Volktek vs Westermo: Non-Cellular vs Cellular Networking – Which is Right for Your Business?
Choosing the right networking solution can make or break your industrial operation. With hundreds of vendors offering various networking approaches, it’s critical to understand not only the difference between technologies but also the strengths and weaknesses of the companies behind them. In this article, we’ll compare two prominent players: Volktek and Westermo—focusing on their respective approaches, non-cellular vs cellular networking, and where each excels.
Both providers have carved out solid reputations. Volktek, based in Taiwan, specializes in non-cellular industrial Ethernet switches and fiber solutions for applications across transportation, smart cities, and industrial automation. They pride themselves on offering robust and affordable Ethernet-based networking. Westermo, on the other hand, is a Swedish company and takes a different path. They focus on rugged, cellular-enabled solutions designed to operate in the harshest industrial environments. Think rail, energy, water plants, and remote utilities.
So, which is the better option for your business? Let’s break this down one piece at a time.
Non-Cellular Networking with Volktek: Strong and Reliable Wired Connectivity
Volktek brings decades of expertise in non-cellular networking. Their solutions revolve around industrial Ethernet, PoE switches, unmanaged and managed switches, and fiber-optic technology. The major appeal? Stability, cost-effectiveness, and security.
Industrial Ethernet is the core of their offerings. It’s a wired network system that consists of ruggedized switches and fiber connectors that ensure strong, high-speed, low-latency connections—even over large areas. For industries with access to physical infrastructure, Volktek’s offerings make a lot of sense.
Typical applications:
- Smart transportation infrastructure (ex: traffic control systems)
- Video surveillance for smart cities
- Factory floor automation
- Building management systems
Their product design ensures redundancy and long-term viability. For instance, if you’re setting up fiber-aware backbones for train station surveillance or city-wide networking, the Volktek EX-5636 industrial Ethernet switch with dual gigabit ring protection provides powerful fault-tolerance and recovery mechanisms. Moreover, their products comply with IEEE industry standards and are tailored to meet the long deployment cycles of industrial networks.
Pros of Volktek Non-Cellular Networking:
- More secure and physically isolated
- Lower latency and faster data transmission over controlled networks
- Cost-effective in environments with available infrastructure
- Excellent for environments requiring high video transmission quality
- Low maintenance once deployed
Cons:
- Requires physical installation, which may be expensive or infeasible in remote areas
- Lacks mobility and flexibility
- Scalability limitations when expanding across time or to multiple sites
Volktek doesn’t provide as many options on the cellular front. That’s because their infrastructure focus leans heavily on industry-grade hardened physical products—which shine in settings with reliable access to cabling and power.
Cellular Networking with Westermo: Built for Harsh and Remote Environments
Westermo takes a completely different route with its infrastructure—rugged, cellular-capable routers, switches, and gateways that enable connectivity in locations where laying cables would break the budget or take months to execute.
Founded in Sweden and now part of the Ependion Group, Westermo has focused its innovation on extreme industrial environments. That means their devices can withstand humidity, shock, EMI interference, and wild temperature fluctuations. From railways in Siberia to wind turbines off the UK coast, their products (like the LTR-328 industrial LTE router) are purpose-built for places that test the limits of technology.
Key use cases include:
- Remote monitoring and control of water systems and substations
- Rugged rail communication systems (onboard and trackside)
- Real-time data for renewable energy sites
- Smart grid and utility management
These devices offer 4G LTE, 5G readiness, failover redundancy, and VPN encryption for secure remote access. Cellular networking shines where it’s impractical to dig trenches or lay thousands of kilometers of fiber—especially when mobility is needed.
Pros of Westermo Cellular Networking:
- High flexibility and ease of deployment—deploy anywhere with a cellular signal
- Perfect for mobile or remote assets (like trains, wind turbines, offshore platforms)
- Integrated cybersecurity features tailored for mission-critical data
- Ruggedized for harsh weather, temperature, vibration, and electromagnetic environments
- Excellent redundancy and failover capabilities
Cons:
- Monthly data charges due to carrier costs
- Subject to cellular network stability and coverage gaps
- Can be more expensive to maintain long term in areas with heavy data traffic
- Latency typically higher than physical Ethernet lines
Many of Westermo’s solutions come with smart management software like WeOS or Westermo’s SNMP-based management tools. This allows IT teams to remotely configure, monitor, and troubleshoot networks across thousands of kilometers without ever stepping foot on-site.
So, Which Solution is Right for You?
Let’s compare the two side-by-side with a clear table.
| Category | Volktek (Non-Cellular) | Westermo (Cellular) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Type | Wired – Ethernet/Fiber | Wireless – Cellular LTE/5G |
| Ideal Installations | Urban/industrial settings with built infrastructure | Remote, mobile, or harsh environments |
| Upfront Cost | Lower (excluding trenching or fiber installation) | Higher (hardware + cellular integration) |
| Operational Cost | Low (no data usage fees) | Moderate-High (monthly carrier fees) |
| Performance | High bandwidth, low latency | Moderate bandwidth, higher latency |
| Scalability | Limited to infrastructure support | Highly scalable, low physical limitations |
| Security | Physically isolated; less prone to remote attacks | Needs VPN, encryption layers to ensure protection |
Real-World Scenarios
Let’s say you’re running a smart factory in an industrial park in Munich. Infrastructure’s ready, and uptime is key. Volktek’s switches would keep your network fast, tied to internal systems, and smooth for visual monitoring. You’d appreciate the one-time installation cost and reliability.
But suppose you manage several wind farms spread across rural Scotland. Sending technicians to each site is costly and slow. Here, Westermo’s rugged cellular routers offer live monitoring of each turbine’s performance—anywhere—with alert triggers when faults occur.
Final Thoughts
There’s no universal winner. It all comes down to where your applications are located, the available infrastructure, your security concerns, and how much mobility you need.
If your organization needs reliable, fixed-location networking with low latency and long-term reliability, consider Volktek. Their line of industrial Ethernet solutions is designed precisely for this.
If durability, mobility, or remote access is essential—whether it’s for a fleet of vehicles, a series of utility substations, or a far-flung industrial complex—then Westermo’s cellular network-powered devices make for a more agile alternative.
For businesses, striking the right balance often means deploying both solutions in a hybrid architecture. That could mean Volktek hardware at central sites and Westermo units in remote sub-networks—all orchestrated via a unified management layer.
Want help choosing the best-fit network infrastructure for your specific operation? Reach out to vendors like Volktek or Westermo, or speak with industrial IoT integrators for personalized assistance.
Additional Resources:
Finding the right industrial networking partner is not just about wires or signals—it’s about building a digital foundation that keeps your entire network, ROI, and innovation possibilities intact. Make the right call, and your operations won’t just stay connected—they’ll evolve.
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