Cisco-State-of-Wireless-Report-2026.md

The Cisco "State of Wireless 2026" report presents findings from a global survey of 6,098 wireless professionals, arguing that Wi‑Fi has become a strategic growth engine in the AI era while introducing a “wireless AI paradox” — AI both drives wireless ROI and increases operational complexity, security threats, and talent competition. The report quantifies rising wireless budgets and adoption of Wi‑Fi 6E/7, documents pervasive visibility and security gaps (including AI-powered attacks and IoT compromise), identifies three interlinked barriers (operational complexity, security, talent), and makes five recommendations—accelerate refreshes, adopt AgenticOps, improve observability, modernize security, and grow certified talent—to maximize wireless ROI.