CHAPTER 4: PILOT SITE SELECTION & ARCHITECTURE DESIGN¶
4.1 Site Selection Methodology¶
4.1.1 Selection Criteria¶
Phase 5A Pilot Site Selection Framework:
Abhavtech evaluated all 19 sites against 6 key criteria to identify the optimal 4 pilot locations for WiFi 7 validation.
| Criterion | Weight | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Use Case Coverage | 30% | Must validate all 3 use cases (Edge AI, Conference, Executive) |
| 6 GHz Spectrum Availability | 25% | Full 1200 MHz spectrum = 320 MHz channels (vs EMEA 500 MHz limitation) |
| Technical Team Proximity | 20% | On-site network engineers for rapid troubleshooting |
| User Profile Diversity | 15% | Mix of executives, engineers, conference rooms, AI cameras |
| Infrastructure Readiness | 10% | Existing C9800 WLCs, SD-Access fabric, adequate power/cooling |
4.1.2 Site Evaluation Scorecard¶
Evaluation Matrix (19 Sites Assessed):
| Site | Use Case Coverage | 6 GHz Spectrum | Tech Team | User Diversity | Infrastructure | Total Score | Selected? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai HQ | 30/30 (all 3) | 25/25 (1200 MHz) | 20/20 (HQ team) | 15/15 (all types) | 8/10 (minor power issue) | 98/100 | ✅ YES |
| Chennai HQ | 25/30 (conf + exec) | 25/25 (1200 MHz) | 18/20 (regional team) | 12/15 (mostly office) | 10/10 (ready) | 90/100 | ✅ YES |
| Bangalore Branch | 15/30 (general office) | 25/25 (1200 MHz) | 15/20 (remote support) | 10/15 (limited diversity) | 5/10 (uplink/power issues) | 70/100 | ✅ YES (branch template) |
| London HQ | 25/30 (conf + exec) | 12/25 (500 MHz EMEA) | 20/20 (HQ team) | 13/15 (mostly office) | 10/10 (ready) | 80/100 | ✅ YES (160 MHz validation) |
| New Jersey HQ | 25/30 | 25/25 | 18/20 | 12/15 | 9/10 | 89/100 | No (Phase 5B-Wave 1) |
| Dallas HQ | 20/30 | 25/25 | 15/20 | 10/15 | 8/10 | 78/100 | No |
| Frankfurt HQ | 20/30 | 12/25 | 18/20 | 10/15 | 9/10 | 69/100 | No |
| Singapore Hub | 18/30 | 25/25 | 10/20 | 10/15 | 7/10 | 70/100 | No |
| Delhi Branch | 12/30 | 25/25 | 8/20 | 8/15 | 6/10 | 59/100 | No |
| Tokyo Branch | 10/30 | 25/25 | 5/20 | 8/15 | 7/10 | 55/100 | No |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Selected Sites: 1. Mumbai HQ (98/100) - Primary pilot site, all 3 use cases 2. Chennai HQ (90/100) - Conference + Executive validation 3. London HQ (80/100) - EMEA 160 MHz validation 4. Bangalore Branch (70/100) - Branch rollout template, infrastructure upgrade validation
4.1.3 Geographic & Regulatory Coverage¶
Pilot Site Distribution:
APAC Region (India):
├─ Mumbai HQ (Primary) - 50 WiFi 7 APs
├─ Chennai HQ - 30 WiFi 7 APs
└─ Bangalore Branch - 10 WiFi 7 APs
Spectrum: Full 1200 MHz (5.925-7.125 GHz)
Channels: 3× 320 MHz (Ch 31, 63, 95)
EMEA Region (UK):
└─ London HQ - 25 WiFi 7 APs
Spectrum: Limited 500 MHz (5.945-6.425 GHz)
Channels: 2× 160 MHz (Ch 31, 63) ⚠️
Coverage:
✅ India regulatory environment (WPC approval)
✅ EMEA regulatory environment (CE/Ofcom approval)
✅ 320 MHz performance validation (India)
✅ 160 MHz performance validation (EMEA)
4.2 Mumbai HQ Pilot Design (50 APs)¶
4.2.1 Site Overview¶
Mumbai HQ Profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Building | 5 floors, 100,000 sq ft total |
| Users | 2,200 employees |
| Current WiFi APs | 180 (25 WiFi 6E, 95 WiFi 6, 60 WiFi 5) |
| Current Wired Ports | 2,016 (42 access switches) |
| Pilot Scope | Floors 2, 3, 6 (3 of 5 floors) |
| WiFi 7 AP Deployment | 50 APs |
| Primary Use Cases | All 3: Edge AI cameras (Floor 3), Conference rooms (Floor 2), Executive wireless-only (Floor 6) |
4.2.2 Floor 6: Executive Wireless-Only Workspace (15 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 6 - Executive Floor:
Size: 20,000 sq ft
Layout: Open workspace + private offices
Users: 80 executives (C-suite, VPs, directors)
Current WiFi: 10 WiFi 6E APs (insufficient density for WiFi 7)
Current Wired: 180 Ethernet ports (6 access switches)
WiFi 7 Goal:
• 100% wireless-only workspace (no Ethernet at desks)
• >4 Gbps throughput per executive
• <10ms latency (VDI, cloud apps)
• Multi-device support (laptop + iPad + iPhone)
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MUMBAI HQ - FLOOR 6 (Executive) │
│ 20,000 sq ft │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ North Wing - Open Workspace (40 executives) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] [AP-04] [AP-05]│ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Executive Executive Executive Executive Executive│
│ │ Desks 1-8 Desks 9-16 Desks 17-24 Desks 25-32 Desks 33-40│
