Executive Summary

The Wi-Fi as a Service (WaaS) market is growing rapidly due to the increasing demand for secure and reliable wireless connectivity. WaaS is a subscription-based model that provides businesses with access to high-quality wireless infrastructure, without the need for capital expenditure. The market is expected to reach USD 9.5 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 18.3% during the forecast period (2021-2026). Key market drivers include the proliferation of mobile devices, the need for flexible and scalable wireless infrastructure, and the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions.

Important Note: The companies listed in the image above are for reference only. The final study will cover 18–20 key players in this market, and the list can be adjusted based on our client’s requirements.

Key Market Insights

• The WaaS market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.3% during the forecast period (2021-2026).
• The market is driven by the proliferation of mobile devices, the need for flexible and scalable wireless infrastructure, and the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions.
• North America is the largest market for WaaS, due to the high adoption rate of cloud-based solutions and the presence of a large number of service providers.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the primary users of WaaS solutions, due to the cost-effectiveness and flexibility offered by these solutions.

Market Drivers

1. Proliferation of Mobile Devices: With the increasing use of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, there is a growing need for secure and reliable wireless connectivity. WaaS solutions provide businesses with the ability to support these devices without the need for capital expenditure.
2. Need for Flexible and Scalable Wireless Infrastructure: Businesses today need wireless infrastructure that can be easily scaled to meet changing business needs. WaaS solutions offer businesses the ability to quickly add or remove wireless access points based on changing business requirements.
3. Increasing Adoption of Cloud-Based Solutions: The adoption of cloud-based solutions is increasing rapidly, as businesses look for ways to reduce their IT infrastructure costs. WaaS solutions are typically deployed over the internet and managed by third-party service providers, making them an attractive option for businesses looking to move to the cloud.

Market Restraints

1. Security Concerns: With the increasing number of cyber threats, businesses are concerned about the security of their wireless networks. WaaS solutions need to be designed and implemented with strong security measures to address these concerns.
2. Reliability: Businesses need wireless infrastructure that is reliable and can support their mission-critical applications. WaaS solutions need to be designed and implemented with redundancy and failover mechanisms to ensure high availability.

Market Opportunities

1. Growing Demand for Wi-Fi Analytics: With the increasing use of wireless devices, there is a growing need for analytics that can help businesses better understand their customers and their behavior. WaaS solutions can provide businesses with valuable insights into customer behavior, which can be used to improve marketing and sales strategies.

2. Expansion in Emerging Markets: Emerging markets, such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East, offer significant growth opportunities for WaaS service providers. These markets are characterized by a high adoption rate of mobile devices and a growing demand for cloud-based solutions.

Market Dynamics

The WaaS market is driven by several key factors, including the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions, the proliferation of mobile devices, and the need for flexible and scalable wireless infrastructure. These factors have led to the growth of the market, as businesses look for ways to reduce their IT infrastructure costs and improve their wireless connectivity.

Another factor driving the market is the need for better analytics and insights into customer behavior. WaaS solutions can provide businesses with valuable insights into customer behavior, which can be used to improve marketing and sales strategies.

However, the market also faces several challenges, including security concerns and reliability issues. With the increasing number of cyber threats, businesses are concerned about the security of their wireless networks. WaaS solutions need to be designed and implemented with strong security measures to address these concerns.

Reliability is also a major concern for businesses, as they need wireless infrastructure that is reliable and can support their mission-critical applications. WaaS solutions need to be designed and implemented with redundancy and failover mechanisms to ensure high availability.

Regional Analysis

North America is the largest market for WaaS, due to the high adoption rate of cloud-based solutions and the presence of a large number of service providers. Europe and Asia-Pacific are also significant markets for WaaS, due to the growing demand for wireless connectivity and cloud-based solutions.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market for WaaS during the forecast period. The region is characterized by a high adoption rate of mobile devices and a growing demand for cloud-based solutions. Countries such as China, India, and Japan are expected to be major contributors to the growth of the WaaS market in the region.

Competitive Landscape

Leading companies in the Wi-Fi as a Service Market:

1. Cisco Systems, Inc.
2. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
3. ARRIS International plc
4. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
5. Aerohive Networks (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
6. Ruckus Networks (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
7. Ubiquiti Inc.
8. iPass Inc.
9. Singtel
10. Telstra Corporation Limited

Please note: This is a preliminary list; the final study will feature 18–20 leading companies in this market. The selection of companies in the final report can be customized based on our client’s specific requirements.

Segmentation

The WaaS market can be segmented based on the deployment model, service type, organization size, vertical, and region.

Based on the deployment model, the market can be segmented into public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Based on the service type, the market can be segmented into network planning and design, installation and integration, support and maintenance, and consulting services.

