While many people are setting personal resolutions to stick to their budgets, eat healthier, or form new habits, there’s a group of networking professionals stepping back into the office after the holidays with a singular goal: to power what comes next for their networks.
For some in the networking space, that means activating new data center projects to support surging AI demand. For wireless professionals managing campus networks, the priority is ensuring client devices connect seamlessly and securely. And for Cisco customers like the National Football League (NFL) preparing for Super Bowl LX, the focus is on delivering unforgettable guest experiences built on reliable, high-performance wireless technology.
The surge in device density and demand is pushing traditional Wi-Fi architectures to their limits, creating an urgent need for solutions that can scale reliably and enhance security without adding complexity. Let’s explore how some of our latest innovations address this mandate—in award-winning fashion.
The evolution of cloud-managed campus networking
Cisco Campus Gateway, launched in the U.S. in June 2025 and now available globally, is a cloud-managed, enterprise-class solution that transforms how large campus Wi-Fi networks are deployed, managed, and scaled. By combining the robust performance of Cisco hardware with the simplicity of Meraki cloud management, Campus Gateway addresses critical challenges—such as supporting high device density, enhancing security, and simplifying network operations—faced by large organizations across education, healthcare, hospitality, and public venues.
Campus Gateway introduces a wireless architecture that blends centralized and distributed models, defining a new approach to scalable, secure Wi-Fi. It exemplifies a commitment to simplified operations by unifying Meraki and Cisco platforms, enabling seamless interoperability and hybrid network management.
Campus Gateway earned the Wi-Fi NOW Award in 2025 for Best Enterprise Wi-Fi Solution, recognized for its cloud-based architecture and scalability. The solution was also honored at the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) Awards for innovation in cloud-managed wireless networking and for enabling new architectures for centralized campus networks at scale.
Wi-Fi excellence for high-density environments
What does an unforgettable guest experience look like at a major sporting event? Fans stream video from their seats, upload pictures to social media, order and pay for concessions with digital wallets, all while ensuring that safety and security are maintained. Secure, high-performance wireless creates opportunities for major sporting and entertainment events to power great experiences. Cisco enables those experiences by providing wireless innovations like the Cisco Wireless 9179F Access Point.
Most recently, the 9179F access point—designed for large public venues—won the Wi-Fi NOW Award for Best Wi-Fi Deployment Solution. Cisco wireless access points also received the prestigious Red Dot award in 2025 for technical product design for Wi-Fi 7 access points. The 9179F access point represents a leap forward in Wi-Fi technology with several unique and patented innovations:
- Software-configurable antenna system: Ensure optimal radio frequency (RF) performance tailored to any venue; configure wide or narrow beam patterns, support front-and-back coverage, and enable both indoor and outdoor deployments.
- Environmental and installation versatility: Deploy a single hardware unit for both indoor and outdoor installations with the patented Environment Pack and simplify installation with dual LED indicators.
- Advanced spectrum management: Optimize channel usage and minimize interference by leveraging intelligent transmit power balancing for equitable client distribution, along with dynamic channel allocation and AI-enhanced radio resource management.
Ultra-reliable connectivity for mission-critical applications
With digital transformation accelerating, there is a growing need for dependable, high-performance connectivity between sites, buildings, and outdoor locations. As organizations drive automation with robots and mobile assets, these devices require uninterrupted roaming and seamless connectivity.
Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB) delivers fiber-like performance without cables, supporting both highly mobile use cases and fixed wireless backhaul scenarios. Purpose-built to provide maximum up time, near-zero latency, and uninterrupted connectivity, URWB is suited for mission-critical applications where consistent connectivity is non-negotiable.
Operating in an unlicensed spectrum, URWB leverages advanced technologies to maintain reliability, even under unpredictable conditions. It employs sophisticated interference mitigation techniques and proprietary protocols that prioritize mission-critical traffic, helping maintain stable connections, even in crowded wireless environments.
The technology is integrated into many Cisco Wi-Fi 7, 6E, and 6 access points, allowing you to run URWB and Wi-Fi simultaneously from a single access point and manage them using the same Cisco tools.
URWB has earned multiple recognitions, including the Wi-Fi NOW Award for Best Wi-Fi Innovation in 2025 and the IoT Breakthrough Award for Industrial IoT Innovation of the Year in 2025.
The power of integration
What truly sets the Cisco approach apart is the seamless integration of multiple wireless technologies with a single vendor. By combining the cloud-based management of Campus Gateway, the high-density performance of the Cisco Wireless 9179F Access Point, and the stability of URWB, organizations can address complex wireless challenges and unlock new use cases previously out of reach.
Organizations no longer need to piece together multi-vendor networks or juggle separate management tools. IT teams can manage diverse wireless networks through Cisco platforms they already trust. This unified approach simplifies daily operations and streamlines deployment, troubleshooting, and scaling, helping reduce operational overhead and accelerating digital transformation.
Excellence recognized, performance delivered
Recognition from industry leaders validates that Cisco products solve real problems for real users. Awards from respected organizations like the WBA, Wi-Fi NOW, and IoT Breakthrough signal innovation that delivers value in demanding wireless environments.
The Cisco wireless portfolio reflects a commitment to advancing what wireless networking can achieve. These products are engineered to deliver tangible outcomes and support the evolving needs of modern enterprises.
One of the most compelling arguments for investing in these solutions is future-proofing for the AI era. By deploying Campus Gateway, 9179F access points, and URWB today, organizations position themselves to support tomorrow’s applications—from AI-powered workplace tools to immersive collaboration experiences, IoT ecosystems with thousands of connected devices, and autonomous vehicles.
As organizations increasingly rely on wireless connectivity for mission-critical operations, having validated, trustworthy technology matters. The future of enterprise connectivity is wireless, intelligent, and powered by Cisco innovation that’s recognized by the industry’s most respected experts.
To prepare your organization for tomorrow, explore how award-winning wireless solutions from Cisco can help you connect what comes next.
