Zyxel expands WiFi 7 OpenWiFi-ready access point line

Zyxel Networks has expanded its WiFi 7 portfolio for internet service providers with four access points that are now OpenWiFi-ready. The move is intended to give operators more choice over hardware and software in wireless deployments.

The update includes indoor and outdoor models across different performance tiers: NWA50BE, NWA55BE, NWA130BE and NWA210BE. Zyxel says the range spans from dual-radio BE5100 to triple-radio BE12300 options.

OpenWiFi is an open networking approach focused on interoperability and open-source software. Service providers often deploy managed WiFi services using vendor-specific platforms, which can limit future sourcing options and constrain feature development over a multi-year equipment lifecycle.

Operator choice

Zyxel is positioning OpenWiFi readiness as a way for ISPs to avoid single-vendor ecosystems when upgrading customer premises equipment and managed WiFi networks to WiFi 7. It is also linking the move to capital expenditure control, particularly as operators expand coverage across estates and multi-dwelling buildings.

Standardised hardware and software stacks can let operators source equipment from different suppliers over time, rather than replacing entire deployments when switching management platforms. That becomes particularly important during transitions such as WiFi 6 to WiFi 7, when operators must meet new performance requirements while supporting an installed base of access points.

Zyxel says the four models target shared housing, co-working sites, offices and hotels. The portfolio also emphasises outdoor coverage, reflecting the growing use of managed WiFi in courtyards, terraces and public-facing hospitality spaces.

RF design

Zyxel is also highlighting radio frequency design choices aimed at managing interference in dense environments. WiFi 7 networks can suffer performance degradation when many access points operate in close proximity and adjacent-channel planning becomes difficult.

It says the access points use an "RF first" design to reduce interference from adjacent channels and from nearby 4G and 5G mobile networks. Zyxel links this to more consistent coverage in high-density locations, where operators often face variable signal conditions and unpredictable client behaviour.

Two models, the NWA210BE and NWA130BE, use a rectangular form factor. Zyxel says the shape increases space for antenna isolation and improves signal-to-noise ratios. These considerations may matter when access points are installed in corridors, meeting spaces and other areas where placement and cabling limit optimal antenna orientation.

Open-source options

Beyond OpenWiFi, Zyxel says select access point models will also support OpenWrt, an open-source embedded operating system used across networking hardware. It is often chosen in environments that need tailored configurations and specific package support.

For service providers, OpenWrt support can shape how feature sets are customised across subscriber segments. It can also affect how access points integrate with operational systems, including monitoring and provisioning tools used alongside broader broadband and fixed wireless portfolios.

Zyxel is framing the approach as part of a broader push toward vendor-agnostic WiFi networks. It links that to differentiated services, where ISPs bundle connectivity with managed security, performance controls and site analytics. Open-source development models can also shorten the path from feature request to deployment for operators with in-house engineering teams.

Gary Chen, ANZ Regional Head at Zyxel Networks, said ISPs were looking for more flexibility as they plan WiFi 7 roll-outs.

"ISPs need the freedom to innovate without being constrained by proprietary ecosystems," he said. "By making our WiFi 7 access points OpenWiFi-ready, we're giving service providers the performance their subscribers expect, while empowering them with the openness, flexibility and scalability required to grow their businesses."

Operators continue to assess WiFi 7 hardware against the practical demands of field deployment, including interference conditions, mounting constraints and long-term fleet manageability. Zyxel's move highlights ongoing competition among access point suppliers around open management frameworks and software flexibility as WiFi 7 roll-outs gather pace.