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Intel’s corporate wireless local area network (WLAN) is crucial to employee productivity. If users experience poor radio frequency (RF) conditions, productivity can plummet while user frustration escalates. We have found that reliable WLAN service starts with good access point (AP) deployment—which, in turn, is the result of effective planning. But as you can read in our recent white paper, “Optimizing and Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Networks Using Client Analytics,” planning alone isn’t sufficient to achieve the network reliability we need.

Intel IT’s Best Practices for Avoiding Poor RF Issues

Intel IT has developed a few guidelines for ideal AP placement:

Place an AP every 45 feet.
Place an AP near all four corners of small conference rooms.
For larger conference rooms, install APs inside the conference room, one per every eight users.

We estimate that these guidelines prevent poor RF coverage about 80% of the time, but they don’t always meet our goal of 99.999% coverage. It’s difficult to simulate internal walls, which can vary from cubicle panels to concrete. Also, APs use a dynamic power level that can change depending on the users’ physical distribution around each AP. Another problem is that room layouts might change between planning AP placement and installation. Therefore, after a third-party firm installs APs based on the above guidelines, we go the extra mile to validate that the installed APs provide the necessary coverage.

Traditional RF Coverage Validation Is Time-consuming and Costly

RF coverage validation is traditionally performed in one of two ways:

Use a commercial software application to simulate coverage, which may not reflect the floor layout accurately unless we manually update it.
Physically walk the entire floor with a client device. However, this is time-consuming and not all campuses have on-site IT staff.

Not satisfied with either of these two options, a few years ago we developed an in-house alternative to walking the floor. Our customized software displays AP power levels and user counts per AP in a dashboard (see screenshot below). We can look for signs of low coverage—APs with a high power level and a high user count. In the following screenshot, a glance down the rows of data reveals that the AP named etb671y-aej76 (ninth row) meets these criteria.

However, our in-house software wasn’t completely ideal. Every five minutes, we had to manually collect the data from the WLAN controller across the entire company. We also needed to develop sophisticated algorithms to eliminate non-prime-time data, define interesting values, and accommodate geographic regions’ differences (for example, in some regions, Friday is a working day; in others, it is not). With hundreds of thousands of APs installed worldwide, such manual efforts are nearly impossible.

This approach to network validation does not scale well and uses precious IT resources.

A Faster, Better Approach to Validation

Intel® Connectivity Analytics, recently developed in collaboration with Cisco and Intel’s Client Computing group, is a cost-effective, highly scalable alternative approach to network validation.

Prior to using Intel Connectivity Analytics, we could gather only AP data—there was no visibility into the client side of things. AP data could tell us about the number of users and transmit (Tx) power level, but we merely used this information as markers for low coverage. It wasn’t possible to measure the coverage directly from the client perspective.

In contrast, Intel Connectivity Analytics constantly gathers data from client devices themselves. The client data represents the actual client experience.

This solution provides granular driver-level wireless client insights for any client using Intel® Wi-Fi products while connected to a supported Cisco wireless network. The APs automatically collect the Wi-Fi telemetry sent from the clients and forward it securely to a Cisco Catalyst controller, Cisco Catalyst Center management platform, or a Cisco Meraki Cloud management platform. The solution then processes the data and presents network managers with intelligent reports and insights.

Intel Connectivity Analytics provides an efficient, targeted approach that identifies low received signal strength indicator (RSSI) events (see screenshot below) that pinpoint users who are experiencing poor RF. We can explore the issue directly by examining the specific AP power level history and deployment without needing to collect and analyze vast amounts of data.

By drilling down, we see that the same AP is the source of all the low RSSI events on a particular date (see screenshot below). Note: RSSI is measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm), where a larger negative number represents a lower signal strength. For example, an RSSI of -70 dBm is stronger than an RSSI of -85 dBm. An RSSI of -50 dBm is a strong signal, while -85 is very weak.

Further drill-down shows that this AP is transmitting at the highest power level, suggesting insufficient coverage in the specific area.

Finally, floor map analysis discovered a lack of AP neighbors close to this AP, resulting in poor signal strength for clients.

Conclusion

Intel Connectivity Analytics lets us quickly find low-coverage areas and pinpoint the cause. It eliminates the need to walk the floor or manually collect and analyze RF data from the entire company. We can now focus our efforts only where it matters.

The time savings are enormous. On the client side, troubleshooting a connectivity issue without Intel Connectivity Analytics could take 10–15 minutes, and the IT administrator could fix only one client at a time. Intel Connectivity Analytics has helped mean time to repair drop significantly to 10–15 seconds, and the solution can simultaneously identify numerous problematic connections. For network issues, it might take days to diagnose what is causing a rash of connectivity problems. With Intel Connectivity Analytics, we can now discover the root cause of a problem in a matter of seconds. In addition, we no longer need to support our in-house tool or create internal custom scripts and automation jobs for collecting and managing client data.

For information about how Intel IT uses Intel Connectivity Analytics to improve the Wi-Fi network user experience and network management efficiency, read the IT@Intel white paper, “Optimizing and Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Networks Using Client Analytics.”

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December 3, 2024

[Press Release]

WBA Releases Updated Operator Managed Wi-Fi Reference Architecture to Improve Residential Wi-Fi Experience

London, UK, December 3, 2024 — The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the global industry body dedicated to improving Wi-Fi standards and services, has today released an updated “Operator Managed Wi-Fi (OMWi): Reference Architecture and Requirements” technical report. This update includes enhanced technical and operational requirements and introduces open-source, OMWi-compliant implementations from partners such as the prpl Foundation, and RDK-B. It delivers a comprehensive framework for deploying and managing residential Wi-Fi, addressing global operator needs through the integration of key standards and open-source platforms.
The OMWi architecture integrates key industry standards, including Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi EasyMesh™, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Data Elements™, and Broadband Forum’s User Services Platform (USP) Data Models TR-369 and TR-181. These standards collectively ensure that the architecture is scalable and interoperable, guiding operators in engaging with equipment vendors on shared specifications.

