Global WiFi as a Service (WaaS) Market Outlook, 2030

The Global WiFi as a Service (WaaS) Market is witnessing significant growth, driven by the increasing need for dependable, scalable, and cost-efficient wireless connectivity across various industries and businesses of all sizes. WaaS operates as a subscription-based service model that allows organizations to access, manage, and optimize wireless network infrastructure without owning or maintaining physical hardware. As digital transformation speeds up globally, companies are increasingly dependent on cloud-managed networks to support a mobile-first workforce, integrate IoT, and utilize cloud-based applications, making WaaS an attractive solution. This service offers comprehensive WiFi functionalities, which include hardware, software, management tools, analytics, and support services—typically overseen by a third-party provider. It lowers capital expenditures, streamlines IT operations, and provides enhanced agility and scalability, particularly for businesses with multiple locations and those that are rapidly growing. The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the importance of WaaS, as remote work, distance learning, and virtual collaboration became commonplace. Organizations have pursued resilient, secure wireless infrastructure that can be quickly deployed and managed remotely, elevating WaaS to prominence. Key sectors such as education, healthcare, retail, BFSI, hospitality, and manufacturing are utilizing WaaS to guarantee continuous, secure, and high-speed internet access.

Global WiFi as a service (WaaS) market will reach $24,935.8 million by 2031, growing by 18.6% annually over 2021-2031. Within education, institutions are implementing WaaS to facilitate e-learning on campus and at home. In retail and hospitality, it improves customer experiences by providing seamless connectivity and location-based services, whereas in healthcare, WaaS supports mobile health technologies and real-time data sharing.Technological innovations in cloud computing, AI-driven network management, and WiFi 6/6E are further accelerating market growth. Contemporary WaaS platforms provide advanced analytics, proactive performance monitoring, automated troubleshooting, and seamless upgrades, ensuring ideal network performance with reduced human intervention. Security remains a primary concern, and WaaS providers are addressing this with integrated security features like identity-based access, traffic segmentation, and threat detection to safeguard sensitive data and users across distributed environments. The competitive landscape is dynamic, featuring major players such as Cisco Systems, Aruba Networks (Hewlett Packard Enterprise), Juniper Networks, Extreme Networks, and Huawei Technologies, who are continuously innovating to capture market share. These vendors are concentrating on expanding their WaaS offerings with AI capabilities, enhanced user interfaces, and bundled services customized for specific industries. Partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions are prevalent strategies employed to improve global reach and service offerings.

The global WiFi as a Service (WaaS) market is gaining momentum in various key regions and countries, with different levels of adoption shaped by factors such as technological maturity, enterprise digitization, and cloud infrastructure preparedness. North America is presently the leading area, propelled by the existence of major technology providers, early cloud adoption, and a well-developed enterprise IT ecosystem. The United States, in particular, is leading the way, with widespread use in sectors like education, retail, healthcare, and business settings. Canada also has an important role, particularly with its emphasis on smart city development and secure digital services. Europe is another key player, with nations like Germany, the UK, France, and the Netherlands making significant investments in digital transformation and smart infrastructure. The region’s focus on GDPR compliance has further stimulated the need for secure, managed wireless solutions, which WaaS is designed to provide efficiently. European businesses, notably in education and BFSI, are turning to WaaS for its adaptability and compliance-friendly architecture. The Asia-Pacific area is the quickest growing market, fueled by rapid urbanization, rising smartphone usage, and broader internet access. Nations such as China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia are experiencing strong demand for WaaS solutions to accommodate expanding SMEs, smart buildings, and the increasing IT outsourcing sectors. India, in particular, is becoming a significant hub, driven by government-endorsed digital initiatives and the rise of mobile-first enterprises. In the Middle East and Africa, regions like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa are implementing WaaS in the context of smart city and 5G infrastructure developments. Likewise, Latin America, spearheaded by Brazil and Mexico, is slowly adopting WaaS to upgrade IT systems in education, retail, and public sectors. Throughout these regions, the growing transition to cloud-based networking and flexible subscription models is propelling the market’s global growth.

