BACKGROUND
According to data from Statista, from 2012 to 2022 almost 20 percent of the US workforce is employed in the industrial sector, which includes mining, manufacturing, petrochemical plants and more. While there isn’t a specific percentage for “hazardous industrial worksites,” due to varying definitions and data collection methods, it’s estimated that a significant portion of industrial workplaces could be considered to have a high level of hazardous conditions depending on the criteria used to define “hazardous.”

GOING WIRELESS
We point this out in the context of enterprise connectivity in certain conditions where going wireless is preferable–on at least a few levels, to using Ethernet CAT-X and other cabling for industrial networks. With the high-bandwidth requirements brought on by Industry 4.0 style innovations–such as IIoT connectivity and increased automation (often robotic), mission-critical connectivity becomes of paramount importance for uninterrupted, 24/7 operations.

Wireless has always been used to fill in gaps in wireline infrastructure, or as a backup in case of a cable cut. But with there is now a case to be made to consider it as the primary connection medium, especially in harsh environments.

CHALLENGES
The environmental challenges in these industrial and manufacturing facilities include intense vibrations, extreme temperature fluctuations (E.g., -20° C to more than 40°-50° C), corrosive materials, and machinery in near-constant movement. For example, vibrations in moving machinery can cause equipment fatigue resulting in mechanical and electrical failures. Deployments like these often call for special ruggedized heavy-duty cabling, sometimes requiring metal-jacketed conduits.

In these environments, CAT-X cabling can become a single point of failure that can jeopardize a plant’s smooth 24/7 operations. CAT-X cabling can deliver Gigabit-speed connections, but may not be be feasible in certain locations of these facilities. And where it is deployed, it will have a shorter lifespan from the possibilities of cable cuts and caustic substances eating away its protective sheathing. Deploying cable in these areas could result in time-consuming and costly maintenance and replacement.

THE AIRVINE ADVANTAGE
The progress we have made over the last 18 months with the Airvine WaveTunnel and WaveCore product lines now offers management a cost-effective alternative to a wired network in mission-critical industrial and manufacturing settings.

The WaveTunnel has proven itself as a robust wireless backbone that can provide point-to-point-to-point connections in a daisy chain topology in a variety of scenarios. Operating in the 60 GHz band means the WaveTunnel is basically immune to interference from other sources of wireless transmission and has abundant spectrum available to provide multi-Gigabit speeds. This is why 60 GHz equipment is sometimes referred to as “wireless fiber”. Furthermore, while 60 GHz has traditionally operated on a strictly line-of-sight basis, Airvine is the first to achieve NLOS (non line-of-sight) connectivity in 60 GHz. This feature, combined with advanced beam steering, allows the WaveTunnel to go around corners. It can be used anywhere a cable can go.

PENETRATING CONCRETE WIRELESSLY
Excitement is growing over the demonstrated capabilities and potential of the new WaveCore system, launched in September 2024. This product was designed from the ground up to penetrate concrete, brick and similar materials in floors or walls that are 12 inches thick and more. Safety and structural support involves a lot of concrete infrastructure in factories and plants. The WaveCore eliminates expensive and time-consuming drilling, permitting and inspections required to run Ethernet networks through concrete barriers.

And the WaveCore is delivering. Recent deployments have achieved a 3Gbps connection through 8” of concrete in the middle of a 54-foot link, and a 4Gbps connection through a 12” concrete wall in a garage that was in the middle of a 6-foot link. The WaveCore can do the job in multi-story factories, too, as it can penetrate concrete floors that are usually a minimum of 4-5” thick and reinforced with rebar.

WAVECORE FIELD TESTING

During our extensive field testing we were able to demonstrate the performance in a variety of set ups including 12” concrete walls and across an entire stairwell.  Click Here to see more results.

APPLICATIONS
So what kind of applications and benefits are we talking about? One top consideration pertains to worker safety: avoiding exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals and toxins when laying cable and during maintenance calls. The set-it-and-forget-it nature of the WaveTunnel and WaveCore creates an almost maintenance-free situation that will reduce downtime. In petroleum refineries, the wireless alternative presents a high-reliability option in flammable and corrosive zones.

And although not necessarily a harsh environment, food and beverage plants can benefit from Airvine wireless solutions for compliance with hygiene standards, since wireless is cleaner compared to cables.

