AI is redefining campus networks. This report analyzes how agentic NetOps, enterprise AI adoption, and network/security convergence will affect vendors and partners in 2026 and how they should respond.
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2026 Trends to Watch: Campus Networks
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WLAN Equipment Market Tracker – 2Q25 Data
Data / 18 Nov 2025 / Roz Parkinson
Analyzes 2Q25 market share/size, and the 2025–30 forecast for Wi-Fi access points and controllers, including Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, and cloud-managed SaaS. Vendors include Cisco, HPE (Aruba), Huawei, H3C, Extreme Networks, and Juniper.
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Research Report: Wi-Fi Evolution – WLAN in the Age of AI
Brief / 03 Aug 2025 / Jim Frey
While much of the technology underpinning wired enterprise networks has stabilized and matured, the same cannot be said about wireless networks, which continue to change and evolve. WLAN in the Age of AI While much of the technology underpinning wired enterprise networks has stabilized and matured, the same cannot be said about wireless networks, which continue to change and evolve. Nowhere else is this more evident than within Wi-Fi standards, which endured three major updates in the past 10 years alone, moving from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, and now on to Wi-Fi 7. Each iteration brings not only new capabilities and features, but also new challenges that can prevent network teams from obtaining the full value of the upgrade. Important new initiatives such as AI and IoT are adding urgency to upgrades, driving efforts to ensure new applications can achieve full potential where wireless LAN technologies are involved. To gain further insight into these trends, Enterprise Strategy Group surveyed 370 networking professionals at organizations with 500 or more employees in North America (U.S. and Canada) involved with or responsible for building and managing wireless network technology and processes at their organization. Research Findings Focus Shifts toWi-Fi6E and 7 Amid Continued MainstreamWi-Fi5 and 6 Deployments AI and IoT Projects Add Urgency toWi-FiUpgrades Security and Performance DominateWi-FiUpgrade Priorities Amid Cost and Complexity Concerns WAN and LAN Expansion Is Underway asWi-FiPreparation Continues Wi-FiIs Still Considered Complementary to Private 5G Outside of Key Use Cases Read the Research Report: Wi-Fi Evolution: WLAN in the Age of AI Appendix Further reading Explore the survey results Watch a video summary Read Research brief Author Jim Frey, Principal Analyst, Networking askananalyst@omdia.com
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US: WLAN Strategies Survey – 2024
Survey / 26 Feb 2025 / Adeline Phua
This report presents the key findings from the 2024 US WLAN Strategies Survey. It covers WLAN spending priorities for 2025 and 2026, including the adoption of new technologies such as Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and cloud-managed WLAN.
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The Analyst Team
Roz Parkinson
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Roz joined Omdia, formerly Ovum, in 2020 and specializes in the enterprise networking market, especially new developments that are changing market dynamics such as network virtualization and automation.
Prior to joining Omdia, Roz was a research manager at IDC, covering the enterprise network equipment and lifecycle services markets in EMEA. Roz previously worked in the IoT and Service Provider areas before focusing on enterprise networks.
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Alastair Edwards
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Alastair Edwards is a chief analyst providing clients with expert advice and thought leadership on channel ecosystem strategies through the company’s industry-leading channels analysis service.
Over the last two decades he has worked with many of the largest global technology vendors, supporting the development of their go-to-market models for hardware, software, cloud, and services. His expertise spans all areas of the channel, and most recently his research has focused on cloud marketplaces, the changing role of partners in as-a-service models, and distributor transformation. He contributes to many of Canalys’ strategic consulting projects and is a regular presenter at industry events around the world.
Prior to joining Canalys, now part of Omdia, in 2004, Alastair was the editor of pan-EMEA channel news service, IT Europa. He grew up and was educated in Scotland, and started his career in local journalism, before moving into the IT industry in 1998. Alastair holds an honors degree in politics from the University of Exeter.
Jim Frey
Follow AnalystChief Analyst, Networking
Principal Analyst Jim Frey has over 30 years of experience in networking and network management tools, technologies, best practices, software product development, management, and marketing. Jim was formerly VP Partner Marketing for Kentik Technologies, where he held senior leadership roles related to channel and technology alliance ecosystems and business development. Prior to joining Kentik, he held positions in industry research, marketing, product management, and software engineering, including roles at the executive level for the past 23 years. Jim holds a BSc in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden and an MSc in Computer and Information Sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
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