Site CCTV towers and ANPR on 4G/5G: bandwidth, data allowances and failover

Temporary CCTV and ANPR cameras depend on their mobile link. This guide explains upload speed, data allowance, failover and the first checks to make when a unit disappears from the platform.

Upload speed decides whether footage arrives

Site cameras push data up to the network, so the number that counts is the upload rate at the antenna, measured on site. Spec-sheet speeds are ceilings. Test at the busiest time you can.

Then sum the streams that could run together: continuous cloud upload, live monitoring and a remote engineer session. Compare that sum, not the camera count, with the measured upload.

What the monthly allowance has to cover

An allowance is a monthly total. These scenarios use assumed numbers, not SimFalcon usage data, so replace them with your own.

A busy scene costs more than a quiet one: Axis's white paper notes that motion can push the bitrate up significantly, alongside the effect of resolution, frame rate and night-mode noise reduction settings [7]. If your cameras can limit bitrate, set the limit with care. Axis's developer documentation says a maximum-bitrate limit set unrealistically low can degrade quality in motion-heavy scenes [6], and the white paper concludes that average bitrate with a maximum limit is probably the best choice in most cases [7]. For sub-streams and recording on motion, see the CCTV router guide.

Six questions to answer before choosing a plan

SimFalcon's UK construction page lists six items for data planning and says camera count alone does not tell you the data requirement [24]. They are useful whichever supplier you use.

1. Models of camera, NVR and router.
2. Number of cameras: a router serving several needs a plan sized for all of them.
3. Recording location: stored locally or uploaded to the cloud.
4. Live viewing: how often guards, managers or customers log in.
5. Resolution and clips: image quality, frame rate and event clip length.
6. Site signal: antenna position matters, and a construction site changes over time.

ANPR: plate text, snapshots or video

ANPR traffic ranges from tiny event records to image-heavy uploads. SimFalcon's UK ANPR page asks what is uploaded (plate text, snapshots, full-resolution images or video), whether access is outbound-only or inbound, and what APN, VPN or IP needs the platform has [25]. Axis's plate verifier runs on the camera itself, and Axis lists reduced bandwidth use among the benefits [8]. On the data protection side, the ICO's video surveillance guidance is written for organisations that use such systems to process personal data, and says it includes connected databases using ANPR [20].

Failover: two SIMs, or one multi-network SIM

A dual-SIM router keeps a second SIM ready. Teltonika's dual-SIM page says the second SIM acts as failover on most models, so one SIM is live at a time; only a few models can use both together [1]. The RUTX11 documentation lists switch triggers including weak signal, data limit, roaming, no network, network denied, a missing SIM and a failed data connection (an LCP or ICMP echo test), with an adjustable check interval and count [2].

• Different networks. Failing over to a second SIM on the same operator does nothing if that operator's network is the problem.
• Data-connection test. A unit can be registered on a network yet pass no traffic. Teltonika's no-network trigger fires when no network is detected [2], so you need the LCP or ICMP echo check to catch this case.
• Data limit. A router-side limit can stop mobile data or trigger a switch [2]. Keep it below the plan allowance.
• Rehearsal. Try the switch in the yard first.

A multi-network SIM works at SIM level instead. SimFalcon says the device can use supported partner networks, subject to coverage, device capability and service configuration [26], and that multi-network connectivity can be useful at temporary or rural sites where the compatible router supports the required configuration [24]. Neither fixes a flat battery or a badly placed antenna.

Why consumer PAYG SIMs fail on site

A consumer PAYG SIM assumes someone is watching the balance. Rules differ by network, so read the terms. Three UK's PAYG page, as one example, says a number is disconnected unless there is a chargeable activity every 180 days, and cannot then be reconnected. It allows one active data pack at a time and describes auto-renew packs as giving the same amount of data every month unless cancelled [23]. A unit left idle in a yard for 180 days or more between hires could hit that limit if nothing chargeable happens in that time. SimFalcon says its standard managed services have no normal PAYG top-up routine [26].

Remote access and carrier-grade NAT

If the router is online but the recorder is unreachable, one possible cause is carrier-grade NAT, where inbound connections from the internet may not reach the router. RFC 6598 sets aside 100.64.0.0/10 as shared address space for the link between carrier NAT equipment and customer equipment [9]; if the router's mobile address falls in that range, inbound port forwarding is unlikely to work. Routes in are the recorder maker's cloud service or a VPN; for the router itself, Teltonika's RMS gathers status and changes configuration even when devices have no public IP address [4]. Ask your SIM provider whether a private APN suits the deployment.

Signal, radio generations and the 2033 date

Teltonika publishes bands for signal strength (RSRP) and signal quality (SINR), and advises considering both together [3].