BENEFITS
Key benefits from deploying a wireless solution from Airvine in harsh industrial settings:

• Cost Savings: there will be a reduced need for cable repairs and replacements and there is a lower labor cost for installation and maintenance
• Flexibility: Airvine offers a variety of options at first install and for network reconfiguration requirements to accommodate changes in a plant’s layout. It is suitable in both “brownfields” (as an overlay network or an extension to existing wired infrastructure) or “greenfields” (new construction) environments.
• Scalability: Airvine provides seamless integration with existing industrial systems and offers a “pay as you grow” model, as it is easy to add additional units as a plant expands
• Enhanced Reliability: referring to the “interference immunity” noted above, Airvine provides “five 9s” of reliability in harsh industrial deployments.

SUMMARY
Industrial networking requires high speed connectivity in environments that traditional cable was not designed to withstand. With caustic chemicals, moving machinery and the 24/7 nature of operation in these environments a wireless solution from Airvine offers a new, superior networking strategy.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, IT efficiency and security are paramount. Many federal customers are realizing Enterprise Agreement (EA) benefits while adopting Cisco solutions at scale, saving millions of dollars annually and accelerating value and innovation. Without EA, customers plan for years, unable to prioritize and execute based on budget gaps alone. How can Cisco EA, FedRAMP Artificial Intelligence integrated solutions, and Cisco’s Expert Care National (ECN) Services enhance your organizational efficiency and trust?

Cisco Enterprise Agreements: Streamlining IT Management

Cisco Enterprise Agreements offer a comprehensive approach to software licensing, designed to streamline software procurement, management, and renewal. By consolidating various software purchases into a single agreement, organizations can achieve:

• Simplified Management: One contract means one renewal date and one set of terms and conditions, significantly reducing administrative overhead. This consolidation enables IT teams to focus more on strategic initiatives rather than managing multiple contracts.
• Cost Efficiency: Bundling contracts under an EA often leads to considerable cost savings. Cisco recognizes prior investments, allowing further cost reductions by consolidating existing software into a single agreement. This approach can also simplify budgeting with fixed term options.
• Scalability and Flexibility: EAs are tailored to accommodate business growth or contraction, providing flexibility in software licensing aligning with your organizational changes without constant renegotiations.

Cost Savings through Contract Bundling and Consolidation

Bundling services under Cisco’s Enterprise Agreements offers additional benefits:

• Reducing Costs: Consolidation can lead to lower technical services fees, including Software Support Service (SWSS) and operations support, to maximize efficiency.
• FAR Compliance: Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) emphasize procurement efficiency. Cisco’s approach to bundling aligns with FAR guidelines to optimize government spending, particularly through simplified acquisition procedures.

FedRAMP: Ensuring Security in Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS) Solutions

Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is crucial for government workforce enablement, ensuring cloud services meet stringent security requirements. Here’s how FedRAMP impacts efficiency and trust:

• Standardized Security: FedRAMP sets a security baseline for cloud services, reducing the risk of data breaches by enforcing compliance with NIST 800-53 controls. This standardization speeds up the adoption of cloud technologies while maintaining security.
• Impact Levels: Services are categorized into low, moderate, and high impact levels, based on the potential effect on organizational operations, assets, or individuals. Understanding these levels helps in selecting appropriate cloud solutions that match your data sensitivity requirements.
• AI Capabilities: With AI integration, FedRAMP offers support enhanced capabilities in cloud services, including advanced threat detection and automated security responses, which are pivotal for maintaining trust in cloud-based operations. Cisco SaaS Compliant Product Availability may be a helpful roadmap reference for interested customers.

Expert Care National Services: Enhancing Operational Efficiency

Cisco’s Expert Care National Services complement the trust established by FedRAMP and the efficiency of Cisco EA Services by providing:

• Centralized Support: Providing a unified support experience across Cisco’s broad portfolio of products and services, resolving complex issues up to 55% faster than traditional product-specific support models, delivered by local citizens with local data storage.
• Proactive Management: Through Cisco CX Cloud, organizations gain insights and analytics that improve asset management efficiency by 96%, ensuring that IT infrastructure is always aligned with business needs.

