Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise introduces entry-level Wi-Fi 7 access point for mainstream deployments

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise has announced the launch of the OmniAccess Stellar AP1501, a new indoor Wi-Fi 7 access point positioned as an entry-level option for organisations seeking next-generation wireless performance without the cost and complexity typically associated with early adoption. The announcement reflects the company’s focus on Asia Pacific as a key growth region for enterprise networking.

Wi-Fi 7, formally known as IEEE 802.11be, is emerging as the next major step in wireless connectivity, promising higher throughput, improved spectral efficiency, and lower latency to support increasingly demanding enterprise workloads. However, many organisations, particularly small and mid-sized businesses and distributed enterprises, have been cautious about adoption due to pricing and infrastructure requirements. The AP1501 is positioned to address this gap by delivering core Wi-Fi 7 capabilities in a more cost-effective form factor.

According to the company, the AP1501 is designed to support everyday connectivity needs rather than niche, high-density use cases. It targets environments such as branch offices, retail outlets, small campuses, and distributed enterprise locations, where reliable wireless performance is critical but budgets and operational simplicity remain key considerations. By focusing on these mainstream scenarios, the new access point aims to broaden Wi-Fi 7 adoption beyond early adopters and large enterprises.

Technical capabilities and deployment considerations

The OmniAccess Stellar AP1501 supports operation across the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands, enabling improved throughput and more efficient use of available spectrum compared with previous Wi-Fi generations. This multi-band support is intended to help organisations manage growing device densities, including employee devices, IoT endpoints, and real-time applications such as video collaboration and cloud-based services.

On the wired side, the access point features a 2.5 GbE multigigabit Ethernet uplink and Power over Ethernet support. This ensures that wired infrastructure does not become a bottleneck for wireless performance, particularly as organisations transition to higher-capacity access points. The company positions this capability as essential for supporting workloads that increasingly rely on consistent, low-latency connectivity, including AI-enabled and data-intensive applications.

Deployment flexibility is a central part of the AP1501’s positioning. The access point can be deployed as a standalone device or as part of a broader OmniAccess Stellar WLAN environment. Built on Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s distributed control architecture, the platform removes the need for a centralised controller, which can reduce deployment complexity and total cost of ownership. Security features include support for WPA3 and optional MACsec encryption, reflecting ongoing enterprise concerns around wireless security as networks become more open and device-heavy.

Portfolio expansion and regional strategy

The AP1501 expands Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s existing Wi-Fi 7 portfolio, which already includes the AP1511, AP1521, AP1561, and AP1570 series. Together, these products are intended to cover a wide range of deployment scenarios, from indoor enterprise environments to more complex and outdoor use cases. The company has indicated that the OmniAccess Stellar Wi-Fi 7 lineup will continue to grow, with additional models planned to address varying scale, density, and performance requirements.

Management and monitoring of the AP1501 and the wider OmniAccess Stellar portfolio are handled through OmniVista Network Management. Available as both an on-premises and cloud-based platform, OmniVista provides centralised visibility, AI-driven analytics, and automation capabilities. These features are designed to simplify onboarding for users and IoT devices while enabling more proactive and automated network operations.

Commenting on the announcement, Kenny Ng, Head of Network Business Division, Asia Pacific at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, said, “As organisations across Asia Pacific accelerate their digital transformation, Wi-Fi 7 represents a major leap in the wireless performance required to support our region’s diverse and rapidly growing digital economies. However, adoption should not be limited by cost or complexity. The OmniAccess Stellar AP1501 brings key Wi-Fi 7 innovations into an entry-level access point, offering a practical and affordable way for APAC enterprises, whether distributed branches or growing SMBs, to modernise their networks while staying competitive in a hyper-connected market.”

The launch underscores a broader industry shift towards making advanced networking technologies more accessible. As Wi-Fi 7 moves from specification to real-world deployment, vendors are increasingly focused on balancing performance gains with operational simplicity and cost control. For organisations across Asia Pacific, particularly those managing distributed or resource-constrained environments, the AP1501 reflects an effort to align next-generation wireless capabilities with practical enterprise realities.