Networking and CCTV Setup for EV Charging Stations in India: 4G/5G Routers, PoE Switches Guide and Setup

A commercial EV charging site typically needs a reliable internet connection for its chargers, a local Ethernet network to connect the equipment, and appropriate physical security such as IP surveillance. Where wired broadband isn't available, an industrial 4G/5G router can provide the cellular backhaul. A PoE switch can then connect and power IP cameras over Ethernet.

Most charging locations don't have wired broadband at the installation point, and site Wi-Fi was never built for always-on machine-to-machine communication - so the 4G router is the correct architecture.

Public chargers need reliable connectivity if operators want real-time backend communication, remote monitoring, transaction synchronisation, diagnostics and remote management.

An industrial 4G LTE router solves this by providing cellular connectivity that's independent of site infrastructure. Pair it with a PoE switch and 2-4 outdoor IP cameras, and you've got the full networking and surveillance stack a commercial charging station needs to operate reliably and stay secure.

India had 27,737 public EV charging stations installed as of 1 March 2026, of which 22,753 were operational, according to data provided by the Ministry of Heavy Industries to Parliament. That gap highlights an important operational reality: installing the charger is only part of the infrastructure problem. Reliable power, connectivity, monitoring and maintenance all affect whether a station remains available to drivers

Why EV chargers need dedicated 4G connectivity, not site Wi-Fi

OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is the standard communication protocol between EV chargers and their central management system. It is the communication layer between the charger and its charging station management system (CSMS). It supports transaction handling, device monitoring, diagnostics, configuration and firmware management. 

A typical charge point sends only a few megabytes per day over OCPP - bandwidth isn't the constraint. Reliability is. A connection running at 99% availability still means the charger is offline for roughly 88 hours per year, which for a public charge point is commercially unacceptable.

Site Wi-Fi or shared broadband was never designed for always-on machine-to-machine communication. It drops during router reboots, competes with other users, and the charging station operator has zero control over it. A dedicated industrial 4G router gives the charge point its own connection that the operator controls, monitors, and can manage remotely. This is exactly why Teltonika's RUT241 has become the standard connectivity device in commercial EV charging deployments globally - it was purpose-built for this use case. Elinta Charge, a European EV charging station manufacturer, uses the RUT241 across its entire fleet to connect chargers to its cloud management platform via 4G LTE (per Teltonika's published case study).

What networking hardware does an EV charging station need?

For a station runnin multiple commercial EV charging solutions, the networking setup typically consists of a cellular or wired router for internet connectivity, an Ethernet switch to connect the chargers and other network devices, and a PoE switch or PoE-enabled switch for IP cameras. The exact setup depends on the number of chargers, cameras, and whether the site already has a wired internet connection.

Industrial 4G/LTE router - the OCPP backbone

This isn't a job for a consumer Wi-Fi router. You need a device rated for outdoor temperature extremes, continuous 24/7 operation, and industrial-grade reliability. 

Teltonika's RUT241 is one example of an industrial cellular router being used in EV charging deployments. Teltonika documents an Elinta Charge deployment where the RUT241 provides 4G connectivity between charging stations and the company's cloud management system.

For stations with RS485 serial devices (energy meters, industrial sensors), the Teltonika TRB145 gateway handles the protocol conversion from Modbus RTU to your cloud platform over 4G. For larger sites needing dual-SIM failover and multiple Ethernet ports, the RUT951 or RUT956 are the step-up options - both available at FGTech Store.

PoE switch - powering cameras without extra cabling

PoE (Power over Ethernet) means one cable carries both data and power to each camera - no separate power supply or electrical point needed at each camera location. For a 2-4 camera setup, an 8-port PoE+ switch is usually sufficient, provided its total PoE budget is high enough for the cameras being installed. PoE+ can deliver both network connectivity and power over the Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for a separate power connection at each camera.

Outdoor IP cameras - why this isn't optional anymore

In June 2026, Hyderabad's TGREDCO began rolling out CCTV cameras across all 160 of its fast EV charging stations after a series of thefts hit stations in LB Nagar, Nagole, Uppal, Amberpet, and Kukatpally. Charging guns, cables, display units, and internal components were stolen or vandalised, taking stations offline (reported by Deccan Chronicle and The Siasat Daily, June 2026). This isn't a Hyderabad-specific problem - unattended outdoor charging infrastructure is a theft target everywhere.

For outdoor charging bays, use weather-resistant IP cameras with appropriate ingress protection, night vision and a field of view that covers the charging equipment. If the site has no wired broadband, the cameras can share the same 4G/5G router used by the chargers. A local NVR or onboard camera storage can be used for recording, while the cellular connection provides remote access where required.

Typical networking stack of materials for a 4-charger station

Industrial cellular router x 1 — provides internet connectivity for chargers and other network devices where wired broadband isn't available

Ethernet/PoE switch x 1 — connects multiple chargers and IP cameras to the local network; PoE models can power cameras

Outdoor IP cameras x 2-4 — surveillance of charging bays and equipment

Outdoor-rated Cat6 Ethernet cable — connects chargers, cameras and network equipment

SIM/data plan x 1 — provides cellular backhaul; choose the operator based on signal strength and reliability at the site

UPS/surge protection x 1 — keeps networking equipment online during short power interruptions and protects it from electrical disturbances

FAQ

Can I use a regular Wi-Fi router instead of an industrial 4G router for my EV charger?

You can, but you shouldn't for commercial or public stations. Consumer routers aren't rated for outdoor temperatures, continuous operation, or the reliability thresholds that OCPP-based billing requires. If the connection drops, drivers can't authenticate, payments fail, and the charger shows offline on discovery apps. Industrial 4G routers like the Teltonika RUT241 are built for exactly this - rated for -40°C to 75°C operation with auto-reconnect and remote management.

How much data does an EV charger use per month?

Very little. OCPP itself generally uses relatively little bandwidth compared with video, but actual data consumption varies with charger configuration, meter-value reporting frequency, diagnostics, firmware updates and other backend traffic. For a multi-charger site, size the data plan based on the charger's expected traffic and leave headroom for maintenance and updates. CCTV live viewing or cloud recording can consume substantially more data than OCPP traffic

Is CCTV mandatory for EV charging stations in India?

There is no blanket national requirement that every EV charging station in India must have CCTV. However, surveillance can be an important part of physical security at unattended charging locations, particularly where charging cables, connectors and other equipment are exposed to theft or vandalism. Hyderabad's TGREDCO had to retrofit CCTV across 160 stations in June 2026 after theft and vandalism knocked stations offline. The cost of a few IP cameras is negligible compared to replacing stolen charging guns and losing revenue during downtime.

What SIM card should I use for an EV charging station in India?

Choose the cellular operator based on signal strength and reliability at the charging site rather than assuming one carrier will work everywhere. Jio, Airtel and other operators may be suitable depending on the location. For critical sites, consider dual-SIM hardware so the router can fail over to a second carrier if the primary connection fails.