Alignment with Cisco Enterprise Agreements, FedRAMP compliance, and Cisco’s Expert Care National Services creates a robust framework for enhancing IT operations efficiency and trust. By leveraging these programs, organizations not only ensure compliance with federal standards but may also benefit from significant cost savings and operational agility. For those looking to transform their IT landscape, these options represent a strategic path forward, ensuring both security and efficiency in an increasingly digital world.

Call your Cisco account team today or contact us to validate which EA best fits your requirements and accelerate your IT efficiency!

Thanks to our partners and customers for making 2024 another productive year!  One of the highlights of the year was the honor of receiving CRN 2024 Tech Innovator Awards for TWO of our products!

• Our range-topping WiFi 7 access point, WBE660S was selected as the winner in the Wireless Networking category. WBE660S was one of the first tri-band 4×4 WiFi 7 access points released into the market, reflecting our commitment to provide our partners early access to the latest technology.
• USG FLEX 700H won the Network Security for SMB category!  Our new top-of-the-range H-series was recognized as a cutting-edge firewall that meets customer needs and creates new opportunities for solution providers.

Additionally, CRN recognized our multi-gigabit PoE switch, XMG1930-30HP, as a 2024 Tech Innovator Awards finalist in the SMB Networking category. Combining multi-gigabit with 10 Gigabit and high-wattage PoE, this switch is perfect for customers that need ultimate speed combined with a large PoE budget.

This year, we introduced several more innovative solutions that address these demands to enhance the performance and security of SMB networks:

• Our most affordable Multi-Gig Smart Managed Switches, the XMG1915 series, include Power Over Ethernet models to drive our WiFi 7 access points.  Multi-gigabit and WiFi 7 make a perfect pairing for high-performance applications.
• We also introduced our most affordable WiFi 7 Access Point, NWA130BE.  This tri-band 2×2 BE11000 access point makes WiFi 7 an easy choice for small businesses.
• Our all-in-one security router for SMB, USG LITE 60AX AX6000 WiFi 6 Security Router, is a cloud-managed router that combines blazing fast WiFi 6 speeds and best-in-class threat management. Zyxel’s Smart Mesh technology allows USG LITE 60AX to form dynamic wireless links between Zyxel Nebula access points to provide extended coverage and flexible deployment.

Our dedication to the channel and our partners in 2024 was evidenced by the expansion of our business into Canada and the receipt of a couple of industry honors by CRN:

• 2024 CRN Channel Chief – For the fourth year in a row, David Soares, Executive Vice President Channel Sales & Marketing, was named to CRN’s list of executives who develop channel strategies that make partners successful.
• 2024 CRN Partner Program Guide – Our Zyxel Authorized Partner Program was again included in the annual guide which spotlights vendor partner programs and their commitment to supporting IT channel success.

Not only was the industry media singing our praises, but we also produced some very interesting case studies featuring solution providers and their customers who revealed how Zyxel helped them to solve challenging networking problems.

• Zyxel Nebula solves public WiFi challenge – TCG Tech shared how a Nebula solution comprised of Zyxel WAX655E WiFi 6 access points, XGS2220 series Gigabit Ethernet L3 access switches, and USG FLEX 700H Firewalls enabled them to provide public WiFi at the site of the world’s largest livestock exhibition and rodeo.
• Zyxel products deliver high-speed Internet in Minneapolis – US Internet discussed how they are using more than 12,000 Zyxel switches and 2,500 Zyxel outdoor access points to provide reliable city-wide high-speed internet service.

As we wrap up an exciting year marked by lots of innovation, we want to thank our partners and customers for choosing to work with us!  We look forward to working with you to help you grow your business, increase your revenues, and strengthen your relationships with your customers!

Cisco is powering the world’s most connected venues 

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the need for robust and reliable high-speed Wi-Fi in sports and entertainment venues. Wi-Fi networks offer numerous opportunities to enhance both the attendee experiences and drive operational efficiencies for venues, but they also present challenges. It is crucial to deploy a Wi-Fi network that can meet the growing expectations of fans while keeping the total cost of ownership in check.  