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Center - Board Room + Meeting Rooms │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-06] Board Room [AP-07] │ │
│ │ Ch 95 (40 seats) Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-08] Executive [AP-09] │ │
│ │ Ch 63 Meeting Rooms Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz (4 rooms, 8-seat) 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ South Wing - Private Offices (40 executives) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-10] [AP-11] [AP-12] [AP-13] [AP-14]│ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ C-Suite VP Offices VP Offices Director Director│
│ │ Offices (8 offices) (8 offices) Offices Offices │
│ │ (8 offices) (8 offices) (8 offices)│
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ West Wing - Collaboration Spaces │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-15] Collaboration │ │
│ │ Ch 95 Lounge + Pantry │ │
│ │ 320 MHz (Casual meetings) │ │
│ │ • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary: 15 APs │
│ • Channel 31 (320 MHz): 5 APs │
│ • Channel 63 (320 MHz): 5 APs │
│ • Channel 95 (320 MHz): 5 APs │
│ • AP Density: 1 AP per 1,333 sq ft (vs 1 per 2,000 sq ft WiFi 6)│
│ • Clients per AP: 5-6 executives (low density for high throughput)│
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Configuration Details:
AP Configuration (Per AP):
AP Model: Catalyst 9178I-BE
Mounting: Ceiling (T-bar), 9 ft height
Uplink: 10G SFP+ to fabric edge switch
Power: PoE injector (PWR-IE170W-PC-AC, 60W)
Radio Configuration:
2.4 GHz Radio:
Status: Disabled (recommend for high-density, avoid interference)
5 GHz Radio:
Status: Enabled (MLO backup link)
Channel: Auto-DCA (160 MHz)
Power: 17 dBm
Role: MLO Link 0 (backup)
6 GHz Radio:
Status: Enabled (MLO primary link)
Channel: Manual (Ch 31/63/95, 320 MHz)
Power: 17 dBm
Role: MLO Link 1 (primary)
SSID Configuration:
Corp-Secure-7 (WiFi 7):
Security: WPA3-Enterprise
Authentication: 802.1X (EAP-TLS preferred, PEAP-MSCHAPv2 fallback)
Fast Transition (802.11r): Enabled
MLO: Enabled (NSTR mode)
Radio Policy: 6 GHz Preferred
QoS: Platinum (highest priority)
Corp-Secure (WiFi 6, legacy):
Status: Enabled (for non-WiFi 7 clients)
Radios: 5 GHz only
Wired Infrastructure Changes:
Pre-WiFi 7:
• 6 access switches (Catalyst 9300-48P)
• 180 Ethernet ports active (executive desks, printers, phones)
• 108 ports unused/spare
Post-WiFi 7 (Week 12):
• 80 executives migrate to wireless-only
• 80 wired ports freed
• 20 ports remain wired (printers, IP phones, conference room equipment)
• 80 ports unused (67% reduction from 108 to 188 unused)
Switch Consolidation:
• Consolidate 6 switches → 3 switches (Week 13)
• Decommission 3 switches (144 ports)
• Result: 3 switches, 144 ports (60 active + 84 spare)
4.2.3 Floor 3: Edge AI Camera Wireless Infrastructure (10 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 3 - West Wing (Edge AI Zone):
Size: 15,000 sq ft (partial floor deployment)
Layout: Open office + Edge AI camera coverage area
Users: 150 employees (engineering team)
Edge AI Cameras: 20 cameras (4K, WiFi 7)
AI Inference: UCS XE9305 edge cluster (2× NVIDIA L4 GPUs)
WiFi 7 Goal:
• <10ms latency (camera → inference)
• 100-150 Mbps per camera (4K H.265 video + AI metadata)
• 99.98% uptime (MLO failover)
• Dedicated 6 GHz channel for cameras (Ch 31)
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MUMBAI HQ - FLOOR 3 (Edge AI Zone) │
│ 15,000 sq ft (West Wing) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Edge AI Camera Coverage Area (Perimeter + Interior) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Camera Deployment: 20× AI Cameras (4K, WiFi 7) │ │
│ │ Use Cases: Facial recognition, PPE detection, perimeter │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 (Cameras) Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ ↓ WiFi 7 ↓ │ │
│ │ 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷│ │
│ │ (5 cameras) (5 cameras)│ │
│ │ Perimeter (North) Perimeter (East)│
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-03] UCS XE9305 [AP-04] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Edge AI Cluster Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz (2× L4 GPUs) 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • ┌─────────────┐ • │ │
│ │ ↓ │ Inference │ ↓ │ │
│ │ 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 │ <8ms latency│ 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷│ │
│ │ (5 cameras) └─────────────┘ (5 cameras)│ │
│ │ Interior Aisles Perimeter (South)│