Based on the organization size, the market can be segmented into small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises. Based on the vertical, the market can be segmented into healthcare, retail, education, hospitality, transportation, and others.

Category-wise Insights

Based on the category, the WaaS market can be classified into two segments: hardware and services. The services segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period, due to the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions and the need for flexible and scalable wireless infrastructure.

Key Benefits for Industry Participants and Stakeholders

The key benefits of WaaS solutions for industry participants and stakeholders include cost-effectiveness, flexibility, scalability, and ease of deployment. WaaS solutions offer businesses the ability to access high-quality wireless infrastructure without the need for capital expenditure.

These solutions can be easily scaled to meet changing business requirements, and they can be deployed quickly and easily over the internet. WaaS solutions also provide businesses with valuable analytics and insights into customer behavior, which can be used to improve marketing and sales strategies.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

• Cost-effectiveness: WaaS solutions offer businesses a cost-effective way to access high-quality wireless infrastructure.
• Flexibility: WaaS solutions can be easily scaled to meet changing business requirements.
• Scalability: WaaS solutions can be easily expanded to support a growing number of users and devices.
• Ease of deployment: WaaS solutions can be deployed quickly and easily over the internet.

Weaknesses:

• Security concerns: With the increasing number of cyber threats, businesses are concerned about the security of their wireless networks.
• Reliability issues: Businesses need wireless infrastructure that is reliable and can support their mission-critical applications.

Opportunities:

• Growing demand for Wi-Fi analytics: With the increasing use of wireless devices, there is a growing need for analytics that can help businesses better understand their customers and their behavior.
• Expansion in emerging markets: Emerging markets, such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East, offer significant growth opportunities for WaaS service providers.

Threats:

• Competition from established players: The WaaS market is highly fragmented, with a large number of service providers operating in the market.
• Economic uncertainty: Economic uncertainty can impact the adoption rate of WaaS solutions, as businesses may be hesitant to invest in new technology during uncertain times.

Market Key Trends

1. Increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions: The adoption of cloud-based solutions is increasing rapidly, as businesses look for ways to reduce their IT infrastructure costs. WaaS solutions are typically deployed over the internet and managed by third-party service providers, making them an attractive option for businesses looking to move to the cloud.
2. Growing demand for analytics: With the increasing use of wireless devices, there is a growing need for analytics that can help businesses better understand their customers and their behavior. WaaS solutions can provide businesses with valuable insights into customer behavior, which can be used to improve marketing and sales strategies.
3. Emergence of 5G networks: The emergence of 5G networks is expected to have a significant impact on the WaaS market, as businesses look to take advantage of the increased speed and bandwidth offered by these networks.

Covid-19 Impact

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the WaaS market, as businesses have been forced to shift to remote work and rely more heavily on wireless connectivity. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of cloud-based solutions, as businesses look for ways to support remote work and reduce their IT infrastructure costs.

The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of reliable and secure wireless connectivity, as businesses have had to rely on these networks to support their remote workforces. WaaS solutions have played a critical role in enabling businesses to support remote work, and the demand for these solutions is expected to continue to grow in the post-pandemic world.

Key Industry Developments

1. Cisco Systems, Inc. announced the launch of its new WaaS solution, Cisco Meraki Wireless Health, in January 2021. The solution is designed to help businesses improve the reliability and performance of their wireless networks.
2. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. announced the launch of its new WaaS solution, Huawei AirEngine Wi-Fi 6, in March 2021. The solution is designed to provide businesses with access to high-quality wireless infrastructure that is flexible and scalable.

Analyst Suggestions

Analysts suggest that service providers in the WaaS market need to focus on product innovation, partnerships and collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions to stay competitive in the market. They also suggest that service providers need to address the security and reliability concerns associated with WaaS solutions, in order to increase adoption rates.

Future Outlook

The future outlook for the WaaS market is positive, as businesses continue to adopt cloud-based solutions and the demand for wireless connectivity continues to grow. The market is expected to reach USD 9.5 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 18.3% during the forecast period (2021-2026).

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market for WaaS during the forecast period, due to the high adoption rate of mobile devices and a growing demand for cloud-based solutions. The healthcare, retail, education, hospitality, transportation, and other verticals are expected to be significant contributors to the growth of the market.

Conclusion

The Wi-Fi as a Service (WaaS) market is a rapidly growing segment in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, driven by the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions, the proliferation of mobile devices, and the need for flexible and scalable wireless infrastructure. The market is expected to reach USD 9.5 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 18.3% during the forecast period (2021-2026).

The market is highly fragmented, with a large number of service providers operating in the market. Service providers need to focus on product innovation, partnerships and collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions to stay competitive in the market. They also need to address the security and reliability concerns associated with WaaS solutions, in order to increase adoption rates.