CTS 379: 2026 Predictions: What Will Change in Enterprise Wireless?

About this episode

The episode discusses predictions for enterprise wireless in 2026, focusing on 6 GHz adoption and technological advancements in the Wi-Fi industry.

Thank you to our sponsor: Meter: Visit  meter.com/cleartosend  to book a demo! In this episode of Clear to Send, the team shares their forward-looking predictions for 2026, grounded in real-world deployments and patterns they’re seeing across the Wi-Fi industry. From spectrum usage to client behavior, the conversation frames what engineers and IT leaders should be preparing for as Wi-Fi continues to evolve globally. A major theme is the acceleration of 6 GHz adoption, especially in North America, with expectations that standard-power 6 GHz devices and AFC-enabled designs will become more common. The hosts predict a tipping point where 6 GHz client connections rival—and surpass—5 GHz, naturally improving network load balancing. They also discuss regional differences, noting uncertainty around upper 6 GHz availability in Europe, alongside a broader push toward WPA3 migrations and the operational challenges posed by legacy and IoT devices. The episode rounds out with predictions on technology and market shifts: deeper learnings from early Wi-Fi 7 deployments, more practical and embedded uses of AI in engineering workflows, and increased adoption of Ultra-Wideband for…

People in this episode

Hosts: Rowell Dionicio, François Vergès

Topics covered

• 2026 predictions
• enterprise wireless
• 6 GHz adoption
• Wi-Fi technology
• AI in engineering
• market shifts
• IoT challenges

Keywords

• 6 GHz
• Wi-Fi
• enterprise wireless
• AI
• WPA3
• Ultra-Wideband
• market trends
• IoT
• Apple silicon

Sponsors

Meter

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HPE, Cisco

Products: WPA3, Wi-Fi 7, Ultra-Wideband, Apple’s in-house wireless silicon

Places: North America, Europe

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• CTS 383: Deep Dive – Wi-Fi Troubleshooting at the Frame Level · January 20, 2026 · 49 min
• CTS 382: Our Resolutions for the New Year · January 12, 2026 · 40 min
• CTS 381: Deep Dive: Using Spectrum Analysis Tools · January 5, 2026 · 44 min