On October 22, Adventus Solutions and Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise hosted the annual webinar “Data Network Evolution: Trends Driving Change in 2025”. This event brought together over 100 IT professionals from the Baltics to discuss key advancements shaping the future of data networks.

In this article, find the key insights from the webinar topics: WiFi 7 versus WiFi 6 | LAN Networking Trends 2025 | Future of Network Management

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. The Evolution of Wi-Fi: From WiFi 1 to WiFi 7

Over 25 years, Wi-Fi technology has consistently improved, offering faster speeds and higher density. WiFi 7 promises groundbreaking advancements, including:

• Higher bandwidth and faster data rates
• Enhanced user experiences for AR/VR and 4K/8K streaming
• Improved device capacity and spectrum efficiency

This evolution is redefining wireless connectivity, with WiFi 7 poised to deliver enterprise-ready solutions by 2025.

2. WiFi 7 vs. WiFi 6: Should You Upgrade?

WiFi 6/6E are currently leading the market, but WiFi 7 is on the horizon with features tailored to future business demands. As organizations consider upgrading, WiFi 7 offers long-term benefits with greater speed, stability, and scalability for bandwidth-intensive applications.

Is now the right time to upgrade? While Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are still robust solutions, WiFi 7 is poised to become the new standard in enterprise networks, especially in places with hight user density, for Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) solutions, and real time apps. Discover more about WiFi 7's benefits here.

3. Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC)

AFC is transforming 6GHz spectrum management. By leveraging registered databases, AFC ensures optimized frequency usage for improved reliability and performance, particularly for enterprise-grade networks.

4. Trends in LAN Networking for 2025

The landscape of LAN networking is evolving rapidly, driven by these trends:

• Multi-technology fabrics: Greater scalability and predictive convergence.
• Cybersecurity: AI-powered tools to address vulnerabilities in hybrid workforces and IoT ecosystems.
• High-speed networks: The demand for 2.5/5G ports, 25G uplinks, and 400G in data centers is surging.
• AIOps (AI in operations): Automating network management, enhancing security, and streamlining operations.

5. Simplified Network Management

It is about one common Management system for the entire network: LAN, WLAN, IoT providing unified policies, real-time monitoring, and analytics. Alcatel-Lucent network management platforms — OmniVista 2500 NMS (on-premises) and OmniVista Cirrus (cloud-based) — delivers flexible solutions to meet enterprise needs.

Key features include:

• Unified LAN/WLAN management
• Automated configuration and performance analytics
• Advanced threat detection and resolution tools

6. Introducing the New Solution - Network Advisor

The webinar introduced Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s Network Advisor helping to make IT oprations much easier. Network Advisor is an intelligent autonomous service designed to monitor the network and provide both guidance and remediation capabilities to resolve network issues and alert about potential risks.

Two tasks are made by the Network Advisor system to solve the problems that can occur:

• To identify existing known Issues that in ALE Knowledgebase are already reported. In this way, the reducing of real issues will decrease more that 50% avoiding them to happening again
• The network monitoring, that will alert for potential risks and mitigate the network issues that are happen and are not yet known

7. Benefits of Network Modernization

Upgrading your WiFi and LAN infrastructure unlocks:

• Increased Speed and stability for multi-user zones, videoconferencing, and smart office solutions.
• Centralized management Easy maintenance through a single platform.
• Future-Ready Infrastructure to meet growing enterprise needs.

Summary

WiFi 7, launched in early 2024, is gaining traction in enterprise networks. Transitioning from WiFi 5/6 requires careful planning for 6GHz AP deployment.

Key trends include multi-technology fabrics, high-speed networks, and advanced PoE capabilities, which continue to shape LANs. AI-driven network management systems are revolutionizing efficiency and reducing resource demands.

Plan for 2025 and Beyond: Ready to Modernize Your Network?

As an Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise partner for over 25 years, Adventus Solutions is here to guide your transition to next-generation WiFi standards and advanced network management. Whether you're considering WiFi 7, LAN virtualization, or enhanced network security, we provide tailored solutions with minimal risk and investment.

Contact us to learn more about transforming your network for 2025 and beyond! Our solutions portfolio includes: WiFi access points, switches, network management systems and more.

Webinar series "Data Network Evolution" is an annual event by Adventus Solutions and Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise about the ever-changing world of data networks, transformation, technological adaptation, increasing network efficiency and security challenges.

How Adventus Solutions can help in your Data Network projects:

• Our unique competence in data networks solutions and architecture
• Help with specification for both data networks and voice communications solutions and management
• Competitive prices, deal registration at the manufacturer site
• Equipment testing before purchase (practical Proof of Concept)
• Well-organized, efficient logistics
• Product support provided by Adventus backed by the vendor

Do you have a question that we can help with? Apply for a free consultation and our specialists will contact you to discuss the details.