As enterprises adapt to an increasingly digital and hybrid world, the need for resilient, flexible, and intelligent networks has never been greater. On May 14, 2025, Adventus Solutions brought together IT professionals across the Baltics for a deep-dive webinar titled “The Future of Wired and Wireless Networks: Building Hybrid Networks in Modern Enterprises.” This session explored the latest trends and practical strategies for designing modern LAN and WLAN architectures that meet today’s business needs and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.

This article summarizes the key insights shared during the event, highlighting the long-term shifts in enterprise networking, the importance of hybrid infrastructure, and the technologies driving transformation.

Long-Term and Emerging Trends in Enterprise Networking

Networking is undergoing a significant transformation, with long-term trends shaping strategy for years ahead:

• Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7: These are the new standards for speed, latency, and density handling.
• Edge computing: Reduces latency by processing data closer to the user.
• AI-driven network automation: Enables smarter, self-healing infrastructure.
• Zero Trust Security: A must-have for both LAN and WLAN environments.
• Unified LAN/WLAN platforms: Simplify operations and policy management.

Short-term trends - like the rise of Wi-Fi 6E or excessive bandwidth provisioning - are already being re-evaluated in favor of smarter, scalable strategies.

💡 Learn more: Data Network Evolution – Trends Driving Change in 2025 

Key Drivers of Network Development in 2025

Enterprises are prioritizing three key areas:

• Security: Encrypted communications, AI-based threat prevention, and zero-trust architecture.
• Efficiency: Centralized orchestration, low-energy hardware, predictive maintenance.
• Cost Optimization: Cloud migration, licensing flexibility, and hardware consolidation.

Designing Hybrid LAN and WLAN Networks

A hybrid network model combines the best of both wired and wireless infrastructures:

• Wired backbone: High-speed Ethernet (1G/10G) ensures reliability for critical devices.
• Wireless overlay: Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 supports mobile and IoT connectivity.
• Access segmentation: Tailored to device type and usage needs.
• High availability: Achieved with redundancy in both LAN and WLAN components.
• Centralized management: One dashboard for monitoring, configuration, and policy enforcement.

Wi-Fi 7: Next-Generation Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7 is not just another upgrade - it’s a redesign of wireless networks. Key features include:

• 320 MHz channels
• 4096-QAM modulation
• Ultra-low latency and multi-link operation

While promising, real-world deployment considerations like client readiness, interference, and throughput must be carefully addressed. To get a new experience, Wi-Fi 7 access points are already available from Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise.

💡 Learn more: Wi-Fi 7, 6/6E, 5 access points lineup 

LAN: Faster, Smarter, and Wireless-Integrated

Modern LANs are adapting to new workloads and device types:

• Multi-Gig Ethernet: Supports 4K video, VR, and high-speed backhaul.
• PoE++ and fiber: Power and connect high-performance APs and smart devices.
• Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP): Plug-and-play deployment for remote sites.
• Policy-based access: Ensures secure, dynamic network segmentation.
• AIOps: Uses AI to automate fault detection and optimize performance.

Conclusions & Takeaways

• Wi-Fi 7 is here - and it’s not just a faster version of Wi-Fi 6. It calls for a complete redesign of WLAN strategy.
• Hybrid network design is essential - blending wired reliability with wireless agility ensures future-proof infrastructure.
• Security and automation are foundational - Zero Trust, AI, and unified management platforms are becoming standard.
• Smarter LANs - multi-gig, fiber, and PoE++ are no longer optional in bandwidth-heavy environments.

As digital demands evolve, enterprises must adopt integrated, intelligent, and adaptive networking solutions to stay ahead.

Want to learn more or get started on your network transformation? Contact us – we, Adventus Solutions, can help modernize your enterprise network for the hybrid era.