Coverage checkers show predictions, so confirm with readings at the antenna. Mobile UK says all the mobile providers have told the UK Government they do not plan to offer 2G and 3G beyond 2033, with 3G retired first and 2G to follow [19]. Check the radio in older routers before redeploying them.

When a unit disappears from the platform

Remote checks first

• One unit or a group? If several drop together, suspect the platform, the account or the SIM provider before any hardware.
• On the router console, record the network it is registered on, the signal readings, the mobile IP address and which SIM is active.
• Check the SIM status, the plan allowance and any router-side data limit [2].

Then the site

• Power: mobile surveillance towers commonly use batteries with solar charging or hybrid power [10], so check charge state first.
• Antenna cable, connectors and position, against the readings table.
• APN and address (APN setup), then recorder gateway, DNS and clock.
• Photograph the router's status page before you change any settings.

Related guides: weak or no network, SIM not connecting and replacing the SIM.

Standards and data protection

BS 8418 covers detector-activated CCTV systems, whether permanent or temporary and portable, including design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, operation and remote monitoring [22]. BSI shows the 2015+A1:2017 edition as withdrawn on 19 August 2022, so confirm which edition your contract cites. The ICO says a data protection impact assessment is a legal requirement for processing likely to result in high risk, which it says applies in most cases for surveillance systems. It also says to check there are sufficient controls and safeguards where a system is connected across a network, to keep data for the shortest period that serves the purpose, and to make signs more prominent where people are less likely to expect monitoring [21].

Where SimFalcon fits

SimFalcon's home page says it supports SIM activation, connectivity and APN guidance, while installation, wiring, programming, camera or router configuration, app setup and equipment faults stay with the installer or equipment supplier unless agreed separately [26].

Send the router model, camera count, normal viewing pattern and number of units through the contact page. Related pages: construction site CCTV SIMs, ANPR camera SIMs, CCTV SIMs and pricing.

Sources

• [1] Dual-SIM Support (Teltonika Networks Wiki), checked 3 October 2026.
• [2] RUTX11 Mobile (Teltonika Networks Wiki), checked 3 October 2026.
• [3] Mobile Signal Strength Recommendations (Teltonika Networks Wiki), checked 3 October 2026.
• [4] RMS (Remote Management System) (Teltonika Networks Wiki), checked 3 October 2026.
• [6] Rate control (VAPIX) (Axis Communications), checked 3 October 2026.
• [7] Bitrate control for IP video (white paper) (Axis Communications), checked 3 October 2026.
• [8] AXIS License Plate Verifier (Axis Communications), checked 3 October 2026.
• [9] RFC 6598: IANA-Reserved IPv4 Prefix for Shared Address Space (IETF), checked 3 October 2026.
• [10] How Mobile Surveillance Towers Improve Site Security (Designing Buildings), checked 3 October 2026.
• [19] 2G and 3G switch-off (Mobile UK), checked 3 October 2026.
• [20] Guidance on video surveillance (including CCTV) (Information Commissioner's Office), checked 3 October 2026.
• [21] How can we comply with the data protection principles when using surveillance systems? (Information Commissioner's Office), checked 3 October 2026.
• [22] BS 8418:2015+A1:2017 (British Standards Institution), checked 3 October 2026.
• [23] Pay As You Go support (Three UK), checked 3 October 2026.
• [24] Construction Site CCTV SIM Cards UK (SimFalcon), checked 3 October 2026.
• [25] ANPR Camera SIM Cards UK (SimFalcon), checked 3 October 2026.
• [26] SimFalcon UK home page (SimFalcon), checked 3 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How much data does a site CCTV tower use?

It depends on bitrate and how the cameras are watched. As an illustration, an operator watching a 1 Mbit/s sub-stream for four 30-minute sessions a day uses about 0.9 GB a day, while one 2 Mbit/s stream uploaded non-stop is about 21.6 GB a day. Measure your own system.

Is a dual-SIM router enough for resilience?

Only if the SIMs are on different networks, the data-connection test is set, the switch has been rehearsed and the tower has power. On most dual-SIM Teltonika routers only one SIM is live at a time.

Can I use a pay-as-you-go SIM in a CCTV tower?

Check the terms first. As one example, Three UK's PAYG page says a number is disconnected unless there is a chargeable activity every 180 days, and that it cannot be reconnected afterwards. Data packs and balances also need managing.

Why can I see the router online but not the cameras?

Where a network uses carrier-grade NAT, inbound connections from the internet may not reach the router, so port forwarding can fail. Use the recorder maker's cloud service or a VPN, or ask your SIM provider whether a private APN suits your deployment.

Does the ICO guidance cover ANPR?

Yes. The ICO's video surveillance guidance says it includes connected databases that use ANPR. It also says a data protection impact assessment is a legal requirement where processing is likely to result in high risk, which it says applies in most cases for surveillance systems.

Questions about connectivity for your equipment? Talk to SimFalcon or ask Engineer Support.

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