At its Live conference in Australia, Cisco announced a major shift in its wireless offerings, merging its Meraki and Catalyst product lines under a single brand, now known as 'Cisco Wireless.'
This move aims to simplify licensing, enhance value, and create a more seamless management experience for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid networks.
The consolidation under Cisco Wireless integrates both the Meraki and Catalyst lines, providing users with a cohesive, unified wireless portfolio.
One of the standout changes in Cisco Wireless is the introduction of a simplified licensing structure, organized into two tiers: Essentials and Advantage.
This new licensing approach includes a single, all-encompassing license covering Cisco’s entire Wi-Fi 7 solution, significantly reducing complexity in the purchasing and management processes.
Wi-Fi 7 Access Points
Cisco has launched two new Wi-Fi 7 access points under the Cisco Wireless brand: the CW9178 and CW9176. These access points are designed for versatile deployment and can be managed through on-premises controllers or cloud-based tools.
The advanced Wi-Fi 7 standard brings notable improvements, such as increased data speeds, reduced network congestion, and enhanced support for applications like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
These access points are also AI-native and self-configuring, ensuring reliable and secure connections.
Global Consistency
Under Cisco Wireless, global product consistency is achieved through software-defined adjustments that handle regional compliance.
This eliminates the need for region-specific hardware models, as all adjustments for regulatory requirements—such as RF power limits and wireless spectrum usage—are now managed through software configurations.
Previously, Cisco had to develop different hardware models to meet regional regulations, creating slight hardware variations between regions.
The new software-defined approach allows Cisco to streamline manufacturing and reduce costs while offering customers globally consistent hardware that automatically adapts to local requirements.
Comprehensive Support and Deployment Flexibility
Cisco Wireless now includes support in its licensing packages, which were previously optional. The solutions are also highly flexible, allowing deployment and management across on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments.
With the Cisco Wireless brand, customers will benefit from simplified product lines and licenses starting in December 2024.
This unified approach is expected to reduce Cisco’s design and manufacturing workload while enhancing the user experience, making it easier to navigate Cisco's comprehensive wireless offerings.
