Configuring mobile networking

Some devices, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro X, that have the Windows 10 OS installed, can support connectivity by cellular networks, such as 4G or LTE. This can be useful to end users who are unable to access Wi-Fi networks, but still need access to your corporate services and resources.

Setting up a cellular network

Before you can use cellular network connectivity, you must have a computer or laptop that supports this option. If your computer or laptop has or supports this feature, then you have to obtain a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or an embedded SIM (eSIM) for your Windows 10 device. After you have installed the SIM or eSIM on your Windows 10 device, you must configure Windows 10 to connect using the cellular network. Microsoft can provide this connectivity through the Mobile Plans app. When you start the app, the app detects your SIM or eSIM and then guides you through the setup process.

If you have a SIM or eSIM installed and you want to set up cellular network access, use the following steps:

1. Connect your device to the internet using a wired or wireless connection.
2. Select the network symbol on the taskbar, look for the name of your mobile operator, and then click on Connect with a data plan. This opens the Mobile Plans app, as shown in the following screenshot:
   

   Figure 8.3 - Notification of the cellular network

3. In the Mobile Plans app, follow the wizard to activate a mobile plan and connect to the cellular network:

Figure 8.4 - The welcome page of the Mobile Plans app

After completing these steps, you will be connected to the internet via your cellular connection through the mobile operator. If you are working with a few colleagues in the same area and they don't have a SIM or eSIM installed on their machine, you can share your internet connection with them through the mobile hotspot feature in Windows 10.

Setting up a mobile hotspot

If you have working cellular network connectivity and you want to share this internet connection with, for example, your colleagues, you can enable the built-in mobile hotspot feature.

To enable and connect to the mobile hotspot, follow these steps:

1. In Settings, click Network & Internet | Mobile hotspot tab.
2. In the Share my Internet connection from list, choose the appropriate network connection. Depending on what kind of hardware you have, you can also choose the Share my Internet connection over option.
3. Click Edit and change Network name and Network password, as in the following screenshot:
   

   Figure 8.5 - The Edit network info window

4. Then, enable the Share my Internet connection with other devices button:

Figure 8.6 - The Mobile hotspot tab

If you followed the previous steps, then you will now see the same screen as in the previous screenshot. After this, you can disable the mobile hotspot.

You have now learned how you can connect to a cellular network and how you can enable and share your internet connection with other people and devices through the mobile hotspot feature.

In the next section, you will learn how to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection, which protocols are used by a VPN, and which types of VPN to use. You will also learn about Always On VPN.