Here are some of the opportunities that Wi-Fi networks bring to sports and venues:  

Enhanced Guest Experience 

More than 82% of sports fans say they use their mobile phones in some way while at a live professional sporting event.  Keeping fans connected and engaged by delivering a more convenient and customized fan experience through technology is essential in today’s event experience. The in-venue experience needs to compete with an ever-more-attractive at-home viewing experience. Fans expect a seamless mobile ticketing entrance, the ability to check fantasy and sports betting applications in real-time, and an easy social media sharing experience. Furthermore, interactive services like ordering food, wayfinding maps, real-time replays, and merchandise promotions add a level of personalization that guests value and keeps them coming back.   

Operational efficiency and lower total cost of ownership

Innovative Wi-Fi networks bring significant benefits to venues by enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO). With its improved data speeds, increased capacity, and lower latency, the technology’s ability to handle a higher density of devices ensures smooth operations during large events, minimizing downtime and improving customer experience. Additionally, energy-efficient designs reduce power consumption, helping stadiums lower operational costs in the long term. By providing faster troubleshooting, more seamless device management, and the ability to support a broader range of IoT devices, enhanced Wi-Fi networks enable stadiums to optimize their infrastructure and reduce maintenance expenses, while delivering a superior, modern experience for everyone. 

Increased revenue and business growth

Wi-Fi networks offer new opportunities for monetization, such as digital advertising and promotions based on user data. The NFL’s 32 teams generated an estimated $2.35 billion in sponsorship revenue last season which was up 15% YoY. As the game day experience continues to evolve with technology so does the opportunities for sponsorable assets and content.

Wi-Fi 6E

Our best-in-class portfolio has been supporting successful deployments in sports, media and entertainment for more than 15 years.  Beyond just wired and wireless networking, we offer collaboration tools, comprehensive cybersecurity, and management solutions that deliver enhanced insights and automation. This ensures a more secure, consistent, and scalable infrastructure that is easier to manage, more flexible, and more resilient than ever before. 

We just added to our portfolio a Wi-Fi 6E solution tailored for high-performance in sports and entertainment venues. Our access points leverage Wi-Fi 6E technology with versatile hardware options to suit various venue configurations. 

• Catalyst IW9167E-STA Heavy Duty Access Point: Equipped with a Wi-Fi 6E 75° wide beam outdoor directional panel antenna, perfect for handrails and short-distance overhead deployments. 
• Catalyst IW9167E-STA2 Heavy Duty Access Point: Features a Wi-Fi 6E 35° narrow beam outdoor directional panel antenna, ideal for mid to long-range deployments. 
• Catalyst IW9167I Heavy Duty Access Point: Comes with a Wi-Fi 6E omni-directional antenna, suitable for areas near seats or where overhead mounting is limited. 

The Denver Broncos have implemented our Wi-Fi 6E solutions stadium-wide, enabling faster internet for fans to follow games, share images, videos, and more during events. 

Learn more about our solution here.

Bangkok, Thailand – December 9, 2024 – Wi-Fi Alliance^® and Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University successfully completed a seven-month long pilot trial that showcased 6 GHz Wi-Fi^® technologies that will transform the future of healthcare. This project demonstrates that full band 6 GHz (5925-7125 MHz) availability sets the foundation for healthcare facilities across the region and world to modernize healthcare services and adopt advanced Wi-Fi technologies that improve user experience and operational efficiency at their facilities. Unlocking the entire 6 GHz band will not only benefit hospitals and healthcare facilities but will also offer many advantages for other industries in countries awaiting regulatory and policy decisions around 6 GHz unlicensed use.

Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital and Wi-Fi Alliance – along with Wi-Fi Alliance member partners Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, and Meta –presented the results of the pilot trial that underscored full band 6 GHz Wi-Fi’s value in enhancing teaching and learning capabilities to doctors and medical students. Full band 6 GHz was fully integrated with the hospital’s curriculum and offered performance insights from medical students and faculty that used advanced connectivity technologies in a dense environment for medical training and  educational purposes.

“Wi-Fi Alliance is delighted to see clear and conclusive results demonstrating the significant impact of 6 GHz Wi-Fi in healthcare settings, and to emphasize the broader potential to transform other industries wherever the full 6 GHz band is available to Wi-Fi,” said Kevin Robinson, President and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance. “Today’s Wi-Fi delivers unmatched performance and reliability, and this successful trial further underscores how Wi-Fi can transcend boundaries and offer secure, economical, high-performance connectivity across numerous applications, industries, and regions.”

