By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO & Chairman
Saudi Arabia opts for standard power 6 GHz Wi-Fi operation with AFC
Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) last week confirmed that standard power 6 GHz outdoor (and indoor) Wi-Fi operations using AFC are now permitted within the kingdom. The decision underlines Saudi Arabia’s regional and global regulatory position as a staunch proponent of full-band 6 GHz Wi-Fi everywhere.
“Saudi Arabia now stands at the forefront of spectrum management, demonstrating how bold, forward-thinking decisions can accelerate innovation, foster digital inclusion, and prepare nations for the future of connectivity,” says Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) in a statement here. The decision will lead to “robust coverage for open spaces and major international events, support the rollout of advanced networks across strategic sectors, and accelerate the development of smart cities and industrial IoT applications,” DSA says. The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Global Summit will be co-located with Wi-Fi World Congress 2025 in Dubai on November 17-19.
Revenue for Wi-Fi 7 CPEs will reach US$8.6 billion by 2029, Dell’Oro Group says
Dell’Oro’s latest forecast for the broadband access and home networking markets reveals average annual growth of 1.6% towards 2029, the company says. Revenue for fixed wireless CPEs is expected to peak in 2025-2026 while Wi-Fi 7 residential routers and broadband CPEs will reach US$8.6B by 2029, the report reveals. “Though market presence in the form of homes passed remains today’s priority, future success will be all about delivering customized service tiers based on attributes beyond speed,” says Jeff Heynen, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group. For more read here.
Cisco launches Wi-Fi routers optimised for Starlink
This is not new but we missed it – and it is important: Earlier this month (although it appears the collaboration started already last year) one news source reports that Cisco teamed up with Starlink to deliver Wi-Fi routers optimised for satellite networking. The solution is designed to deliver robust Internet access for remote areas and includes integration of Cisco’s SD-WAN, telemetry, and more. “The routers are intended for both enterprise and consumer markets, allowing ISPs and businesses to offer satellite broadband as a primary or backup solution,” says this news report. The integration of Cisco SD-WAN into Starlink networking was however first announced by Cisco in October of last year.
NETGEAR Business launches new professional services portfolio
NETGEAR is a household name in Wi-Fi but in recent years, the company has been ramping up activities to secure greater enterprise Wi-Fi market share. Last week the company announced that NETGEAR Business‘ new VP of Global System Engineering Massimo Mazzeo Ocello – previously of RUCKUS/CommScope – has introduced a new catalog of enterprise services. The new services pack includes network design, optimisation, training, configuration assistance, and more. For more read here.
/Claus.