The updated framework concludes Phase 2 of the OMWi program, defining a standardized reference architecture that streamlines Wi-Fi management by unifying data collection, network configuration, and optimization processes across systems, reducing dependence on fragmented, proprietary solutions.

Key industry players such as Airties, Nokia, Deutsche Telekom, prpl Foundation, MaxLinear, CableLabs, LGU+, RDK, and CommScope have actively demonstrated solutions based on the OMWi architecture, contributing to the development of a compliance mechanism.

The OMWi Framework addresses key needs for deploying and managing residential Wi-Fi to enable operators better manage the residential Wi-Fi experience for their customers:

Standardized Wi-Fi Management: With Wi-Fi as the primary means of internet access for most users, and ISPs increasingly handling Wi-Fi support, a standardized management solution is essential for avoiding proprietary systems that limit compatibility across vendors and hardware. The OMWi framework provides a unified approach to Wi-Fi management.
Enhanced Architecture and Interoperability: Release 2 expands the architecture to support multi-AP mesh networks, topology management, and self-healing, making it easier for ISPs to manage complex deployments. It supports interoperability with Wi-Fi standards up to Wi-Fi 7, enabling integration of diverse AP configurations and third-party applications.
Streamlined Deployment: Phase 2 emphasizes smooth deployments with features like automatic configuration, mobile app installation guidance, loop prevention, and optimized channel management, ensuring stability in various settings.
Advanced Operation and Self-Healing: New self-healing features, including automated channel management and client steering enhance resilience. The architecture also supports offline operation, enabling local control when cloud connectivity is unavailable.
Remote Management and Diagnostics: Remote diagnostics allow operators to proactively monitor network performance, reducing on-site calls and enhancing user satisfaction while ensuring data protection.
Firmware and Security Enhancements: A coordinated firmware upgrade system supports secure updates across multi-AP networks, with WPA3 security for end-to-end protection.
Real-World Implementations and Industry Support: Phase 2 includes practical examples from the prpl Foundation and RDK-B, aiding faster adoption. Broad industry support highlights the architecture’s relevance and alignment with future Wi-Fi needs.

Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said: “The updated OMWi framework is a key step forward in helping operators better manage the residential Wi-Fi experience for their customers, which has become the principal way devices access the internet in the home. Introducing open-source OMWi compliant implementations will drive greater cross industry interoperability for data collection, remote management and mesh formation. The move away from countless proprietary standards will be cost-effective for operators and improve the end-user experience.”

Metin Taskin, WBA Board Member and CEO & founder of Airties, added: “Airties is proud to help lead this working group of industry leaders and share our expertise deploying operators’ managed Wi-Fi experiences across both RDK and prpl communities. This OMWi 2.0 report specifies the industry standards and open-source solutions to simplify integrations and deployments, enabling ISPs to focus more of their efforts on improving the quality of experience for their broadband customers. Ultimately, we recognize that is the key for operators to improve customer satisfaction, lower churn, reduce expenses, and increase revenues.”

Pedro Caldeira dos Santos, Executive Head of Broadband Products and Services, remarked:
“Deutsche Telekom is proud to contribute to the OMWi initiative, which marks a transformative step in the evolution of residential Wi-Fi. By integrating open standards and fostering cross-industry collaboration, the OMWi framework empowers operators to deliver a seamless, high-quality Wi-Fi experience to millions of customers worldwide. This effort underscores our commitment to innovation, interoperability, and ensuring that our customers enjoy the best in connectivity solutions.”

Dr. Leonard Dauphinee, VP & CTO of Broadband Group at MaxLinear, highlighted: “MaxLinear commends WBA’s efforts to coalesce multiple open standards from the broadband industry into a cohesive reference architecture for Operator-Managed Wi-Fi. MaxLinear is helping to commonize WBA’s architecture by developing a fully compliant open-source implementation of OMWi in the prpl Foundation.”

Justin Doucette, Nokia Head of Wi-Fi, added: ”Nokia is proud to co-chair the WBA OMWi Reference Architecture working group to fulfill the needs of CSPs as it relates to open standards in the Managed Wi-Fi market. Nokia recently deployed the world’s first production version of Corteca Home Controller with Singtel that supports end-to-end Wi-Fi management and optimization based on OMWi. By implementing open standards, Corteca allows CSPs to work in a multi-vendor environment with faster innovation cycles, to differentiate, improve user experience, increase ARPU, and reduce operating costs.”

Phase 3 to offer certification program for vendors and service providers

In Phase 3, expected to begin in 2025, WBA plans to launch a compliance program that will include an expanded telemetry component and an endorsed testing suite. This suite will offer a self-service test kit or authorized lab testing, providing vendors and service providers with an accessible path to OMWi certification. Certified organizations can assure customers of consistent, reliable functionality across OMWi-compliant networks, solidifying OMWi as an industry standard.

Learn how OMWi provides a comprehensive framework for deploying and managing residential Wi-Fi by downloading “Operator Managed Wi-Fi: Reference Architecture and Requirements” technical report, and visiting the WBA Resources pages of the Wireless Broadband Alliance website.

About the Wireless Broadband Alliance

Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is the global organization that connects people with the latest Wi-Fi initiatives. Founded in 2003, the vision of the WBA is to drive seamless, interoperable service experiences via Wi-Fi within the global wireless ecosystem. WBA’s mission is to enable collaboration between service providers, technology companies, cities, regulators, and organizations to achieve that vision.

WBA undertakes programs and activities to address business and technical challenges, while exploring opportunities for its member companies. These initiatives encompass standards development, industry guidelines, trials, certification, and advocacy. Its key programs include NextGen Wi-Fi, OpenRoaming, 5G, IoT, Smart Cities, Testing & Interoperability, and Policy & Regulatory Affairs, with Member-led Work Groups dedicated to resolving standards and technical issues to promote end-to-end services and accelerate business opportunities.

