PoE+ ports​​ (supporting ​​up to 30W per port​​) + ​​1x LTE-A Pro modem​​ (Cat 20, 4×4 MIMO).
• ​​Wireless Connectivity​​: ​​LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/14/29/30/66​​ with fallback to 3G/2G.
• ​​Security​​: Integrated ​​Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN​​, ​​IPsec VPN​​, and ​​Cisco Umbrella​​ compatibility for threat defense.
• ​​Durability​​: ​​IP52-rated​​ enclosure for dust/water resistance and ​​operating temps of -40°C to 65°C​​.

​​Key Use Cases​​

• ​​Retail Stores​​: Maintains POS and inventory systems online during ISP outages via LTE failover.
• ​​Oil & Gas Field Sites​​: Connects remote sensors and cameras in harsh environments.
• ​​Temporary Deployments​​: Powers pop-up clinics or construction site offices with plug-and-play simplicity.

​​Licensing and Management​​

The “EA” suffix denotes an ​​Essentials License​​ covering:

• ​​Basic SD-WAN​​ for centralized policy management.
• ​​Cisco DNA Center​​ integration for monitoring (upgrade to Advantage for advanced analytics).
• ​​Encrypted Traffic Analytics​​ for identifying threats in SSL/TLS traffic.

​​Purchasing and Deployment Options​​

​​The C1111-8PLTEEA is available through itmall.sale​​, often bundled with LTE data plans or rack-mount kits. Pricing reflects its rugged design, typically 20–30% higher than non-cellular C1100 models.

​​Addressing Critical User Questions​​

​​Q: Can LTE handle primary WAN traffic?​​
Yes—though wired ISP is preferred for high-throughput tasks. LTE supports ​​up to 1 Gbps​​ in ideal conditions.

​​Q: How many PoE+ devices can it power simultaneously?​​
Total PoE budget is ​​195W​​, allowing ​​six 30W devices​​ (e.g., APs, cameras) at full load.

​​Q: Is 5G supported?​​
No—this model uses LTE-A Pro. For 5G, consider the C1112-8P with 5G module.

​​Final Perspective​​

The C1111-8PLTEEA excels in scenarios where uptime is non-negotiable, but its LTE-centric design adds complexity for simple office setups. For teams managing distributed sites with spotty ISPs or extreme conditions, it’s a lifeline—just ensure cellular coverage maps align with deployment needs to avoid costly signal gaps.