Private LTE connectivity for container handling with Teltonika RUT241

Highlights 

✔ The Port of Réunion Island required secure, independent connectivity across 54 container handling stations – in a harsh coastal environment where mesh Wi-Fi systems were no longer sufficient.

✔ The Teltonika RUT241 LTE router was selected for its support of the B38 private LTE band, compact form factor, and industrial-grade resilience against vibration, temperature extremes, and salt air.

✔ The solution connects Push-to-Talk communication systems, monitoring databases of major shipping companies and the seaport control room – all through a private 4G network.

The challenge of reliable connectivity in port container handling 

With 80% of the world's goods transported by sea, ports face mounting pressure to handle massive vessels efficiently, safely, and sustainably. At the heart of this transformation is connectivity, and traditional mesh Wi-Fi systems are increasingly struggling to meet the demands of modern port operations.

Wi-Fi networks are often a subject to interference and need many access points to cover the vast areas seen in ports, which can compromise critical operations during peak activity or adverse conditions.

The Port of Réunion Island faced exactly this challenge. Across its 54 container handling stations – large, mobile straddle carriers spread across an expansive port environment – mission-critical operations demand constant, reliable connectivity. The existing Wi-Fi mesh network was no longer meeting that bar.

Each station needed a stable connection to the shipping databases as well as to the port's Push-to-Talk (PTT) security communication network – a system used by operators both inside the cabin and out in the field. The port was transitioning to a private LTE network operating on the B38 frequency band, a mandatory requirement for security-sensitive installations.

What was needed was a compact, rugged, industrial LTE router capable of operating on that private band – reliably, in a tropical coastal environment where vibration, heat, and salt air are constant factors.

Topology

How Teltonika RUT241 powers connectivity at the Port of Réunion Island

WEACCESS GROUP deployed the Teltonika RUT241 compact LTE eSIM router in each of the 54 container handling stations, providing each unit with its own secure, independent connection to the port's private LTE network over the B38 frequency band.

Inside each station, the Terminal POC – a Smart POC push-to-talk device running on Android – connects directly to the RUT241 via RJ45, linking the cabin operator to the port's Push-to-Talk security network. Field operators working outside the cabin connect via POC smartphones over 4G, transmitting voice and data through the port's private LTE transmission antennas.

Those antennas, positioned across the port site, are connected via fibre optics to the server room and the seaport control room – creating a secure, end-to-end architecture that ties together every container handling station, every operator, and the central monitoring centre into a single unified system.

The RUT241's support for both Wi-Fi and Ethernet interfaces ensures flexible integration with the various components of the solution, while its industrial-grade housing provides the vibration resistance, temperature tolerance, and corrosion protection required for continuous operation in a demanding port environment.

Looking to deploy reliable connectivity in a demanding industrial or infrastructure environment? Get in touch with our team and we'll help you find the right Teltonika device for your project.