Membership in the WBA includes major operators, service providers, enterprises, hardware and software vendors, and other prominent companies that support the ecosystems from around the world. The WBA Board comprises influential organizations such as Airties, AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Boldyn Networks, Broadcom, BT, Charter Communications, Cisco Systems, Comcast, HFCL, Intel, Reliance Jio, Telecom Deutschland, and Turk Telekom.

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November 20, 2024

[Press Release]

Ziply® Fiber gives customers best network and best WiFi experience with introduction of new WiFi 7 routers and extenders from TP-Link

New WiFi 7 routers provide faster speeds, more coverage no matter how many devices are connected to a home WiFi network

Kirkland, Washington (November 19, 2024) – Ziply^® Fiber, home to America’s Fastest Home Internet, today announced the introduction of the most advanced home WiFi experience available – WiFi 7 – now ready for installation across the company’s entire four-state, fiber-optic footprint. Starting today, along with the best network, new customers who sign-up for Ziply Fiber’s 1, 2, 5 or 10 Gig service may lease the company’s new WiFi 7 TP-Link router which will provide the fastest WiFi available. Customers will also enjoy the bonus of knowing this new service from Ziply Fiber helps solve one of the biggest pain points in American households today.

According to the recent “How Americans are Using the Global Internet” study conducted by OnePoll, 70 percent of consumers said they experience connection issues with their home WiFi networks and one-third of respondents reported that an unreliable WiFi connection is the biggest cause of stress at home. Today’s introduction of WiFi 7 from Ziply Fiber helps solve both of those issues.

“Ziply Fiber’s new WiFi 7 experience is a gamechanger when it comes to speed, capacity, latency and overall performance for home WiFi,” said Harold Zeitz, CEO of Ziply Fiber. “People have been saying they want to connect more devices, have better coverage throughout their homes and get faster speeds over WiFi, and today they can have all of that and more on the nation’s fastest and most reliable network.”

Whole Home WiFi Now Included
In addition, Ziply Fiber’s Whole Home WiFi service is now included with the router lease for all its multi-gig plans, just as it has been with its Gig, Fiber 300 and Fiber 100 plans. Whole Home WiFi ensures a quality WiFi signal and internet connection throughout a customer’s entire home. Ziply Fiber’s technicians perform a home WiFi check to assess the strength of WiFi service and look for any WiFi dead zones during installation. After the assessment, the technician will install the WiFi 7 router in the best spot to provide the customer with optimal WiFi coverage in their homes.

WiFi 7 Delivers Speed, Capacity and Performance
WiFi 7 delivers speeds faster than both WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E devices. The new WiFi 7 router options support symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps for wired connections and up to 3.5 Gbps over WiFi.

Ziply Fiber’s new WiFi 7 service also allows customers to connect more devices simultaneously without slowing down or experiencing lag, meaning increased capacity with lower latency, which is optimal for streaming, gaming, video calls and more.

WiFi 7 enhances performance overall, especially in dense environments where many networks overlap. It reduced interference and boosts signal quality, leading to better coverage throughout the home. WiFi 7 is particularly effective in larger homes, those with unusual layouts or more than two stories, or that have interior brick walls, which are normally susceptible to WiFi dead zones.

“As one of the first to bring affordable Wi-Fi 7 routers to market, we are pleased to collaborate with Ziply Fiber to deliver the latest in wireless networking technology,” said Jeff Barney, President, TP-Link Systems Inc. “With more Wi-Fi 7-enabled devices entering the market, it’s vital that consumers have access to fast, reliable connectivity, without compromising on quality or cost.”

About Ziply Fiber
Ziply Fiber is home to America’s Fastest Home Internet – 50 Gig. Called “America’s undisputed leader as the fastest home internet provider” and “the fastest internet provider nationwide” by CNET, and “The Fastest ISP in the Northwest” by HighSpeedInternet.com, Ziply Fiber is a local, Northwest-based company headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, with major offices in Everett, Washington; Beaverton, Oregon; and Hayden, Idaho. Most of Ziply Fiber’s executive team, which consists of former executives from AT&T, CenturyLink, and Wave Broadband, have lived and worked in the Northwest for the majority of their careers. That local ownership and market familiarity is an important part of the company mindset and culture. Ziply Fiber’s primary service offerings are Fiber Internet and phone for residential customers, Business Fiber Internet and Ziply Voice services for small businesses, and a variety of Internet, networking, and voice solutions for enterprise customers. The company continues to support Ziply Internet (DSL) customers, and its TV customers in Washington and Oregon. A full listing of products and services can be found at ziplyfiber.com.

About TP-Link
Headquartered in the United States, TP-Link Systems Inc. is a global provider of reliable networking devices and smart home products, consistently ranked as the world’s top provider of Wi-Fi devices. The company is committed to delivering innovative products that enhance people’s lives through faster, more reliable connectivity. With a commitment to excellence, TP-Link serves customers in over 170 countries and continues to grow its global footprint.

About the Study
The “How Americans are Using the Global Internet” study was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of NETGEAR between November and December 2022 and surveyed more than 2,000 consumers across the United States on their experience with WiFi and connected devices in the home, what their online habits are, and which factors they view as important to maintaining a quality online experience. The survey was posed to OnePoll’s group of general population respondents and remained open until 2,000 survey responses were complete.

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November 19, 2024

[Press Release]

NETGEAR Business Launches Engage 2.0: Revolutionizing AV Network Management for Enhanced Connectivity and Control

San Jose, Calif. – November 12, 2024 – NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTGR), the leading provider of networking products that power businesses of any size, today announced the launch of Engage 2.0, a major upgrade to the powerful platform designed to streamline management of audiovisual (AV) networks. NETGEAR Engage™ 2.0 is free and available to download starting today.

The convergence of AV and IT environments and return of large-scale and mobile events and experiences continue to change the way AV systems are used, and the impact is significant. AV over IP brings complexity to commercial, broadcast, or residential installers when it comes to managing Ethernet switches, routers, and WiFi access points. For example, detecting Ethernet switches and access points deployed across a network requires a great deal of manual effort. Additionally, updating firmware on multiple devices is time consuming, and proper configuration of AV networks can be cumbersome. Now that the network is the central AV fabric, an improper setup can ruin the entire AV experience.