Based on Component, the worldwide WiFi as a Service (WaaS) market is divided into Solutions and Services, both of which are essential to the entire infrastructure. Under Solutions, Access Points and WLAN Controllers create the foundation of wireless connectivity, making seamless data transmission, network management, and performance optimization possible. Access Points extend network coverage, while WLAN Controllers oversee the overall security and bandwidth distribution of the network. On the Services side, Professional Services—which encompass Network Planning and Implementation, Support and Maintenance, and Training and Education—guarantee that businesses can efficiently deploy and manage their wireless infrastructure. At the same time, Managed Services provide comprehensive outsourcing of WiFi management, enabling organizations to concentrate on core operations while service providers manage performance, updates, and security. The increasing dependence on cloud-managed networks and the need for dependable, secure, and scalable WiFi solutions across various sectors are driving growth in both solution and service categories, with managed services experiencing particularly strong demand from SMEs and multi-site organizations. Based on Location Type, the global WaaS market is categorized into Indoor and Outdoor deployments, with both experiencing significant growth across diverse industries. Indoor WaaS solutions lead the market due to high demand in offices, schools, hospitals, retail spaces, and corporate campuses where secure, high-speed, and managed connectivity is vital for productivity and customer interaction. These deployments provide exceptional coverage in controlled settings and incorporate advanced analytics and security features. Conversely, Outdoor WiFi services are gaining traction in public areas like city centers, transit hubs, stadiums, educational campuses, and industrial parks. Outdoor installations necessitate ruggedized equipment and enhanced bandwidth capabilities, making them suitable for extensive public WiFi, smart city infrastructure, and remote work locations. As trends in smart buildings and urban digital infrastructure grow globally, the demand for both indoor and outdoor WaaS solutions continues to increase.

By End User, the global WaaS market covers a broad spectrum of sectors, highlighting the technology’s adaptability and scalability. Telecom and IT companies are leading the way, employing WaaS to optimize operations and facilitate seamless connectivity for end-users. Service Providers are utilizing it to broaden their offerings without extensive infrastructure costs. BFSI institutions require secure and compliant WiFi services for rapid data access in branches and customer areas. The Travel and Hospitality sector utilizes WaaS to enhance guest experiences through reliable internet access. Retailers are implementing WiFi services to support digital payment systems, inventory management, and in-store analytics. In Healthcare and Lifesciences, WaaS guarantees continuous access to critical applications and patient information. Transportation and Logistics gain from mobile connectivity across warehouses and transit hubs, while Education institutions apply it for digital learning and administrative tasks. Other sectors, including government and manufacturing, are progressively investing in WaaS to boost communication, data security, and operational efficiency. By Organization Size, the WaaS market is categorized into Large Enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are both contributing to substantial growth. Large enterprises usually function over several locations and need a highly secure, scalable, and centrally managed network infrastructure, positioning WaaS as a perfect solution to decrease IT expenses while sustaining uniform service quality. These companies prioritize managed services and analytics features to track network performance in intricate settings. Conversely, SMEs are adopting WaaS because of its economical, subscription-based approach that removes the requirement for hefty initial capital outlays. The capacity to utilize enterprise-level WiFi solutions with expert support and scalability perfectly fits the evolving and increasing demands of small businesses. As digital adoption accelerates and remote working becomes more established, WaaS offers an appealing, adaptable networking solution for organizations of all sizes worldwide.



Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Global WiFi as a Service (WaaS) Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Based on Component, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2021-2031 included in each section.
• Solution
• Access Point
• WLAN Controllers
• Service
• Professional Services (Network Planning & Implementation, Support & Maintenance and Training & Education)
• Managed Services

Based on Location Type, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2021-2031 included in each section.
• Indoor
• Outdoor

By End User, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2021-2031 included in each section.
• Telecom and IT
• Service Providers
• BFSI
• Travel and Hospitality
• Retail
• Healthcare and Lifesciences
• Transportation and Logistics
• Education
• Other End Users

By Organization Size, the global market is segmented into the following sub-markets with annual revenue ($ mn) for 2021-2031 included in each section.
• Large Enterprises
• Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.