“We are proud to welcome our partners from the Wi–Fi Alliance and stakeholders such as the NBTC and the USTDA, along with our esteemed member partners Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, and Meta. Together, we are here to explore the potential of advanced Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality applications in healthcare settings enabled by the unprecedented capabilities of 1200 MHz spectrum in the 6 GHz band. We will also facilitate insightful discussions with healthcare industry leaders, regulators, and innovators. Their expertise will provide us with the broader context necessary to understand the implications of integrating these technologies across the healthcare landscape.” – Clinical Professor Artit Ungkanont, M.D., Dean at Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University

“During this workshop, we are proud to share the pilot results, demonstrating our readiness to lead in this innovation. Collaboration is a cornerstone of driving a paradigm shift in Thailand’s healthcare services and medical education. This project will foster the growth of telemedicine, immersive medical training, research development, and improved patient engagement, all powered by the cutting-edge capabilities of Wi-Fi 6E technology.” – Assistant Professor Sithakom Phusanti, M.D., Assistant Dean for Policy and Planning and Team Lead of the Wi-Fi 6E Technology Projects in Healthcare and Education at the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital

Key takeaways from the pilot trial include:

• Using full band 6 GHz, hospitals and healthcare facilities can reduce network congestion and support advanced AR/VR technologies while ensuring stable and fast connections crucial for real-time medical applications and data-intensive trainings.
• Full band 6 GHz is critical for maintaining an optimal user experience for high network loads.
• Unlicensed use of full band 6 GHz for Wi-Fi is needed for Ramathibodi Hospital – and the Thailand healthcare industry overall – to maintain a leadership position in medical education and care in Southeast Asia.
• The latest Wi-Fi innovations in Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are fully capable of delivering efficient, robust, and reliable service across diverse market segments, provided regulatory decisions enable this critical spectrum access.

Earlier this year, a demonstration – 6 GHz Wi-Fi in healthcare: the future of AR/VR use cases for medical applications – highlighted two deployment scenarios using only the three 160 MHz channels available in the lower 500 MHz of the 6 GHz band (lower 6 GHz band) versus the seven channels available in the full 1200 MHz of the 6 GHz band (full band 6 GHz). The demonstration was a limited deployment of 6 GHz on Ramathibodi Hospital’s network whereas the most recent pilot trial fully integrated 6 GHz in an active classroom with 200 medical students and faculty using the same deployment scenarios.

At the end of the pilot trial:

• User experience satisfaction ratings were obtained from students and faculty that showed a three-time improvement for using full band 6 GHz compared to only the lower 6 GHz band.
• Data collected over the course of the pilot trial showed more than a two-time increase in network data throughput and more than a five-time reduction in latency when using full band 6 GHz versus the lower 6 GHz band.
• The pilot trial underscored the criticality of effectively using the available seven 160 MHz channels in the full 6 GHz band which significantly improves network data throughput while reducing network latency delays, two key metrics for improving user experience and maximizing network efficiency.

“HPE Aruba Networking is proud to have partnered with Wi-Fi Alliance and Ramathibodi Hospital to showcase the transformative potential of 6 GHz Wi-Fi in healthcare. By leveraging the full 1200 MHz of the 6 GHz band, we can empower healthcare institutions to deliver superior patient care, facilitate cutting-edge medical research, and optimize operational efficiency. This initiative demonstrates what can be achieved with access to the unlicensed use of the full 6 GHz band and showcases Thailand’s position at the forefront of healthcare technology.” – Prakun Laohakittikul, Country Manager, HPE Aruba Networking Thailand

“As a participant in this groundbreaking initiative, Intel recognizes the transformative potential of 6 GHz Wi-Fi in shaping the future of healthcare and beyond. We firmly believe that strategic spectrum allocation, ensuring technology neutrality between licensed and unlicensed use, is key to unlocking innovation. This successful collaboration highlights the critical importance of unlicensed access to the full 6 GHz band, which is essential for enabling high-performance connectivity, fostering technological advancements, and ultimately driving Thailand’s economic and social prosperity.” – Worapat Patram, Senior Director, Government, Policy and Trade, APJ, Intel Corporation