Given these challenges, a powerful central management system is critical. The new NETGEAR Engage 2.0, a free software download, provides a centralized and user-friendly way to manage AV networks. By providing AV network, router, and WiFi controllability under one platform, users gain more seamless configuration and management for any installation.

“With almost three decades of network leadership, we’re constantly innovating to simplify AV and WiFi connectivity and provide a more seamless management experience,” said Laurent Masia, Senior Director of Product Line Management, Managed Switches, at NETGEAR. “The new Engage 2.0 software delivers expansive, unified control features for even the most complex AV network installations.”

Engage 2.0 allows for effortless WiFi control in AV fixed installations with touch panels and tablets connecting to ad-hoc wireless networks, enhancing the control of AV endpoints across VLANs. For large events, the platform allows installers to create temporary WiFi guest networks to provide a robust WiFi solution for mobile studios or crews, ensuring guests stay connected. For residential settings, the enhanced capabilities streamline AV deployments allowing AV system integrators to manage both AV systems and home WiFi networks.

Additional Engage 2.0 WiFi features include:

Freedom for AV & Lighting Crews: Allows technicians to connect to the AV network wirelessly, freeing them from being tethered to the rack. This flexibility supports the integration of other AV and lighting control software that can now connect via WiFi to the wired network.
Unified Wired and Wireless Management: Seamlessly integrates wired and wireless infrastructure, allowing NETGEAR AV switches, pro router, and WiFi access points to be configured together with Engage profiles. Key features include Auto-Trunk, Fast Roaming, and mDNS reflector/gateway across profiles.
LAN and WLAN under Control: Engage 2.0 firmware introduces advanced WiFi management for NETGEAR AV installations, supporting WiFi assignment to Profiles/VLANs, Auto-Trunk, and Instant Mesh for simplified setup.
Auto Discovery and Onboarding Capabilities: Automatically detects all NETGEAR AV M4250, M4300, M4350, and M4500 series switches and supports one PR460X Pro Router and up to 10 WBE758/WBE718 WiFi 7 access points per site.
Zero Configuration Setup:Auto-trunking on switches where the access points are connected ensures seamless integration and ease of use.
Fast Roaming and Auto-Mesh Support:Utilizes protocols such as OKC, 802.11r, 802.11k, and 802.11v for optimal performance and connectivity.

To learn more, visit https://www.netgear.com/business/.

About NETGEAR, Inc.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in the USA, NETGEAR® (NASDAQ: NTGR) is a global leader in innovative networking technologies for businesses, homes, and service providers. NETGEAR delivers a wide range of award-winning, intelligent solutions designed to unleash the full potential of connectivity and power extraordinary experiences. For businesses, NETGEAR offers reliable, easy-to-use, high-performance networking solutions, including switches, routers, access points, software, and AV over IP technologies, tailored to meet the diverse needs of organizations of all sizes. NETGEAR’s Connected Home products deliver advanced connectivity, powerful performance, and enhanced security features right out of the box, designed to keep families safe online, whether at home or on the go. More information is available from the NETGEAR Press Room or by calling (408) 907-8000. Connect with NETGEAR: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the NETGEAR blog at NETGEAR.com or NETGEAR Press Room or by calling (408) 907-8000.

©2024 NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holder(s). The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. NETGEAR shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. All rights reserved.

Source: NETGEAR-G

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November 19, 2024

[Press Release]

Airties Appoints John Lancaster-Lennox, former President of Nokia Japan, to Lead ISP Expansion Efforts Across Asia

– Opens new East Asian office, based in Tokyo, to help ISPs improve the quality of home connectivity in order to retain customers, lower operating costs, and increase broadband revenue

– Follows Airties’ entry into South Asia earlier this year with AI software innovation center in Bangalore, India

Tokyo, Japan & Paris, France – November 19, 2024 – Airties, a global leader of AI-driven software that improves the home connectivity experience for ISPs, today announced the appointment of John Lancaster-Lennox, former Representative Corporate Officer and President of Nokia Japan, to lead Airties’ expansion efforts across Asia. Mr. Lancaster-Lennox will oversee a new regional office based in Tokyo designated to serve Airties’ customers and partners throughout the region.

Broadband service providers rely upon Airties’ software for the ongoing optimization of their customers’ broadband experience to help reduce churn, lower operating costs, increase revenue, and innovate in new ways. Airties’ customer experience platform includes Smart Wi-Fi software for gateways; Airties Cloud and its companion app; Airties Orbit, a continuous test automation platform; and Wi-Fi mesh extenders. In addition to its new Tokyo office, Paris-based Airties has offices across Europe and the United States, and opened a new AI software innovation R&D center based in Bangalore, India earlier this year.

“We see a growing opportunity in Japan, and across Asia, which is why we are investing more in the region and why we sought out a proven leader like John Lancaster-Lennox,” said Metin Taskin, CEO and founder of Airties. “John has both the in-market experience and leadership skills to help us effectively serve ISPs across Asia, and we look forward to having him oversee our efforts across the region. In mature high-speed broadband markets, ensuring the quality of the home broadband experience is the key to customer satisfaction and retention, and Airties is here to help make that happen.”

“I am incredibly proud to join Airties at such an exciting time in the broadband industry,” said John Lancaster-Lennox, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Asia at Airties. “Airties’ value goes far beyond providing Smart Wi-Fi; it fundamentally helps ISPs solve the most pressing business issues of the day: reducing churn, lowering operating expenses, increasing revenue, and driving innovation. I am eager to help deliver all of these benefits to customers and lead our growth across Asia.”

