Cisco is expanding the industry's most comprehensive campus networking portfolio with a new range of switches designed for cloud-scale networking. By combining powerful analytics and automation software with a broad offering of next-generation campus switches, access points, and controllers, Cisco delivers the only truly wireless-first architecture.
Based on the same key wireless innovations as 5G, both standards (Wi-Fi 6 and 5G) will change how businesses and consumers interact. In addition to being faster than the previous generation, Wi-Fi 6 offers up to 400 percent more capacity and is more effective in high-density environments such as large auditoriums, stadiums, or even conference rooms. Latency has been improved, facilitating real-time operation. Wi-Fi 6 also consumes less battery power on connected devices and provides a more predictable user experience.
Cisco today announced several solutions and collaboration agreements:
• Wi-Fi 6 Access Points. The new access points in the Catalyst and Meraki portfolios go beyond simply supporting the new Wi-Fi 6 standard. Equipped with custom programmable processors and access to innovative analytics capabilities, the new Cisco access points provide a smarter and more secure wireless network. They are also multilingual, facilitating communication with multiple IoT protocols such as BLE, Zigbee, and Thread.
• Central switch for campus networks. The Catalyst 9600 family of switches is the foundation for optimizing the operation of any network. To deliver the most secure and efficient wireless experience, organizations need a single network fabric that combines wireless and wired capabilities. Designed as the evolution of the Catalyst 6000—the most successful networking product in the history of the Internet—the Catalyst 9600 range forms the cornerstone of the next generation of intent-based enterprise networking.
• New resources for developers. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G represent a huge opportunity for developers. To help them create the immersive experiences these new levels of connectivity promise, Cisco announces the DevNet Wireless Dev Center. DevNet, Cisco's network for developers, offers training labs, sandboxes, and the resources developers need for innovative wireless applications. The Cisco Catalyst and Meraki access platforms are open and programmable down to the chipset level, allowing applications to take advantage of network programming in innovative ways.
• Industry collaboration: Prior to the launch of its Wi-Fi 6 access points, Cisco completed several interoperability tests with Broadcom, Intel, and Samsung on the new standard. Samsung, Boingo, GlobalReach Technology, Presidio, and other companies are also joining the Cisco-led Open Roaming project, which aims to facilitate secure connectivity between Wi-Fi and LTE networks, as well as encompass public Wi-Fi.
