Digital connectivity is a priority for building operators as organizations seek more capable infrastructure to power AI systems and occupants seek reliability and speed from networks, according to a survey of over 6,000 wireless professionals by Cisco.
The trend is leading to the deployment of new Wi-Fi and distributed antenna systems, Cisco says.
Wi-Fi is seen as a strategic growth engine for many organizations, the company says. Three-quarters of professionals surveyed said they’re seeing operational gains, employee productivity improvements or enhanced customer experience, and about two-thirds said they’re seeing positive revenue impacts from wireless investments.
“The business case for Wi-Fi investment is now undeniable,” Cisco says. The company notes that as AI applications become more important, Wi-Fi delivers a “multiplier effect” with strategic wireless investments providing a number of benefits across organizations.
About 80% of organizations increased wireless investment over the past five years, while 82% expect wireless budgets to continue rising. But to capture the opportunities of wireless, organizations need to reconsider whether their infrastructure can support their business needs, Cisco says in its 2026 State of Wireless report.
Digital connectivity is also now a value driver, with U.S. buildings certified by WiredScore achieving average rental premiums of $6.50 per square foot and vacancy rates around 3.8%, according to the global certification organization’s 2026 Global Cities Resilience Index.
While organizations achieve compounding returns on wireless investments across the enterprise, the opportunity comes with mounting complexity, heightened security threats and talent shortages, Cisco says.
AI-generated attacks, often from IoT devices, have become the leading driver of wireless security threats, the survey found. About a third of organizations say they’ve experienced financial losses from wireless security incidents attributable to compromised IoT or operational technology devices. That represents “a substantial threat to Wi-Fi as the most common connectivity technology for IoT,” the report said.
On the talent front, nearly 90% of wireless leaders say they struggle to compete with AI and cybersecurity opportunities in their effort to hire IT professionals. That leaves organizations struggling to fully realize the benefits of wireless systems, Cisco said. Organizations’ reliance on legacy infrastructure while planning for AI-driven applications is also resulting in a performance gap, where the full benefit of wireless is not being realized.
While Wi-Fi 5 remains the most widely deployed standard, used by 43% of respondents, it is an aging standard and is questionable when it comes to scaling AI use cases. As a result, there is a clear trend toward next-generation standards, with over 75% of organizations either presently deploying Wi-Fi 6E or 7 or planning to in the next year, Cisco says.
“Legacy Wi-Fi simply can’t scale high-bandwidth and low-latency needs, especially in device-dense environments,” Cisco says. “This explains why there has been a 23% increase in Cisco Wi-Fi 6E and 7 access point deployments across its five million networks in the second half of 2025.”
Distributed Antenna Systems, or DAS, are also being deployed more as organizations operating in-building systems work to move on from systems that rely on reactive, manual processes to resolve connectivity issues, according to Wilson Connectivity, a wireless communications technology firm.
For example, earlier this month American Tower completed the deployment of a robust 5G DAS at the Pittsburgh International Airport. The system is set to deliver next-generation connectivity across new construction and existing facilities, providing a neutral-host DAS capable of supporting multiple mobile network operators while maintaining uninterrupted service during construction.
The network, which spans the entire airport campus, including its renovated concourses, central services, mechanical zones and newly opened terminal, will enable the airport to meet demand for connectivity, according to Deepak Nayyar, executive vice president and chief information officer of the Pittsburgh International Airport.
“Connectivity is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for modern travel and airport operations,” Nayyar said in a statement. “This optimized network infrastructure is a key part of our commitment to innovation and operational excellence.”