Prior to joining Airties, Lancaster-Lennox spent 18 years at Nokia in various leadership positions across Asia, including roles in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and most recently served as President and Representative Corporate Officer of Nokia Japan. Earlier in his career, he also held management roles at Bechtel and Open Mobile. In his new role at Airties, Lancaster-Lennox will report to Airties’ CEO and founder, Metin Taskin.

Airties’ AI-driven customer experience platform helps ISPs observe, diagnose, and fix in-home connectivity issues automatically or through actionable recommendations. By personalizing the customer experience and optimizing home connectivity, it is designed to help improve customer satisfaction and reduce churn. Airties leverages data-driven insights to help ISPs grow revenue and deliver a premium managed broadband experience to consumers. Key software solutions include:

Airties Edge, Smart Wi-Fi software for gateways/routers/extenders, that intelligently directs consumers’ devices (laptops, tablets, phones, game consoles, IoT, smart home devices, etc.) to the best available Wi-Fi access point and frequency band based on real-time network conditions;

Airties Cloud, which helps monitor and optimize Wi-Fi performance across homes, delivers insights on connected devices and application performance, and provides APIs to power operators’ customer facing support apps or a white-label Companion App from Airties; and

Airties Orbit, a continuous test automation platform for broadband service providers, customer premises equipment (CPE) manufacturers, and system-on-chip (SoC) manufacturers to support Smart Wi-Fi integrations and deployments.

Airties has received many prestigious industry awards for its innovations, including: “Best Home Wi-Fi Solution Award” from Broadband World Forum; “Best Wi-Fi Service Provider Solution” and “Best Home Wi-Fi Product” awards from Wi-Fi NOW; “Best Wi-Fi Innovation” and “Best-In Home Wi-Fi Network” awards from Wireless Broadband Alliance; “Best Broadband Customer Experience” from Cable & Satellite International; and numerous others. Additional information about Airties can be found at: www.Airties.com or the company’s new Japanese-language site at https://airties.jp.

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November 19, 2024

[Blog]

Maximizing Holiday Sales with Wi-Fi Marketing: Tips for Business Success

As the holiday season approaches, businesses everywhere are gearing up for one of the most lucrative times of the year. Holiday shoppers are on the hunt for the best deals, exciting experiences, and convenient shopping options. But how can businesses stand out in this busy market? Wi-Fi marketing offers a powerful and unique way to engage holiday shoppers, drive sales, and build lasting customer relationships.

Here are some impactful strategies for using Wi-Fi marketing to maximize your business’s success this holiday season:

1. Offer a Festive Welcome with Customized Captive Portals

When customers connect to your store’s Wi-Fi, their first impression is crucial. A well-designed, festive captive portal can help set the holiday mood and promote your brand. Add eye-catching seasonal banners, holiday messages, and quick access to your latest promotions, discounts, or holiday event announcements on your GoZone WiFi custom captive portal. This portal serves as a powerful tool to showcase your seasonal offerings before shoppers even start browsing.

Quick Tip: Create different captive portals for key holiday events, like Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year’s, to keep your messaging relevant and timely. Use GoZone’s Splash Page Scheduler to “set it and forget it”!

2. Capture Customer Data for Holiday Remarketing

Holiday shoppers often make quick, spur-of-the-moment purchases, but you can leverage Wi-Fi marketing to keep them engaged beyond a single visit. By capturing email addresses, demographics, and interests through Wi-Fi login options, you’re gathering valuable insights to follow up with holiday offers, event invitations, and loyalty incentives.

Pro Tip: Use the collected data to segment your audience for targeted holiday email campaigns and personalized messaging. Your December shoppers may become loyal customers for the rest of the year with the right follow-up.

3. Run Exclusive In-Store Offers and Discounts

The holidays are a time when customers are actively looking for deals. Reward customers who connect to your Wi-Fi network with exclusive, in-store offers or digital coupons they can redeem during their visit. This not only adds value to their experience but also encourages purchases.

Example Campaign: After connecting to the Wi-Fi, use the URL redirect for customers to receive a message offering them a “10% discount for today only” or a special discount code. This gives customers an immediate incentive to make a purchase before they leave.

4. Encourage Social Sharing for Greater Reach

During the holiday season, people are more inclined to share festive moments and shopping finds with their friends and family. Through your Wi-Fi marketing platform, encourage customers to follow and tag your business on social media, and reward those who do with holiday perks or a chance to win prizes.

Pro Tip: Create a holiday-specific hashtag, run a photo contest, or offer a giveaway for customers who tag you in their posts. This extends your reach organically and can bring new holiday traffic into your store.

5. Showcase Holiday Gift Guides and Trending Products

Many shoppers enter stores with general ideas but aren’t sure what they want. Use your captive portal to display a holiday gift guide, seasonal trends, or bestsellers. This instantly gives customers shopping inspiration and guides them toward making a purchase.

Effective Strategy: Showcase gift ideas with Automated Marketing Campaigns for different recipients (e.g., “Gifts for Him,” “Gifts Under $50”) to cater to a wider range of shoppers and make their decisions easier.

6. Offer Premium Wi-Fi for Increased Time in Store

Consider offering a tiered Wi-Fi experience to encourage shoppers to stay longer. Provide basic free access and then offer a premium experience with faster speeds for those who sign up for an account, make a purchase, or engage with a short promotional video with Ads4WiFi. This strategy keeps customers in-store longer, where they’re likely to discover more items.

7. Collect Customer Feedback for Post-Holiday Improvements

The holiday season provides valuable insights into your customers’ preferences and behaviors. Leverage Wi-Fi marketing to request feedback from shoppers regarding their holiday experience with your brand. This will give you a jumpstart on areas of improvement and help you identify trends and preferences that can guide your future offerings.

Quick Win: Add a quick survey or feedback form that pops up as customers disconnect from Wi-Fi, offering them a small incentive, like a discount on their next visit, to encourage participation.

