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Insight

What to buy, and what to plan for

Wi-Fi 7, XGS-PON, AI cameras, and PoE are reshaping what organizations should specify. Memory shortages are stretching lead times. Early planning pays.
At a Glance

  • Wi-Fi 7 has reached roughly half of enterprise access point sales, which puts new demands on cabling, switches, and power.

  • XGS-PON (10G symmetric) is widely expected to be the mainstream fibre upgrade path, and it can share the same fibre as GPON.

  • AI cameras and cloud-managed security are becoming standard expectations, along with mobile credentials for access control.

  • PoE is growing as a building-wide power layer.

  • Memory shortages are pushing up network equipment prices and stretching lead times, so early planning pays.

01

Wi-Fi 7 Goes Mainstream

What the data shows
  • Dell'Oro reports Wi-Fi 7 at more than half of the access point market in Q2 2026; some Wi-Fi 8 revenue expected as early as 2027.
  • IDC reports Wi-Fi 7 at about 44.5% of enterprise AP revenue in Q1 2026, up from about 11.8% a year earlier.
  • Record shipments of multi-gigabit and 10 Gbps ports are putting extra demand on campus switches.
  • Outdoor access point growth has outpaced the overall market in most recent quarters.
What it means in practice
  • Many Wi-Fi 7 APs need 802.3bt PoE (60 W+), vs 15–30 W for older Wi-Fi 5 units.
  • Enterprise APs often have 2.5 or 5 Gbps ports; some have 10 Gbps uplinks.
  • Cat6A supports 10 Gbps over 100 m; Cat6 only over shorter runs.
  • Few client devices use Wi-Fi 7 fully yet — benefit depends on your device mix.
Our guidance

Do not buy access points in isolation. Check switch PoE capacity, uplink speeds, and cable category first, and decide whether Wi-Fi 6 or 6E still meets your needs for now.

Wi-Fi SolutionsNetwork SwitchesCat6 Cables
02

XGS-PON and the Fibre Upgrade Path

What the data shows
  • XGS-PON delivers 10 Gbps both ways vs GPON's 2.5 down / 1.25 up.
  • GPON and 10G PON use different wavelengths on the same single-mode fibre, so they can coexist.
  • Upgrading generally means new equipment at both ends, not new cable.
  • XGS-PON is expected to dominate the rest of the decade; 50G-PON still in trials, wide availability not before 2027–2028.
What it means in practice
  • The passive network lasts far longer than active electronics — build it carefully.
  • GPON remains sound and lower-cost for many residential builds; its plant can carry later generations.
  • Multi-dwelling and business access are where higher capacity matters first.
Our guidance

Use single-mode fibre, keep connector and polish types consistent throughout, document split ratios and routes, and size distribution points with room to grow.

Fiber Optic CablesFDT SplittersODF / FAT / FDB & ATBFiber Patch Cords
03

AI Cameras and Smarter Access Control

What the data shows
  • On-camera edge AI and vision-language models let operators search video by description.
  • Edge AI, intelligent analytics, and smart access control are moving from pilots into production.
  • Cloud-based AI is becoming the default; enterprise cloud adoption is at a tipping point.
  • Mobile and biometric credentials, HR-linked access, and unified camera/door/visitor views are rising.
What it means in practice
  • Analytics at the camera reduce bandwidth but raise processing and firmware needs.
  • Cloud features need stable internet and clear data-handling decisions.
  • Credential management is safer when tied to joiner and leaver processes.
Our guidance

Choose cameras and controllers that support open standards and regular firmware updates, place them on separate network segments, and plan storage and retention deliberately.

CCTV, Network & PTZ CamerasAccess Control Systems
04

PoE as a Building-Wide Power Layer

What the data shows
  • PoE is expanding beyond cameras and access points into lighting and wider building systems.
  • Market estimates put PoE power solutions at about $2.6B in 2024, rising toward $12.4B by 2034.
  • PoE installation often sits in a different trade classification from conventional electrical work.
What it means in practice
  • Total the power budget across all PoE devices.
  • Plan cabinet cooling for denser powered equipment.
  • Put supporting switches on protected power.
Our guidance

Treat PoE as shared infrastructure. Total the power budget, plan cabinet cooling, and put the supporting switches on protected power.

Network SwitchesUPS & Power SolutionsIndoor & Outdoor Cabinets
05

Power Resilience

What the data shows
  • Edge computing and local intelligence only help if local equipment has power when links fail.
What it means in practice
  • Prioritise core switches, routers, ONTs, camera recorders, and gate and access controllers.
  • Plan battery replacement as routine maintenance.
Our guidance

Prioritise protection for core network and security equipment, and plan battery replacement as routine maintenance.

UPS & Power Solutions
06

Supply Chain, Pricing, and Lead Times

What the data shows
  • Memory shortages linked to AI infrastructure are pushing up network equipment prices and making lead times variable.
  • Geopolitical fragmentation is affecting hardware procurement in physical security.
  • Enterprises are placing orders early to get ahead of price rises.
What it means in practice
  • Confirm availability and lead times before fixing project dates.
  • Standardise on fewer product families to simplify support and spares.
Our guidance

Confirm availability and lead times before fixing project dates, and consider standardising on fewer product families.

Quick Selection Guide

If you are buying… check first

If you are buyingCheck first
Wi-Fi access pointsPoE standard on switches, uplink speed, cable category
SwitchesPort speeds, total PoE budget, fibre uplink options
Fibre cable and closuresRoute type, fibre count, cable diameter, connector and polish
Splitters and distribution boxesSplit ratio, total loss budget, capacity for growth
CamerasCoverage plan, lighting, storage and retention, firmware support
Access controlDoor types, fail-safe behaviour, credential management process
UPSTotal load, runtime needed, battery replacement plan
Fibre toolsTasks you perform, cleaning and inspection, test equipment
Looking Ahead

Buy for the path, not only the product

Wi-Fi 7 will keep growing through 2028. Passive fibre built carefully today should carry XGS-PON and later generations. AI analytics and cloud management are becoming the default in security — which makes network quality part of every camera and access project.

Specify it right

Not sure what to buy, or what your network can support? Send us your site details and we will help you match products to your infrastructure.

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0597 988 186 / 0559 793 661