“Meta is humbled and excited to have been a key part of this “Industry First” trial showcasing the clear benefits of entire 1200 MHz spectrum versus just the lower 500 MHz portion. Based on the quantified user feedback received from this trial about difference in user experiences between two scenarios, it was very evident that we need the entire 1200 MHz spectrum to enable the immersive future of healthcare and education. Being able to provide both a theoretical analysis and following up with an actual deployment showcasing the difference provides convincing evidence of the need and benefit of allocating the full 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi.” – Djordje Tujkovic, Sr. Director and Head of Wireless in Reality labs, Meta

Additional support for this project has been provided by The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

About Wi-Fi Alliance^®  |  www.wi-fi.org
Wi-Fi Alliance^® is the worldwide network of companies that brings you Wi-Fi^®. Members of our collaboration forum come together from across the Wi-Fi ecosystem with the shared vision to connect everyone and everything, everywhere, while providing the best possible user experience. Since 2000, Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 80,000 Wi-Fi certifications. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal of approval designates products with proven interoperability, backward compatibility, and the highest industry-standard security protections in place. Today, Wi-Fi carries more than half of the Internet’s traffic in an ever-expanding variety of applications. Wi-Fi Alliance continues to drive the adoption and evolution of Wi-Fi, which billions of people rely on every day.

About Ramathibodi Hospital
The Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University has a long-standing tradition of providing top-notch medical care. With a dedicated team of highly skilled healthcare professionals, the hospital offers a wide range of specialized services, from general practices to complex medical procedures. The institution’s unwavering commitment to patient-centered care ensures that each individual receives the highest standard of treatment in a compassionate and supportive environment. As a hub of medical research and innovation, the institute’s state-of-the-art research facilities and collaborative environment foster groundbreaking studies in various fields, including genomics, regenerative medicine, and public health.

The Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute was established to advance medical education and innovation. Officially inaugurated in December 2017 in Bangplee, Samutprakarn, CNMI spans over 100 acres, serving as a state-of-the-art medical institute dedicated to fostering academic excellence and supporting the education of medical students. Renowned for its comprehensive and progressive educational programs, the institute offers a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate courses aimed at cultivating the next generation of healthcare professionals. By integrating advanced technologies, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), into its clinical anatomy curriculum, CNMI provides students with practical, immersive learning experiences in a controlled environment, ensuring they are well-prepared for real-world medical challenges.

As 2024 comes to an end, we reflect on a year of achievements, growth and innovation here at WorldVue. From groundbreaking partnerships and award-winning solutions to industry recognition and community engagement, here’s a look back at the milestones that defined our year.

January – Starting Strong as Industry Leaders

We kicked off the year with recognition in Parks Associates, naming WorldVue as one of the 2023 Top Leaders in Technology. This accolade highlighted our dedication to driving technological advancements that benefit our clients.

In parallel, we joined forces with OpenWiFi through the Telecom Infra Project, taking a major step forward in reshaping the connectivity landscape for multifamily and hospitality properties. This partnership paved the way for teamwork and projects that shaped our year.

February – Partnerships That Drive Success

Our ongoing collaboration with ServiceNow reached new heights. WorldVue was showcased as a successful partnership case study, with Chris Guthery sharing insights into how our technology solutions streamline customer and field service experiences.

March – Leadership in Action

WorldVue’s David Goldstone joined the Advisory Board for The Hospitality Show 2024, highlighting our role as a trusted voice and leader in driving the hospitality industry forward.

In addition, the launch of our Power of One Campaign unified our teams under a mission to streamline customer needs with a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to elevate your property’s technology infrastructure and guest satisfaction.

April – Technological Milestones

April sprung forward hospitality technology as we integrated Apple AirPlay for hotels into our WorldVue HUB™, giving guests a seamless way to enjoy their personal content.

Our commitment to advancing connectivity was furthered with the first OpenWiFi deployment at The Emory Plano, setting a new standard for the multifamily industry by incorporating NetExperience’s mPSK technologies.

May – Elevating Expertise and Expanding Reach

May was a month of knowledge-sharing and growth. At #Knowledge24 hosted by ServiceNow, Chris Guthery shared insights on delivering seamless customer and field service experiences, while Robert Grosz participated in the Broadband Communities Summiton understanding bulk billing solutions for multifamily properties.