The Bottom Line: Make This Holiday Season a Success with Wi-Fi Marketing

The holiday season is the ideal time to engage customers through Wi-Fi marketing and create an interactive shopping experience that boosts sales and brand loyalty. From custom captive portals to exclusive deals and social sharing, these Wi-Fi marketing strategies can turn seasonal traffic into long-term growth. This year, enhance your holiday strategy by making Wi-Fi marketing a key part of your toolkit and ensure your business

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November 19, 2024

[Blog]

Thanksgiving Peace of Mind: Zyxel IP Surveillance Solutions for Secure, Reliable Monitoring During the Holidays

With the Thanksgiving holiday around the corner, many businesses may have limited staff on-site, making reliable, uninterrupted surveillance more important than ever. Zyxel’s IP Surveillance solutions provide high-resolution, easy-to-manage digital IP cameras that offer clear monitoring when needed most. Our advanced PoE switches are designed specifically for surveillance applications, ensuring security systems stay active and responsive while you focus on enjoying the holiday.

Key Features of Zyxel IP Surveillance Solutions:

Worry-Free PoE Power Budget

Our PoE switches are designed with a large power budget to support multiple IP cameras across all connected ports, allowing for hassle-free installation and operation.

Additional Uplink Ports

Equipped with extra uplink ports, our surveillance switches allow for expanded surveillance networks without using ports reserved for IP cameras.

Flexible Port Options

Zyxel offers a wide range of surveillance switches from unmanaged to managed series, with models available in various sizes to accommodate CCTV installations of any scale.

Extended Transmission Range

Surpassing the standard 100-meter limit, our surveillance switches offer an extended range of up to 250 meters, reducing the need for additional equipment and saving time, effort, and costs.

Benefits of Zyxel Surveillance Switches

GS1350 Series: Patented Ethernet Protection

Each port is designed with patented Ethernet protection to guard against lightning surges and electrostatic discharges, keeping your surveillance network functional and protected, even in adverse weather.

Uninterrupted, 24/7 IP Camera Operation

The continuous PoE feature provides non-stop power to IP cameras, even during firmware upgrades or switch reboots, ensuring stable, secure surveillance.

Auto Camera Recovery

Our switches are equipped with intelligent auto-recovery capabilities, detecting and addressing IP camera malfunctions automatically. This feature reduces maintenance costs and downtime, providing dependable surveillance without the need for on-site intervention.

Why Zyxel IP Surveillance is Essential This Thanksgiving

With Zyxel’s IP Surveillance solutions, businesses can maintain robust security throughout the Thanksgiving holiday, even with limited staff. Our switches keep IP cameras continuously powered and functional, so you can enjoy the holiday with peace of mind knowing your security network is operating seamlessly.

For more info about Zyxel IP Surveillance Switch, click here.

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November 19, 2024

[Blog]

The Future of Business Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and OpenRoaming

Seamless, reliable connectivity isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore—it’s essential for modern business operations. As the demands on networks grow, Wi-Fi 7 takes the foundation laid by Wi-Fi 6 and elevates it further to deliver more consistent throughput and latency for higher-density networks. This reliability is important when using a 5G SIM credential for authenticating into a Wi-Fi 7 access network. The operator wants to know they are moving their users’ traffic to a good Wi-Fi network, and Wi-Fi 7 provides the capability to do that.

Key features such as Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allow devices to communicate over multiple channels simultaneously, reducing congestion and ensuring ultra-reliable, low-latency connections. This is crucial as businesses deploy more devices—from IoT sensors to augmented reality (AR) tools—and need networks that can handle the increased load without sacrificing performance.

For businesses, Wi-Fi 7 is not just about faster connections; it’s about creating smarter, more efficient networks that support modern applications and workflows. From retail to healthcare to logistics, Wi-Fi 7 is set to improve the way businesses operate by offering seamless connectivity and greater network reliability.

Wireless convergence: the future of seamless networks

Wireless convergence is the ability to use multiple access networks together for an optimal end-user or device experience. Wi-Fi and 5G are the world’s dominant wireless access networks. For carriers, the idea is to make the underlying network technology invisible to the user. Whether they’re connected via Wi-Fi or 5G, they experience the same fast, reliable service without noticing any transition.

This convergence is essential for industries like retail, healthcare, and logistics, where constant connectivity is crucial for both customer experiences and business operations. However, achieving seamless transitions between networks requires overcoming challenges like managing multiple access points, interference, and securing connections across both business and consumer environments. This is where OpenRoaming comes into play.

OpenRoaming: Simplifying connectivity across networks

Seamless wireless roaming, especially between Wi-Fi and 5G networks, has long been a challenge. While 5G offers global connectivity due to established business-to-business roaming agreements between carriers, Wi-Fi networks require a roaming methodology to seamlessly authenticate when accessing different Wi-Fi hotspots.

OpenRoaming, now an industry standard run by the Wireless Broadband Alliance, addresses this gap by using Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA)’s Passpoint technology to enable automatic, secure connections across millions of Wi-Fi access networks. This eliminates the need for manual log-ins or captive portals, making Wi-Fi as easy to access as cellular but using many different credentials you already have, like the SIM card in your phone or even your Apple or Google ID for authentication.

For businesses, this means reduced friction, streamlined connectivity for both customers and employees, and a boost in satisfaction as users experience seamless transitions across networks.

Wi-Fi 7 and wireless convergence in action

The convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G is not just theoretical—it’s already playing a critical role in various industries. Wi-Fi offload is a perfect example. When 5G signals are weak, such as inside buildings with signal-blocking materials, Wi-Fi 7 can offload traffic from the cellular network. This improves the user experience and reduces the load on 5G infrastructure, ensuring consistent connectivity for users while optimizing network performance.

With Wi-Fi 7, businesses can expect improved bandwidth, a cleaner spectrum, and a network architecture that supports high-density environments without bottlenecks. This is essential for modern applications like AR, IoT, and real-time data processing that are becoming increasingly vital across industries.

