HPE Aruba Networking Launches Next-Generation Wi-Fi 7 Access Points to Help Enterprises Address Security, AI and IoT Challenges

HOUSTON - April 23, 2024 - Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) today announced the launch of Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs), which can provide up to 30% more wireless traffic capacity than similar products through the 6GHz frequency band recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) . At the same time, the product enhances network security capabilities and improves location-based services to provide connectivity for enterprises' demanding artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), location and security application needs.

HPE Aruba Networking , a market leader in enterprise wireless networking and an 18-time Gartner® Magic Quadrant ^Leader for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure, continues to innovate with the launch of a new generation of Wi-Fi 7 access points. Thanks to HPE’s patented ultra-tri-band hardware technology, the product can utilize the 5GHz and 6GHz bands to automatically and continuously eliminate invalid contention between the bands.

“With more than two decades of Wi-Fi innovation at the forefront, HPE Aruba Networking is committed to providing customers with reliable, secure, high-performance connectivity solutions that help them achieve their business goals, from immersive fan experiences to automated manufacturing processes,” said Stuart Strickland, wireless chief technology officer, HPE Aruba Networking. “Our new Wi-Fi 7 access points not only deliver powerful performance and efficiency improvements, but also become intelligent IoT hubs, providing enterprises with network security, load balancing, context awareness, and business and operational analytics.”

The new HPE Aruba Networking access point can be managed through HPE Aruba Networking Central, and with built-in hardware that supports a wide range of IoT protocols , such as Zigbee and Bluetooth, or can be expanded through dual USB interfaces, it can help users achieve extensive IoT coverage without additional duplication . The access point can provide a secure and reliable connection platform for various IoT devices deployed by enterprises at the edge of the network , such as cameras, motor sensors, energy sensors, and motion detectors. Thanks to integrated solutions from more than 350 technology partners , enterprises can efficiently collect, protect, transmit and utilize IoT data to gain real-time business insights. In addition, this data can be used to train and activate its AI models to help create solutions such as predictive maintenance, digital twins, and personalized customer user experience.

“Optimizing connectivity is mission critical today. Making smart investments in wireless infrastructure is a constant need for customers as they build future-proof networks and achieve expected business outcomes,” said Chris DePuy, principal analyst at 650 Group . “With the proliferation of IoT devices and the need for ubiquitous security and backward compatibility with legacy devices, Wi-Fi 7 provides the processing power needed to upgrade enterprise networks with the flexibility, speed, reliability and increased capacity.”

With the introduction of the HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series Campus Access Points, enterprises can maximize the value of their wireless investments with :

1. Optimal Wi-Fi performance for demanding applications : Beyond tri-band filtering eliminates channel interference on adjacent channels in the 5GHz and 6GHz bands, maximizing performance and capacity and giving enterprises the flexibility to use both bands simultaneously.
2. Enhanced wireless security: Policy-based access control and Layer 7 application firewall build on security-first wireless capabilities such as HPE Aruba Networking Central Client Insights, which improves IoT visibility, automates dynamic segmentation, and provides role-based access control for users and IoT devices. At the same time, new features include new link-level encryption (MACsec*) that extends wired data protection measures to access points and personal wireless network modes, the latter of which allows user devices to join the network securely and self-service, which will be suitable for group environments such as university campuses.
3. Eliminate duplicate IoT LAN coverage: HPE Aruba Networking Central’s IoT operations dashboard simplifies the device onboarding process while allowing access points to act as connectors for IoT devices and edge computing components to communicate directly with third-party IoT services , eliminating the high operating cost of duplicate IoT LAN coverage associated with specific vendors .
4. Wider support for IoT protocols: Dual-channel exclusive Bluetooth and Zigbee wireless communication technologies provide support for high-density IoT environments, and its dual USB ports use proprietary protocols to provide stable connections for a wide range of IoT devices. At the same time, the access point is equipped with an integrated dynamic external antenna, designed for complex radio frequency (RF) environments.
5. Access point as data processing solution: The new generation of HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series Access Points is equipped with twice the SDRAM memory and flash memory of previous models, which supports running specific applications directly on the access point through containers . This feature simplifies data transmission and local data processing, allowing faster response to real-time conditions such as temperature or motion detection.
6. Precise positioning services: Improved positioning services will provide accuracy down to 1 meter for real-time, immersive and industrial scenarios , and support the IEEE 802.11az standard to help achieve self-positioning networks. Additional features include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and a barometric pressure sensor for floor-level mapping. This feature, combined with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.4 technology, enables two-way IoT positioning data transmission, which can not only increase user engagement, but also track valuable assets to reduce the risk of loss .
7. Sustainability and energy saving: AI-driven dynamic energy saving mode helps enterprises reduce energy consumption and achieve cost reduction.

HPE Aruba Networking The 730 Series Access Points are scheduled to be available globally in July 2024 and will be backed by a lifetime limited warranty. HPE Aruba Networking Central will manage the HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series Campus Access Points , which can be used by users through a subscription . In addition to being a standalone Software as a Service (SaaS) product, HPE Aruba Networking Central has been incorporated into the HPE GreenLake ( NaaS ) subscription service, which users can subscribe to through the HPE GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform .

* MACsec support is expected to be added in October 2024 .

About HPE Aruba Networking

Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is a global leader in secure, intelligent edge-to-cloud network solutions that use AI to automate networks and leverage data to create fruitful business outcomes. Through Aruba ESP (Edge Services Platform) and NaaS (Network as a Service) models, Aruba uses a cloud-native approach to help customers meet connectivity, security, and capital requirements in campus, branch, data center, and remote worker environments, covering all network connection methods such as wired, wireless LAN, and wide area network (WAN).

For more information, please visit the Aruba website: https://www.arubanetworks.com/zh-hans/ . You can also follow Aruba through the Aruba official WeChat account (Aruba China) and official Weibo (Aruba China). To participate in the latest technical discussions about mobility and Aruba products, please visit the Airheads community: community.arubanetworks.com .

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Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure, Tim Zimmerman, Mike Leibovitz, and Nauman Raja, March 6, 2024. HPE Aruba Networking appears as HPE (Aruba) in the Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure report.

HPE Aruba Networking has been named a Leader 18 times, including being named a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure for nine consecutive years from 2015 to 2024 (no report published for 2023). HPE Aruba Networking was also named a Leader in the same Magic Quadrant for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014, and a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Wireless LAN Infrastructure for five years from 2006 to 2011 (no report published in 2009). HPE Aruba Networking was previously named a Leader and Challenger in the Magic Quadrant for Wireless LAN Infrastructure in 2005.

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