We also celebrated our first joint deployment with ProSafe at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Downtown Pittsburgh, allowing hotels to ensure their team’s safety and focus more on their daily tasks.

June – A Month of Connection and Community

From hosting a company-wide BBQ to presenting at industry-leading events, June emphasized collaboration and community.

HITEC saw WorldVue showcase its product stack in innovative ways, while Robert Grosz presented a case study to the Wireless Broadband Alliance on our successful partnership with OpenWiFi.

Other highlights include partnering with Yedla Hotels to livestream the 2024 DoD Warrior Games to hotel lobbies, bars and guest rooms, as well as HospitalityNet featuring Robert Grosz in an opinion piece about safety and security in the hospitality sector.

July – Strategic Growth and Social Impact

We announced a strategic step to acquire Cabling Solutions, LLC, marking a significant milestone in expanding our capabilities and building quality digital infrastructure in hotels.

This month also underscored our dedication to social impact as WorldVue and ProSafe partnered with the AHLA Foundation at the No Room For Trafficking Summit (NRFT) to combat human trafficking in the hospitality industry.

Additionally, David Goldstone and Rodney Linville from Nobu Hospitality joined ILHA for a webinar exploring how Nobu’s iconic hospitality blends with tailored technology solutions.

August – Industry Recognition and Innovation

WorldVue’s commitment to excellence was honored with a GOLD Stevie Award for Company of the Year in Entertainment Technology.

We also hosted a webinar with our partners at NetExperience, where Robert Grosz and Mark Schaps discussed Revolutionizing Your Network with OpenWiFi. The month closed with OpenWiFi expanding its OpenLAN Project Group, with Mohsin Maqsood joining as co-chair.

September – Global Expansion and Exclusive Partnerships

September was a big one for us. The expansion of our international team further strengthened our global footprint in the Middle East, Africa, Indian Ocean and Oceania. Our growing team allows us to set a new standard globally for guest satisfaction and loyalty in the industry.

As we continued to grow globally, Robert Grosz spoke on delivering the promise of MDUs and hospitality connectivity at WiFi NOW’s World Congress Europe Conference in Switzerland.

WorldVue was proud to be chosen as the in-room entertainment provider for Loews Hotels & Co., strengthening our reputation as a trusted partner in luxury hospitality.

Additionally, our very own WorldVue HUB ™ platform was selected as a 2024 Finalist in the Residential Tech Today Innovation Awards.

October – Certifications and Awareness

WorldVue became certified with AutoClerk, Inc. to integrate our HUB ™ platform with their cloud-based property management system.

Community engagement took center stage as our Houston offices hosted #PinkDay to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This month culminated with David Goldstone moderating “The Future of Cities and Reimagined Hospitality,” a panel discussion at The Hospitality Show.

November – Commitment to Security and Community

This month marked a significant milestone in data security as WorldVue achieved SOC 2 Type II Certification, highlighting our commitment to protecting client data.

We also participated in the MD Anderson Boot Walk to End Cancer, uniting our team around an important cause.

December – Luxury Hospitality and Where Technology Enhances the Guest Experience

David Goldstone hosted a panel at the International Luxury Hotel Association’s Inspire Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Industry leaders like Rodney Linvelle from Nobu Hospitality, Rohan Jani from Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Mark Fancourt from Appellation joined the discussion. The panel was titled “The Price of Perfection: Meeting Sky-High Guest Expectations with Technology.”

Reflections on a Transformative Year

From major partnerships and cutting-edge innovations to global expansions and community impact, 2024 has been a year of growth and achievement at WorldVue. As we look ahead to 2025, we remain committed to empowering the industries we serve with unparalleled technology solutions and a vision for a connected future.

Modern applications have transformed how the world conducts business — driving unprecedented agility and innovation that push the boundaries of what’s possible. However, as applications continue to extend beyond private data centers and spread across multiple cloud service providers and in edge devices, organizations have lost critical visibility into these distributed environments. This observability gap has made it increasingly difficult — if not impossible — for network teams to diagnose application availability issues across multicloud, hybrid environments. In words familiar to the CCIE, “How does one plug a packet sniffer into the cloud?”.