The business impact of Wi-Fi 7 and seamless roaming

Wi-Fi 7, combined with OpenRoaming and wireless convergence, delivers significant benefits across various business sectors:

Retail: Seamless connectivity can drive better customer engagement, allowing users to automatically connect to in-store Wi-Fi for personalized offers, AR shopping experiences, or loyalty programs.
Hospitality: High-quality Wi-Fi is one of the most sought-after amenities in hotels and resorts. With seamless roaming, guests can enjoy uninterrupted connectivity, enhancing their overall experience and improving satisfaction.
Healthcare: Wi-Fi 7 supports mission-critical applications like telemedicine, real-time patient monitoring, and secure staff communications, ensuring reliable, low-latency connections that can be the difference between life and death in healthcare environments.
Logistics: The ability to maintain stable connections across large facilities means that IoT devices, automated systems, and inventory tracking tools can function without interruption, improving operational efficiency and reducing downtime.

Supporting advanced applications with Wi-Fi 7

The next generation of business applications, from augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to 4K video streaming, will require networks that can handle vast amounts of data in real time. Wi-Fi 7 is built to support these high-bandwidth, low-latency applications, making it possible for businesses to adopt advanced technologies without sacrificing network performance.

For example, retailers can use AR to create immersive in-store experiences, while healthcare providers can rely on Wi-Fi 7 for telemedicine and real-time patient data. Similarly, manufacturing and logistics companies can leverage automation and IoT for more streamlined operations, knowing that their networks can handle the load.

Making business networks future-ready with Wi-Fi 7

One of the most significant advantages of Wi-Fi 7 is its ability to help businesses prepare for the future. As more devices and data-heavy applications come online, businesses will need networks that can scale accordingly. The improved capacity, efficiency, and support of Wi-Fi 7 for wireless convergence make it the ideal solution for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve.

With the rise of technologies like IoT, 5G, and artificial intelligence (AI), businesses must ensure their infrastructure is capable of handling the growing data demands. Wi-Fi 7 offers the reliability and performance necessary to meet these challenges, preparing businesses for whatever the future holds.

A new standard for business connectivity

Wi-Fi 7 and OpenRoaming represent a fundamental shift in how businesses approach connectivity. By integrating Wi-Fi and 5G into a seamless, unified network, businesses can deliver the reliable, high-performance connectivity needed to drive customer engagement, improve operational efficiency, and support emerging technologies.

For businesses across industries, adopting Wi-Fi 7 is more than just an upgrade—it’s an investment in future-ready networks that will continue to deliver value as connectivity needs evolve.

Ready to learn more about how Wi-Fi 7 is shaping the future of business connectivity? Tune in to our Wi-Fi 7 podcast for an in-depth exploration of this revolutionary technology.

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November 19, 2024

[Press Release]

Cisco Introduces Intelligent, Secure and Assured Wi-Fi 7 to Transform Employee and Customer Experiences

A leap forward in wireless: AI-native, self-configuring and built for resilient, secure connections

News Summary:

Cisco introduces Wi-Fi 7 access points, with the intelligence, security and assurance of Cisco’s advanced networking portfolio.
New AI-native wireless is location-aware, instantly adapts to any environment and continuously optimizes—with the power of Cisco Spaces built in to create smart workplaces.
Unified subscription and hardware give Cisco customers ultimate flexibility by offering a seamless wireless management experience across cloud, on-premises and hybrid networks.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 12, 2024 – Today, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) introduces new intelligent, secure and assured wireless innovations, with smart Wi-Fi 7 access points and unified subscription licensing that can enable smart spaces out-of-the-box. These innovations empower customers to solve for their connectivity, security and assurance challenges, while also providing a flexible foundation to future-proof their workplaces.

Wireless technologies have reshaped the world, from how and where work gets done, to how people shop and learn. Today, wireless innovations continue to blur the lines between physical and digital spaces, enabling organizations to transform their workspaces and create new digital experiences for an AI-driven era. While Wi-Fi 7 unlocks essential performance upgrades, a retailer reimagining the shopping experience, a manufacturer optimizing operations with precision asset tracking, or a hospital enhancing patient care all need more than just connectivity. They need an intelligent, secure and assured platform.

“Just about everything we do blends human behavior with sensors, cameras, or screens—physical experiences in an increasingly digital world. And Wi-Fi is at the center of it all,” said Jeetu Patel, Cisco Chief Product Officer. “With Cisco Wi-Fi 7 access points and Cisco Spaces, we are delivering the connectivity, assurance, and data that IT, real estate, and facilities teams need to reimagine employee and customer experiences everywhere.”

SIMPLIFIED LICENSING, FLEXIBLE DEPLOYMENTS

The new Cisco Wireless Wi-Fi 7 access points bring the latest wireless standard to customers everywhere. Cisco’s new smart access points are manageable on-premises or through the cloud, with the ability to switch seamlessly between both. This flexibility is enabled through Cisco’s unified networking subscription – a single license that covers Cisco’s entire Wi-Fi 7 solution. This new Cisco Networking Subscription simplifies how customers do business with Cisco and allows organizations to confidently invest in wireless networks that can grow and evolve with their business.

THE CISCO ADVANTAGE

The role of wireless is growing, as organizations rely on technology to enable their workforce and create differentiated experiences for their end customers. Cisco’s Wi-Fi 7-powered innovations provide customers a smart, scalable and experience-driven approach. Cisco’s offering is:

Intelligent: Cisco’s new Wi-Fi 7 access points deliver one of the industry’s most intelligent wireless offerings, featuring AI-native performance optimizations and out-of-the-box self-configuration. The access points are global use and can auto-detect location as soon as they are plugged in. With access to the Cisco Spaces platform now included in the subscription license, customers now get an operating system to turn their workspaces into smart spaces.
Secure: Powered by some of the industry’s most advanced threat detection capabilities, Cisco secures every connection with AI-native device profiling, threat prevention, and advanced wireless security and data encryption.
Assured: With Cisco ThousandEyes, customers can assure every connected experience using AI and automation to identify and remediate performance bottlenecks across wireless, owned and unowned networks – unlocking the ability to deliver exceptional digital experiences to every user, wherever they are.

