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Cisco Wireless vs Huawei Wireless comparison

Cisco and Huawei are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Cisco is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6, while Huawei is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.6. Cisco holds a 11.5% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Huawei’s 6.0% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Huawei users who would recommend it.
Cisco Wireless
Read 153 Cisco Wireless reviews
  • 15,312 Views
  • 14,009 Comparison Views
88% willing to recommend
Huawei Wireless
Read 36 Huawei Wireless reviews
  • 5,569 Views
  • 4,862 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

Cisco and Huawei Wireless solutions compete in the commercial sector, focusing on network management, coverage, and security. Cisco seems to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive feature set and reliability, though it comes at a higher cost.

Features: Cisco Wireless offers extensive compatibility, robust security, and seamless management capabilities. Key features include high bandwidth, IoT support, WPA security standards, PKI environment flexibility, and seamless roaming. Integrated management tools streamline operations, with DNA Center enhancing ease for various deployments. Huawei Wireless provides competitive features such as ease of use and integration, affordability, robust connectivity, and reliable smart technology.

Room for Improvement: Cisco faces critiques for high costs, complex integration, and compatibility issues with Apple devices and third-party vendors. Users desire simplified security offerings and improved Assurance capabilities. Huawei requires better SMB support and stability, focusing on product testing and scalability improvement. Both systems could enhance technical support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco, predominantly on-premises, has a complex setup but with thorough documentation and technical assistance, though experiences vary by region. Huawei offers easier deployment but needs better after-sales support and customer guidance. Cisco's support is valued despite higher costs, while Huawei requires support enhancements.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Wireless is expensive, justified by high-end features and support, with a complex licensing structure leading some to consider alternatives like Aruba for cost efficiency. Huawei's aggressive pricing offers competitive rates, lower licensing costs appealing to budget-sensitive markets. Larger enterprises may find Cisco's feature set worth the investment, whereas Huawei targets budget-conscious consumers.

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Buyer's Guide
Cisco Wireless vs. Huawei Wireless
April 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Wireless
Ranking in Wireless LAN
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
153
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Huawei Wireless
Ranking in Wireless LAN
8th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
36
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 11.5%, down from 15.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Huawei Wireless is 6.0%, up from 4.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN
 

Q&A Highlights

SS
Feb 08, 2021
Which wireless controller has maximum client connectivity and high throughput?
Cisco has maximum client connectivity and high throughput.
See all answers
 

Featured Reviews

GulfrazAhmad - PeerSpot reviewer
Integrates with ISE, and is secure, reliable, and easy to deploy
The main concern is the length and overlapping. We have to put on four to six access points on the same floor, and we face the issue of overlapping areas. If Cisco can extend the range of their indoor APs, we would need to install just one or two access points, and it would eliminate the problem of the overlapping area. They should provide built-in features for safe authentication. Right now, we integrate with ISE and FortiClient for this feature. We first check the NAC, and after the NAC and before the domain, a token password installed on their mobile or a physical token is required to join the network. If Cisco had built-in authentication, we would be able to eliminate one product from our network.
Read full review
Umer Farooq - PeerSpot reviewer
Customizable and has many unique features, such as encryption, spatial streams, and smart antennas
The initial setup for Huawei Wireless is easy, so it's a nine out of ten for me. It takes six to eight weeks to deploy the product. Initially, as I'm in pre-sales, I generate RFPs and the response when a customer has issued a published tender. I'll check the requirement, and then I'll map it to the Huawei product. I'll then make the Statement of Compliance (SOC) and select the proper model. Next, I'll send the information and document to Huawei for technical vetting. After technical vetting, I'll request Huawei to share information on costs and other vetted documents I need to complete, and once completed, I'll submit the documents. It'll then take approximately ten to fifteen days. Deploying Huawei Wireless requires teamwork because the deployment process involves different people and teams, such as the project manager, post-deployment, and pre-sales teams, to deploy the product completely.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The initial setup is straightforward."
"I've found it to be quite secure."
"For me, there are two important features: 1) WLAN grouping – Allows us to have different groups and, within those groups, specific WLANs, so there is no overlapping. 2) FlexConnect – Enables us to have remote offices at different locations. We can have a central WLC to control all the locations."
"The most valuable features are that it is easy to install and the range is good."
"The speed and security are most valuable."
"Authentication is the important feature for us. My IT staff no longer has to look after catering to clients who come from overseas."
"The initial setup was quite easy. We have a very good relationship with our integrator and our integrator has a good relationship with Cisco. The integrator that installs Cisco is quite knowledgeable about the technology. They are trained and have a good relationship with their tech. We cannot be experts in each domain and we have to be supported by an integrator."
"It always runs, and it's very reliable in terms of performance."
More Cisco Wireless pros
"The most valuable feature of the solution is its simplicity."
"It is based on 802.11ax, which is a new technology. There are several valuable things, such as its speed and mobility. There are options for self-organizing networking so that it can perform operations and maintain itself. Its three interfaces are very good and user friendly."
"The solution is easily managed compared to other wireless solutions."
"We've found the solution to be quite stable."
"It has all of the features that we need."
"The solution is easy to set up."
"The most valuable thing about Huawei Wireless is that it is one of the cheapest WiFi 6 systems. Its price is very nice. The other WiFi systems cost about 15% more."
"The solution's roaming feature is very nice. When you move to another place it automatically changes the access point. It's one of the most valuable features."
More Huawei Wireless pros
 

