We are using Cisco Wireless WAN for wireless access to university students.
SE at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur
Helpful embedded automation, easy to manage, and high availability
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Cisco Wireless WAN are its security functionality. We have a lab environment and we have to provide different authentications to the users which are easy to manage. Additionally, there is a lot of useful automation embedded into the system."
- "There are limitations on the SSIDs that could improve. We cannot enable two ways of authenticating users on one SSID. For a number of places, we have to provide different modes of certification for the user which requires us to create another SSID for the broadcast."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Cisco Wireless WAN are its security functionality. We have a lab environment and we have to provide different authentications to the users which are easy to manage. Additionally, there is a lot of useful automation embedded into the system.
What needs improvement?
There are limitations on the SSIDs that could improve. We cannot enable two ways of authenticating users on one SSID. For a number of places, we have to provide different modes of certification for the user which requires us to create another SSID for the broadcast.
We have to enable routing from different VLANs, we have to enable DSCP for some extensions. Without it, we cannot receive a dynamic IP address for our clients. We have had to find some workaround ourselves. The problems we have been having occur when we have multiple VLANs. We are using management on the APs which have different access levels than VLANs.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Wireless WAN for approximately two years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is highly stable.
I rate the stability of Cisco Wireless WAN a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco Wireless WAN is a scalable solution.
We have 50,000 students using the solution. The solution is used often and we plan to increase our usage.
I rate the scalability of Cisco Wireless WAN a ten out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
There is third-party support if needed.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used other solutions other than Cisco Wireless WAN.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Cisco Wireless WAN was not simple. There were a lot of steps to do to complete the process. We had some challenges during the process. However, if I was going to do the initial setup again it would be simple. The full process of implementation took approximately three hours.
We install the systems in stages, our first stage was installing the switches, and the second was the APs. Additionally, we were working on the controller during the stages.
I rate the initial setup of Cisco Wireless WAN a three out of ten.
What about the implementation team?
We did the implementation of the solution in-house by two at the controller level and a large team for the 700 APs in two different models we had to manage.
What was our ROI?
We have received a return on investment, it is worth the money we paid.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the solution is expensive. The license is priced based on the number of APs and controllers used.
I rate the price of Cisco Wireless WAN a one out of ten.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I evaluated D-Link and TP-Link prior to choosing Cisco Wireless WAN.
What other advice do I have?
We use ten network administrators for the maintenance of the solution.
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Cisco Wireless WAN a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Technical Project Manager at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
The network management system is not great, and the solution is incapable of handling a large number of access points
Pros and Cons
- "The access points and controllers are good."
- "The network management system is not great."
How has it helped my organization?
We are satisfied with the product.
What is most valuable?
The access points and controllers are good and do not give us any issues. In addition, the individual access points are good.
What needs improvement?
They recently launched the virtual wireless controller and a new CTI. Unfortunately, it is not scalable, and the performance is not good. Sometimes it hangs, and it has a slow response. We don't have a good experience and are uncomfortable with these elements.
The network management system is not great. It is incapable of handling a large number of access points. They are working on it but have not been able to fix it yet.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for about six years. We are using different models like the Wi-fi 5 model.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good because we have a contract with them. They respond whenever we have an issue.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is okay compared to other products like Aruba and Huawei. However, to be more competitive, Cisco could lower its price.
What other advice do I have?
We have a big infrastructure of about 15,000 to 20,000. So if it works fine for us, it will suit small companies with small networks. We use the controller, and it is fine. I rate this solution a five out of ten, mainly because of the network issues.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Cisco Wireless WAN
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Wireless WAN. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
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CEO at Ionon
Provides reliability and sustainability for our organization
Pros and Cons
- "I use Cisco because of its reliability."
- "It can be complicated to configure the solution."
What is our primary use case?
We use Cisco Wireless WAN for the network in our office. The solution is deployed on-premises.
There are currently 20 people who use this solution in my organization. They're technical staff and salespeople.
What is most valuable?
I use Cisco because of its reliability.
What needs improvement?
The price could be improved. It can be complicated to configure the solution.
In the next release, it could be more user-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used this solution for 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable. I would rate the stability as nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable. I would rate the scalability as eight out of ten.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Linksys. We switched to Cisco because of its sustainability and expandability.
How was the initial setup?
Normal installation isn't complex. Installation takes a couple of hours.
One person is needed for maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
Implementation was done in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The total cost of the solution was about $6,000.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution as eight out of ten. I wouldn't give it 10 out of 10 because the price is high and the solution can be complicated.
I would recommend it to those who are interested in using it.