At Cisco, we believe that innovation doesn’t have to come at the expense of a resilient network, and we’re teaming up with like-minded technology partners who share this core value. I’m excited to announce new integrations between Cisco and Amazon Web Services (AWS) that give network teams the visibility they need to quickly and accurately troubleshoot application availability issues across today’s dynamic multicloud networks.

Kernel-level visibility delivers true network observability

Multicloud visibility starts with deep workload observability applied at the kernel level. Isovalent (recently acquired by Cisco) are the co-creators of eBPF, Cilium and Tetragon — technologies that are already the de facto standard for cloud-native networking and security. For Kubernetes users, including those running on AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS), eBPF-based Cilium delivers networking, security and observability natively within Kubernetes environments. Every time a process reads a file, spawns another process or opens a network connection, eBPF code embedded in Cilium executes in the kernel, allowing it to gather detailed telemetries — such as TCP and UDP protocol data, packet loss and latency. Cilium is an open-source community project supported by Cisco. In addition, Isovalent Enterprise is offered as a step-up with additional capabilities in networking, observability and security.

The new integration between Isovalent Enterprise and AWS pushes networking telemetry directly to Amazon CloudWatch Network Monitoring where workload data can be correlated to actual network performance metrics in AWS environments. These insights can also flow into Splunk, where network teams can create unified dashboards that combine metrics from on-premises networks, cloud networks and application performance, and security teams can leverage this data for threat detection and policy enforcement.  Enriching workload visibility data with AWS network performance and making it available to Splunk enables real-time visibility into the entire AWS network fabric, giving network teams the level of observability and control they need to build and optimize truly agile environments that run today’s modern applications.

The deep integration in practice

Let’s see how the Cisco and AWS integration would work in the real world. One of our financial services customers recently migrated a critical trading application to AWS. The application was written so that certain workloads run in the cloud for scalability while keeping sensitive data on-premises for compliance. Their network team had sophisticated tools for monitoring on-premises performance but found that they had gaps in their network visibility when traffic moved to the cloud. It became difficult to distinguish between application issues and underlying network problems. When users complained about performance, the network team couldn’t tell if the problem was their application, the AWS network or somewhere in between.  The new, deep integrations between Cisco and AWS give our customer’s networking team detailed insights into process-level activity within all workloads. This allows them to monitor network performance metrics, visualize the entire application path and correlate all the data for rapid troubleshooting — all in one central management plane. What used to take days of finger-pointing between teams now takes minutes to resolve.

Providing a breadth of assurance and security capabilities

In addition to the integration covered above, Cisco ThousandEyes is also announcing general availability of Cloud Insights, a new multicloud product aimed at extending cloud infrastructure discovery and configuration changes to application performance. This new solution extends ThousandEyes’ well known path visualization capabilities into the AWS network and also correlates how traffic flow impacts application performance. By combining this with ThousandEyes’ existing network and application synthetics, you get true end-to-end assurance — from your data center, across the internet or Direct Connect and deep into the AWS infrastructure.

Finally, Cisco Hypershield builds on top of Isovalent technology, delivers the visibility above, and provides security controls at the workload and network level across multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Hypershield uses enhanced telemetry, AI analysis and recommendations to simplify security via its first use cases: Autonomous Segmentation and Distributed Exploit Protection.

Our new approach

The Cisco and AWS integration is a radically new approach to ensuring the availability of modern applications in today’s multicloud, hybrid environments. Today’s announcement brings together deep workload visibility, network performance monitoring, and security in a way that’s never been possible before.

Are you at AWS re:Invent Dec 2–6,2024, Las Vegas, NV?  Please visit us at Cisco booth #1332 and Splunk booth #1342.

For more information:

• Website — Isovalent
• AWS Feature — Network Monitoring
• Website — Cisco Hypershield
• ThousandEyes Solution — AWS Cloud Monitoring

Wi-Fi 8 prioritizes connection reliability over increasing headline speeds, aiming to make more effective use of the same tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) spectrum. It also introduces enhancements for popular mesh networking (multiple access points), more reliable connections in congested airspace, improved power efficiency for IoT devices, and greater signal reach—all of which enhance the user experience.

We’ve created a TL;DR alternative of our white paper in a new infographic that simplifies and guides you through the technologies expected to power the next Wi-Fi standard.