Cons

"Its licensing has been very frustrating. There is also the complexity of managing the product. These are probably the two reasons why we're looking at Aruba. The way they license this product is not simple. There are some good features in the latest version, but there are additional license costs as well, which is frustrating for us. It is not really a feature issue for us. It really comes down to cost and licensing. They should make it a bit simpler to manage. We find the overall solution a little bit more complex than we would like to deal with. Its troubleshooting is a bit difficult, and it does require a high skill set. Comparatively, Aruba seems quite simple. One of the benefits of the Aruba product is that it is cloud-managed. We don't have to manage the management platform itself, whereas Cisco is on-premise. Its user interface could also be better."
"The pricing could be better. It could be cheaper."
"Room for improvement wise, the wireless coverage of Cisco's equipment could be better for the price position. That is, I think that the radius for the coverage could be better to make it worth the price that we pay for it."
"The interface and integrations should be more intuitive. Sometimes, integration with other Cisco products requires manual intervention for tasks such as firmware upgrades, which should be automated."
"In the future, it would be great if the solution had a GPS feature that could have the ability through access points to locate cell phone users inside a local wireless network, for example in a stadium."
"The biggest reason why we could no longer continue with Cisco Wireless was because of the high cost to upgrade everything. It was disappointing that Cisco treated us as just another big company, and did not offer any leeway on their pricing given that we are an educational institute. And although the system we had in place from Cisco Wireless was good enough over the last ten years, it started to show its age when pushed to its limit during the pandemic."
"The licensing models need to be reviewed in some instances. Obviously Cisco's licensing models are quite challenging, and it can be costly."
"There are some features I would like to have in Cisco Wireless, such as Telemetry and other IoT. However, they are available in the new version of the solution."
More Cisco Wireless cons
"I have encountered connectivity issues with the tool. I am not sure if it is due to Wi-Fi inference. I would like the solution to include some marketing analytics features like evaluation of user behavior."
"There could be a console port for demonstration or configuration purposes."
"The technical support needs to be improved. They also need to produce some more technical guides."
"The solution should offer more integration with third-party servers and devices."
"The manageability of radio frequencies to avoid overlapping needs improvement."
"The stability could be improved."
"This solution has issues with bugs and instability."
"There was one time I had a problem with their centralized licensing. I called the Indian call center, but the response was not that good. One guy attended this call and he told me, "Definitely, I am forwarding your call to the next level. I'll let you know." After that, it took between 10 to 15 hours before I got a call back. By then, we had already resolved the issue. Therefore, they could improve the local support; there should be at very good Tier 1 and 2 support in India. They should be both proactive and reactive."
More Huawei Wireless cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Cisco Wireless is in the high range compared to other solutions. The solution could be less expensive."
"From a pricing point of view, it's a little bit expensive compared to competitors like Aruba and others."
"Cost is one of the reasons why we are switching to Aruba. Aruba is significantly lower than Cisco in price. We do the licensing on a three-year basis. Cisco makes licensing very difficult."
"The price of Cisco Wireless is expensive and there is an additional cost for support."
"They have simplified the licensing, now there is a single license that is required. Earlier, multiple licenses were required. Single licensing is good. As a customer, I don't need to keep an inventory of multiple licenses."
"It is expensive, and there are some costs in addition to the standard licensing fee. Its licensing model and cost should be improved."
"The pricing is a bit high."
"The solution does not come with a licensing fee."
More Cisco Wireless pricing and cost advice
"The price of Huawei Wireless is very good."
"It is very cost-effective."
"Huawei Wireless is an expensive solution."
"It is not monthly. It is a kind of perpetual licensing. We pay once depending on the kind of services we need to deliver. There are no licensing fees."
"The price is good for the solution and there is a license required."
"Huawei Wireless is an expensive product. I'm rating it as one out of ten, price-wise."
"The price of Huawei Wireless is reasonable. The licenses are active, and everything is working fine as per the license agreement."
"I rate Huawei Wireless' pricing a five out of ten."
More Huawei Wireless pricing and cost advice
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Comparison Review

it_user212721 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 24, 2015
Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions
Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…
Read full review
 

