AI and WiFi 7 become the agents for change - the key trends in networking for 2025
The increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance performance, security, and manage the network more effectively will be one of the key trends in networking over the next 12 months.
In 2025, AI (which is widely used to encompass all elements of AI and now machine learning) will play a much more significant role in managing the efficiency, performance and protection of networks. Other key trends will see the continued and accelerated adoption of WiFi 7 and further uptake of multi-gigabit/10G switching.
Security will become even more integral to networking with AI being used to analyze data to identify threats and take preventative actions. There will be more AI-driven, pro-active monitoring aimed at optimizing performance and protection and this will add further momentum to the adoption of managed services for security and networks.
A smaller but noticeable trend will see higher levels of 5G/LTE adoption for fast mobility and failover for fixed lines.
AI’s Positive Impact on Performance
Zyxel Networks has been using AI for some time to improve our products’ self-diagnosis and healing capabilities. Most of our devices will now sense when something is wrong – if a port keeps dropping a connection, or an IP security camera is not responding, for example – and either instigate a remedial action and/or alert the administrator.
We also gather information from devices and analyze it using AI tools, feeding this information directly into research and development. This helps us focus efforts and investments on areas that will have the most positive impact.
Driving Security Improvements
Similarly, all Zyxel Networks devices now come with built-in security capabilities. Our latest WiFi 7 access points for example, have AI-powered features that enable quick diagnosis and troubleshooting of common problems. They, like most of our WiFi access points and smart switches, can be monitored with our Nebula cloud management platform, which has additional features, such as Connect & Protect Plus (CNP+), which allows administrators to apply security policies directly to an access point without changing anything else on the network.
WiFi 7 Starts to Take Precedence
In 2025, WiFi 7 will become the dominant standard, leaving WiFi 6 as the budget-friendly option. With the release of the latest products, there will be seven WiFi 7 access points in the Zyxel Networks portfolio, providing options suited to every scenario and size of organisation. Customers will choose WiFi 7 for its superior bandwidth, low latency and the additional future-proofing and investment protection it provides.
To Multi-Gig and Beyond
For many WiFi 6/6E access points, you already need a 2.5GbE Mlti-Gig connection to the switch and at least that much for WiFi 7 and preferably, 5GbE Mlti-Gig. The massive volume of traffic flowing across all networks now has been driving the adoption of switches with ports that can support multiple gigabit speeds. This makes it easier to upgrade to new technologies such as WiFi 7, and in most circumstances, you won’t have to upgrade the cabling, thus avoiding inconvenience and expense.
Multi-gig switches also give you an element of future-proofing and investment protection, and we expect to see them become even more popular in 2025. The rising volume of traffic also has implications for network backbone capacity and this year, we will launch our first switch that provides 25G on network ports and up to 100G on the uplink.
More Takers for Managed Services
AI is going to further accelerate uptake of managed services in 2025. We are using AI to alert administrators and technicians to potential issues or problems earlier. This makes it simpler to manage more devices and bigger networks and even multiple networks, using our cloud-based Nebula platform. This allows technical staff to make better use of their time. Rather than having to sift through logs and data to find the source of the problem, they know where to go straight away.
Increased 5G/LTE Adoption
Sales of 5G/LTE routers are relatively small but fast-growing. These mobile devices are perfect if you want to set up a connection right away – especially in situations where it may take some time for a fixed line to be installed. They are also perfect for remote areas where broadband and fixed connections are poor or non-existent, and as fail-over devices. With hybrid and remote working now a fixture of working life, in 2025 we expect to see growth in 5G/LTE connectivity.
AI Grabs the Headlines
In networking, AI is what everyone will be talking about (again) in 2025. But the underlying trends will be all about meeting higher bandwidth demand, future-proofing and protecting investment, and finding ways to manage networks more efficiently and effectively. The other key trend will be the continued move to managed services – for both the network and security. This makes sense both for the end user organisations using networks and for managed services provider partners. It means that there is no need to have someone in-house who is responsible for network management and cybersecurity – it can be left to a dedicated expert to keep watch over the network from a distance.
