Key Takeaways:
- Mesh Wi-Fi is growing rapidly. Shipments will reach 87 million units by 2030, making it the fastest-growing Wi-Fi solution for homes and small offices.
- Mesh delivers stronger, more reliable coverage. Multiple nodes prevent downtime, handle many devices at once, and are easy to scale with a simple plug-and-play setup.
- It improves the remote work and family experience. Mesh networks reduce lag and bandwidth issues when many devices are connected, supporting both work and entertainment needs.
- High costs and broadband requirements limit adoption. Mesh kits are expensive and need strong internet speeds, so repeaters and extenders remain attractive alternatives in price-sensitive and rural markets.
- Vendors must address performance and price concerns. To drive adoption, solution providers should minimize data-hopping issues and create more affordable entry-level options.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent work-from-home policies alerted millions more consumers and enterprises to the world of Wi-Fi coverage extension. The most encouraging solution for residential Wi-Fi extension is mesh networks, promising a seamless system that is much more resilient than a traditional Wi-Fi network.
According to ABI Research market forecasts, more than 53 million Wi-Fi mesh Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) will ship in 2025 across SOHO and residential markets. Outpacing all other Wi-Fi device types, mesh infrastructure shipments will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13% through 2030, reaching 87 million units.