Answers from the Community

SS
Feb 8, 2021
Feb 8, 2021
Which wireless controller has maximum client connectivity and high throughput?
All are good selections, and this question is difficult to answer without knowing your throughput requirements, as each vendor has multiple models within there series. Personally I recommend looking at Arista Networks’ cognitive Wifi, where controllers are a thing of the past.
2 out of 7 answers
AT
Feb 17, 2020
Hi, It is all dependent on the size of the controllers in question. Though I would suggest getting a cloud base technology so you are limited by any controller and have much better redundancy. Take a look at Arista Cognitive Wireless
Read full answer
IA
Feb 17, 2020
Hi, Every one of the mentioned solutions is good but you need to check the needs which are security since the firms you are working with need protection and tracking of data. For this reason, I recommend: - if you have FortiGate installed then go for Fortinet Wireless since they can be integrated with the Fortigate without buying a controller and they work perfectly together and you will get the advantage of applying rules to the client himself whether mobile or computer, easily managed & monitored, more visibility over your network and incident notifications. If the above doesn't apply then you can go with the best one that fits your budget and security needs which for me doesn't fall on the mentioned solution but to go with ARUBA Instant Access Wireless Solution and the reasons are as such: - Cisco is too much expensive and you got to pay smart support with some complexity in configuration and you need to buy a controller - Ruckus is good but when you want to have the security you need to buy a controller with licenses and it won't give you the security needed since it is just a wireless solution - Huawei is not a stable company since it had many ups and downs and they can reach with you to have all the solutions nearly free so that you install their brand. Whereas Aruba you don't need a controller in the Instant access points and you will get the minimum security with radius integration and what is important a lifetime warranty on the access points. In addition, if the number of access points increased and you want more detailed management and more advanced configurations, you can buy a controller either on-premises or on-cloud with Aruba. The above information is based on my experience with all the solutions and their POC. If you need any more details and consultancy, kindly feel free to contact me. Regards.
Read full answer
See all 7 answers
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Educational Organization
6%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?
Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helpe...
See all answers
Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?
Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user friendly. This user-friendly quality also renders it easy to learn how to use and ma...
See all answers
How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?
On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three hours, the basic framework can be set up. Step-by-step instructions are availabl...
See all answers
Which wireless solution would you choose - Huawei or D-Link?
Huawei wireless is a strong and solid product that has a lot of features - and for all that it offers, it happens to be very cost effective. As a wireless solution, it is simple and its user interf...
See all answers
What do you like most about Huawei Wireless?
The reliability has had a positive impact on our operations.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Huawei Wireless?
For SMB customers with limited wireless users, Huawei Wireless may not be suitable due to the lack of multiple access points and the need for a centralized SSID. However, for large-capacity custome...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless Logo
Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless
Compared 30% of the time
Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless
Compared 26% of the time
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless Logo
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless
Compared 6% of the time
Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Wireless Logo
Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Wireless
Compared 6% of the time
Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Wireless Logo
Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Wireless
Compared 4% of the time
More Cisco Wireless Competitors
D-Link Wireless vs Huawei Wireless Logo
D-Link Wireless vs Huawei Wireless
Compared 21% of the time
Aruba Wireless vs Huawei Wireless Logo
Aruba Wireless vs Huawei Wireless
Compared 16% of the time
Ubiquiti WLAN vs Huawei Wireless Logo
Ubiquiti WLAN vs Huawei Wireless
Compared 15% of the time
Ruckus Wireless vs Huawei Wireless Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs Huawei Wireless
Compared 10% of the time
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Huawei Wireless Logo
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Huawei Wireless
Compared 9% of the time
More Huawei Wireless Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Wireless
April 2025
Cisco Wireless reportDownload Cisco Wireless product report
Buyer's Guide
Huawei Wireless
April 2025
Huawei Wireless reportDownload Huawei Wireless product report
 

Also Known As

Cisco WLAN Controller
Huawei WLAN
 

Overview

Cisco Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.

Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.

What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?

  • High-Density Performance: Optimized for environments with a high number of devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and performance.
  • Advanced Security: Incorporates robust security measures such as WPA3, Secure Boot, and segmentation to protect data and devices.
  • Seamless Roaming: Enables uninterrupted connectivity as users move across different areas within the network.
  • Centralized Management: Cisco DNA Center provides a single pane of glass for managing and automating wireless networks, enhancing operational efficiency.
  • Flexible Deployment Options: Supports various deployment models, including on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid solutions.

What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?

  • Improved Mobility and Productivity: Users often highlight how Cisco Wireless enhances user mobility and productivity through reliable and consistent connectivity.
  • Scalability: Reviews frequently mention the scalability of Cisco Wireless, making it suitable for growing businesses.
  • Ease of Management: Many users appreciate the centralized management capabilities, which simplify network administration and troubleshooting.
  • Enhanced Security: The advanced security features are often noted for providing peace of mind and compliance with industry standards.
  • User Experience: The overall user experience, including ease of use and seamless integration with other Cisco products, is a common point of praise.

Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.

Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.

In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.

Cisco
Huawei WLAN products are compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards to establish high-speed, secure, and reliable wireless network connections for indoor and outdoor applications.WLAN products can be used in enterprise offices, schools, hospitals, large shopping malls, exhibition centers, airports, and more.
Huawei
 

Sample Customers

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)
Anhui Agricultural University (AAU), China Everbright Bank
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Wireless vs. Huawei Wireless
April 2025
Free Report: Cisco Wireless vs. Huawei Wireless
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