As we move into 2025, SMBs and service providers will likely face network infrastructure challenges resulting from adopting advanced applications and a shift in work processes that drive the requirement for more bandwidth, faster speeds, and increased reliability. Meeting and exceeding those ever-increasing network performance expectations while managing increasingly tight budgets will require a robust, future-proof infrastructure to eliminate network bottlenecks and maximize productivity.
Cloud-based Services will Drive Demand for Bandwidth and Speed
The demand for increased bandwidth and faster internet speeds in the SMB segment is largely being driven by the shift to cloud-based services and the adoption of 2.5G and 5G services to support bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming and transfer of large files.
To support their customers' increased bandwidth and speed demands, ISPs will need to increase their core networks and offerings to deliver speeds beyond 10G to their customers. A high-speed switch to be released by Zyxel Networks this year will enable metro and rural connectivity over fiber at 2.5G, 5G, 10G, and 25G speeds to stay ahead of cable modem services and 5G type service providers.
Faster Network Speeds will Require High-Performance Security Solutions
As internet speeds surpass 1G to 2.5G, 5G, and 10G, in support of the adoption of cloud and remote work applications by SMBs, enhanced security firewalls will be required to maintain full security for the network. As internet speeds increase, the volume of data increases and security devices need to process this data at high speed to eliminate a data bottleneck. In this high-speed environment, a high-performance network security device is required to provide real-time threat detection, minimize latency, and support advanced technologies like cloud computing, IoT, and AI.
Zyxel H-series family of firewalls provides SMBs and solution providers with robust network protection solutions to support a variety of business sizes ranging from small offices of 25 users up to hundreds of users. These firewalls enable businesses to increase network speed and productivity and deliver robust network security while keeping costs down.
WiFi 7 Fixed Wireless Solutions will Enable Critical Communications in Congested Urban Environments
2.4GHz and 5GHz public WiFi networks in highly populated urban and suburban areas can become easily overwhelmed by the sheer number of connected devices accessing the network. This can become particularly problematic when natural disasters, such as flooding, tornadoes, severe storms, and wildfires, impact highly populated urban and suburban areas, making network use difficult or impossible for emergency responders and residents. WiFi 7 fixed wireless solutions deliver the bandwidth and speeds that can provide life-saving connectivity that increases the efficiency of rescue and recovery efforts.
Designed to provide higher density and performance in congested urban environments, the WiFi 7 6GHz band delivers 5x faster speeds than WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E and provides more than double the bandwidth of 2.4GHz and 5GHz combined. The ability to support more devices with consistently high speeds will make WiFi 7 fixed wireless solutions invaluable in congested urban environments and in the event of surge connectivity.