ECOSYSTEM EMBRACES CISCO’S PLATFORM APPROACH

Today’s innovations underscore Cisco’s journey to deliver on its Networking Cloud platform approach. With AI-native intelligence embedded throughout, Cisco demonstrates its commitment to operational simplicity and security for customers and partners.

“Fira de Barcelona hosts 270 events every year in Barcelona, including the flagship wireless connectivity technology event Mobile World Congress, and also conferences around the world” said Carlos Sanchez Baena, Telco Manager at Fira de Barcelona. “Executives from around the world convene to shape the future of wireless technology. So, it’s critical we provide seamless connectivity across 500,000 square meters of our exhibition space. Only the most reliable, predictable, and secure wireless experiences will do. As high-bandwidth technology proliferates, the ability to support AR/VR and live-streaming is even more critical. That’s why we’re so happy Wi-Fi 7 from Cisco is here. They are the only provider we collaborate with for the most reliable, large scale and secure connectivity.”

“Cisco’s new global use Wi-Fi 7 AP’s and Unified Licensing approach are an exciting and welcome change that simplifies their solution and makes it easier for clients to consume,” said Christine Fierro, Sr. Director, Edge & Core Solutions, World Wide Technology. “We are excited to aid our clients in better understanding these new offerings and how they can streamline operations and drive efficiency within their network.”

“Wi-Fi is a ubiquitous technology that is critical enabler of everyday and mission-critical communications for organizations across the world. In recent years, the industry has seen increased adoption of networking platforms to take advantage of simplified operations, powered by AI,” said Brandon Butler, IDC Senior Research Manager covering Enterprise Networks. “Cisco’s wireless offering and unified licensing approach demonstrate the value of a platform approach for customers, granting them access to more flexibility, continued optimization and innovation.”

Availability

The Cisco Wi-Fi 7 access points are available to order in November 2024 and will ship in December 2024.

Additional Resources:

Executive Blog: Zero Friction Wireless for Smarter Workplaces, Lawrence Huang, SVP/GM, Cisco Networking – Meraki & Wireless
Product Blog: Assuring Digital Experiences for Wi-Fi 7 and Beyond, Mike Hicks, Principal Solutions Analyst, Cisco ThousandEyes
TechBeat Podcast: Talking Wireless Convergence, Open Roaming, 5G, and the future of Wi-Fi 7 with Matt MacPherson
For more information on Cisco Live Melbourne, please visit The Newsroom

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals.

Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word ‘partner’ does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

Forward-Looking Statements: This release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, among others, statements regarding Cisco’s future strategic investment plans to expand and develop secure and reliable AI solutions. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including, among other things, the ability of Cisco to achieve expected benefits of its investments, business and economic conditions and growth trends in its customer markets and various geographic regions, increased competition, global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment and other risk factors set forth in Cisco’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, respectively. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based on limited information currently available to Cisco, which is subject to change, and Cisco will not necessarily update the information.

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November 19, 2024

[Blog]

Not All Devices Are Created Equal: Rising Cybersecurity Risks at Home

As we navigate the holidays and spend more time indoors, there is an understandable increase in time spent on our devices. With more time on screens and holiday house guests joining home networks, there is a higher risk that our devices are susceptible to security attacks.

October was National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) in the United States, so we took a close look at the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape in US homes. Plume’s HomePass and WorkPass service monitors traffic across all devices in the home or the workplace for known bad actors, proactively blocking links and connections that Plume has identified as potentially dangerous.

Plume blocked cybersecurity threats in the United States rose 48% from 2023 to 2024, measured from January 1 through October 31 each year. Botnets have been driving the largest share of increase, with 103% more threats reported this year than in the previous year. Malware threats, which includes ransomware, have also seen a large increase – 78% – since 2023. The smallest increase came from Phishing which only saw a 14% rise. Spam, Spyware and Adware actually saw a year-over-year decrease of 33% – which indicates that bad actors are changing their tactics.

Not all brands are created equal, and Plume IQ dove deeper to look at how different device types and brands were targeted in attacks. Some highlights include Nintendo Switch devices seeing more threats per device than any other gaming console. While they saw the highest number of threats in 2023 (36% more than any other), Nintendo Switch devices also saw a big jump year-over-year, with almost 50% more threats in 2024.

Another stand out is in the streaming device category where Amazon Fire TV devices – which allow for loading of unauthorized third party applications – receiving more threats than any other brand. Amazon streaming devices saw an average of 336 threats over the time period (52% increase from 2023), no other brand is close. On average, we observed that Apple TV devices experienced 37 threats and Google Chromecast 28 threats on average per device. Roku streaming devices experienced the least at an average of 14 threats per device.

Plume IQ further investigated consumer device threat risks, focusing on whether these risks are tied more to software vulnerabilities or hardware weaknesses. Focusing on the broad range of modern Apple iPhone models from iPhone 11 to iPhone 15, each model shows a relatively close amount of threats on average between models— around 40 threats each with the newer iPhone 15 slowing a slight advantage. This proves the threat risk is based mostly on software and not hardware. iPhone 16s are now online, and we’re watching to see if they exhibit the same behavior.

To combat these cyber threats, Plume employs multi-layer security defense mechanisms. These include: checking internet sites visited by any device on the network for known bad actors, inspecting incoming internet connections for suspicious activity, verifying that IoT devices are not talking to internet servers outside of their normal behavior, and monitoring the use of home and very small business applications to prevent remote access from the internet.

Plume Named Consumer Cybersecurity Solution Market Leader

“Consumer cybersecurity is an essential offering for all telcos, especially those with ambitions to become digital lifestyle providers. However, to ensure full protection, its essential telcos provide what Omdia refers to as “Total consumer cybersecurity”, protecting all of their connected devices across all networks and all of the time.” – Michael Philpott, Research Director, Service Provider Consumer at Omdia

Omdia recently released their vendor assessment and market report: Omdia Market Radar: Total consumer cybersecurity solutions for telcos and included Plume as a leader in the industry.