There's a lot of advice and information on the internet. Some of it may be incorrect, so you just have to try it and see.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Assistant general manager at Beximcocomputers
Useful dashboards, secure, and good support
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of Cisco Wireless WAN are the dashboards, security functionality, and Cisco DNA center. The way the solution has integrated within the fabric of the environment with automation is very good."
- "The setup of Cisco Wireless WAN needs an expert. You need someone with experience to be able to work with Cisco Wireless solutions. It took approximately one to two weeks to implement the solution."
What is our primary use case?
Cisco Wireless WAN works well in an enterprise environment.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of Cisco Wireless WAN are the dashboards, security functionality, and Cisco DNA center. The way the solution has integrated within the fabric of the environment with automation is very good.
What needs improvement?
Cisco Wireless WAN could improve the wireless environment visibility. For example, the information regarding bandwidth use, conditions of the network, and application visibility.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Wireless WAN for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of Cisco Wireless WAN is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco Wireless WAN is a scalable solution. You are able to purchase as many licenses as required.
I have worked with this solution in large environments. We have had clients with approximately 2,000 users.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Cisco is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Aruba Wireless.
How was the initial setup?
The setup of Cisco Wireless WAN needs an expert. You need someone with experience to be able to work with Cisco Wireless solutions. It took approximately one to two weeks to implement the solution.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation of Cisco Wireless WAN will need at least a field engineer to do the configuration of the appliance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license is not subscription-based.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Cisco Wireless WAN a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Senior Network Technician at a insurance company with 51-200 employees
Issue-free with helpful support and good reliability
Pros and Cons
- "We never had any issues with it; it just gives you the ability to use it around the office without being tied up to an actual physical connection."
- "A lot of the time, for users, it comes down to pricing. Many would like to see it be a bit less costly."
What is our primary use case?
We just basically use it for wireless throughout our office space.
What is most valuable?
We never had any issues with it. I can't really say that I had any issues or didn't like the product.
It just gives you the ability to use it around the office without being tied up to an actual physical connection.
The initial setup is pretty straightforward.
I've found the solution to be very reliable.
The solution can scale.
Technical support is helpful.
The pricing is pretty reasonable.
What needs improvement?
I cannot recall any areas of improvement.
A lot of the time, for users, it comes down to pricing. Many would like to see it be a bit less costly.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I've had zero issues with the stability of the product. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. There are no bugs or glitches.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Cisco offers very responsive technical support. They are helpful.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup is pretty straightforward. It's one of the things that you set up, and you don't really touch after. You set it up, and basically, you don't worry about it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We but the equipment. There is no monthly or annual licensing.
The pricing is okay. They offer pretty competitive pricing.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We're currently a Cisco shop, and we were thinking about possibly looking into different firewall vendors next year to get an opinion on the different technologies on their next-generation firewalls, just to see what made the most sense as far as comparing different vendors.
We looked at one point, at Fortinet. It is a good platform. I would definitely try to switch to Fortinet if I can. The whole platform pricing standpoint from Fortinet is good. It's a possibility that on our end, we might be switching over to them. Apples to apples, Cisco and Fortinet are very similar and both are quite good.
What other advice do I have?
I'm a customer and end-user.
I'd rate the solution ten out of ten. I've never had any issues with the product.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Network and Security Administrator at Jambopay
Helps us in setting up a wireless source for our clients to connect to the VPNs and our data centers
Pros and Cons
- "The solution also allows us to increase the power when it's too low."
- "Our primary use case for this solution is setting up a wireless source for our clients to connect to the VPNs and our data centers."
- "The firewall integration is not great and should be improved."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for this solution is setting up a wireless source for our clients to connect to the VPNs and our data centers.
What is most valuable?
We have found the ability to easily increase power valuable. The solution also allows us to increase the power when it's too low.
What needs improvement?
The firewall integration is not great and should be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. There are approximately 70 people using it in our organization.
How are customer service and support?
We do not have experience with customer service and support because we have not had issues.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward, and deployment took five hours.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented the solution in-house, and approximately three people are required for implementation.
What other advice do I have?
I rate this solution an eight out of ten. I recommend the solution to new users.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Services Director at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Runs well, offers good connectivity, and is reliable
Pros and Cons
- "It runs well, without issue."
- "The solution has improved the customer experience, which has helped improve the organization by allowing customers to access the corporate network with ease and get the resources they need even if they are moving around the office."
- "It can be complex to set up."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for wireless connectivity for corporate.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution has improved the customer experience, which has helped improve the organization. Customers can access the corporate network with ease and get the resources they need even if they are moving around the office. They easily connect to the WiFi without issue.
What is most valuable?
The SSID feature is quite good.
It runs well, without issue.
Users can easily move around the office and stay connected.
The solution is stable. It offers good performance.
We can scale the product.
Cisco has a very good reputation and offers pretty good pricing.
What needs improvement?
We would like to see additional data and security. We'd like to see them maintain integration between SD-WAN and Cisco ISE and for them to improve the security factor for the customer.
It can be complex to set up.
They need to build a more comprehensive solution around the WLAN controller.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for more than ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's easily scalable. That's not a problem at all.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is okay. They can solve issues, however, the response time can be long.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex. You need to have a high skill set when dealing with Cisco. It's not meant to be done by non-technical users.
The product does not require a lot of maintenance. It's very minimal.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
While I can't remember the exact pricing, it's not overly expensive.
What other advice do I have?
We are a partner with Cisco for networking and security.
I'm working with the latest version of the solution.
Cisco maintains a good relationship with its customers. They have a very good reputation on the market.
I'd recommend the solution to others.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Enterprise data network expert at SIH Islamabad, Pakistan
It's stable controller-based solution for a medium-sized office environment
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is straightforward, and you need to spend around six to 10 weeks to set up one controller."
- "If budget weren't an issue, I would highly recommend Cisco."
- "We feel that Cisco is quite expensive, so we're looking for a reasonable alternative. We are considering Aruba and some other brands that are less expensive. Cisco works fine, but the issue is the annual licensing and support costs."
What is our primary use case?
We needed a controller-based wireless solution for a medium-sized office environment that can support six to 10 APs. We have around 35 users in our office.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Cisco Wireless for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco Wireless is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco Wireless is scalable.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward, and you need to spend around six to 10 weeks to set up one controller. We have two managers and around six to 10 technical guys for maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
We could deploy it without outside help because we have technical expertise.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We feel that Cisco is quite expensive, so we're looking for a reasonable alternative. We are considering Aruba and some other brands that are less expensive. Cisco works fine, but the issue is the annual licensing and support costs.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Cisco Wireless WAN eight out of 10. If budget weren't an issue, I would highly recommend Cisco.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Complex to deploy and the technical support is poor, although the coverage is good
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features are coverage and reliability."
- "The initial setup and deployment should be easier."
- "In summary, this is not a product that I recommend."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use this product to provide general wireless network access.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are coverage and reliability.
What needs improvement?
The initial setup and deployment should be easier.
The technical support needs to be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Cisco Wireless WAN for between five and six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a fairly stable wireless solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This product is scalable, although we have no plans to increase our usage at the moment. We currently have 300 users.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the technical support a two out of five. It is an area that should be improved, in all aspects.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used other similar products in the past, including HPE Wireless WAN and Ubiquity Wireless, but this Cisco product is one that the client already had in place.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex, and I can't recall how long it took to deploy.
What about the implementation team?
We installed it in-house. We have a team of three or four engineers that are responsible for maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay the licensing fees on a yearly basis.
What other advice do I have?
In summary, this is not a product that I recommend.
I would rate this solution a five out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Consultant - Smart Buildings at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Reliable and simple solution that provides long-term stability
Pros and Cons
- "Cisco Wireless WAN's best features are simple management, the cloud base, dashboards, and reliability."
- "Cisco Wireless WAN is perfectly stable, and some of our customers have been using it for eight to ten years without having to change the hardware as it continues to work perfectly."
- "There are some limitations with scaling the on-premises version - if you want to scale, you need to change the hardware and purchase a new wireless controller at an additional cost."
What is our primary use case?
Cisco Wireless WAN is mainly used in campus networks, hotels, and other enterprise customers to provide wireless internet connectivity.
What is most valuable?
Cisco Wireless WAN's best features are simple management, the cloud base, dashboards, and reliability.
What needs improvement?
Cisco Wireless WAN could be improved by introducing a low-power wireless access point that could be installed in an outside environment. I would also like them to add an option without any licensing controller so that the customer could just purchase access points, then plug and play. In the future, Cisco Wireless WAN should include cloud control, centralized management, and branch connectivity.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Cisco Wireless WAN for around ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco Wireless WAN is perfectly stable. Some of our customers have been using it for eight to ten years without having to change the hardware as it continues to work perfectly.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are some limitations with scaling the on-premises version - if you want to scale, you need to change the hardware and purchase a new wireless controller at an additional cost.
How are customer service and support?
Cisco's technical support is very responsive, fast, and knowledgeable, with experienced and knowledgeable engineers.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very easy because so many engineers know the product, and Cisco makes a lot of technical documentation available via its online portal. I would rate the setup process as five out of five.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cisco's licensing model includes some mandatory licenses, making it more expensive than other vendors like HP, Aruba, and Ruckus.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Cisco Wireless WAN ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
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