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ General Office Area (150 users) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-05] [AP-06] [AP-07] │ │
│ │ Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Engineering Engineering Engineering │ │
│ │ Desks (50 users) Desks (50 users) Desks (50 users) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Conference Rooms │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-08] [AP-09] [AP-10] │ │
│ │ Ch 95 Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Meeting Room 1 Meeting Room 2 Meeting Room 3 │ │
│ │ (12-seat) (8-seat) (8-seat) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary: 10 APs │
│ • Channel 31 (320 MHz): 5 APs (dedicated for 20 cameras) │
│ • Channel 63 (320 MHz): 3 APs (general office) │
│ • Channel 95 (320 MHz): 2 APs (general office + conference) │
│ • Camera-to-AP ratio: 4-5 cameras per AP (optimal for <10ms) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Edge AI Camera Configuration:
Camera Model: Axis P3265-LVE (or equivalent WiFi 7-enabled)
Network Configuration:
SSID: Corp-Secure-7
Authentication: 802.1X (EAP-TLS, device certificate)
SGT: 70 (Cameras)
Virtual Network: VN_IOT
VLAN: IOT-MUM-CAMERAS (10.150.1.128/25)
WiFi Configuration:
Preferred Band: 6 GHz (Ch 31)
Channel Width: 320 MHz
MLO: Enabled (Link 0: 5 GHz backup, Link 1: 6 GHz primary)
Video Stream:
Resolution: 4K (3840×2160) @ 30fps
Codec: H.265 (HEVC)
Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps (variable)
AI Metadata: 2-5 Mbps (object detection, tracking)
Total Bandwidth: 10-17 Mbps per camera
QoS Marking:
Video Stream: DSCP CS5 (40) - Critical Video
AI Metadata: DSCP CS6 (48) - Network Control
Camera-to-Inference Flow:
1. Camera captures 4K frame (33ms @ 30fps)
2. WiFi 7 transmission to AP (3-4ms, Ch 31 320 MHz)
3. Fabric transit to UCS XE9305 (1-2ms)
4. AI inference on NVIDIA L4 GPU (2-3ms)
Total: 8-12ms ✓ (Target: <10ms)
Channel Isolation Strategy:
Channel 31 (320 MHz): DEDICATED for AI Cameras
• APs: AP-01, AP-02, AP-03, AP-04 (4 APs)
• Clients: 20 AI cameras ONLY
• Rationale: Cameras require consistent low latency (<10ms)
• No general office clients on Ch 31 (avoid QoS contention)
Channels 63 & 95: General Office + Conference
• APs: AP-05, AP-06, AP-07, AP-08, AP-09, AP-10 (6 APs)
• Clients: 150 engineering laptops, tablets
• Mixed use: Office work + occasional video conferencing
4.2.4 Floor 2: Conference Room Wireless Collaboration (15 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 2 - Conference Center:
Size: 25,000 sq ft
Layout: 25 conference rooms (various sizes)
Users: 150 concurrent (peak utilization)
Current WiFi: 15 WiFi 6 APs (insufficient for wireless presentation)
WiFi 7 Goal:
• <20ms screen sharing latency (AirPlay, Miracast, Webex)
• 15-20 concurrent video streams per AP
• Support 100% wireless conference rooms (no HDMI cables)
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MUMBAI HQ - FLOOR 2 (Conference Center) │
│ 25,000 sq ft │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Large Conference Rooms (6 rooms, 20-40 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Room A Room B Room C │ │
│ │ (40-seat) (40-seat) (30-seat) │ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ AppleTV 4K AppleTV 4K AppleTV 4K │ │
│ │ + Webex RoomKit + Webex RoomKit + Webex RoomKit │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Room D Room E Room F │ │
│ │ (30-seat) (20-seat) (20-seat) │ │
│ │ [AP-04] [AP-05] [AP-06] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ AppleTV 4K AppleTV 4K AppleTV 4K │ │
│ │ + Webex RoomKit + Webex RoomKit + Webex RoomKit │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Medium Conference Rooms (12 rooms, 10-15 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-07] [AP-08] [AP-09] [AP-10] [AP-11] [AP-12] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Each AP covers 2 medium conference rooms │ │
│ │ (12 rooms total, 1 AP per 2 rooms) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Equipment per room: 55" Display + AppleTV 4K │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Small Meeting Rooms (7 rooms, 4-6 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-13] [AP-14] [AP-15] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Each AP covers 2-3 small rooms + open collaboration area │ │
│ │ (7 rooms + lounge/pantry) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Equipment: Portable displays + wireless presentation │ │
│ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary: 15 APs │
│ • Channel 31 (320 MHz): 5 APs │
│ • Channel 63 (320 MHz): 5 APs │
│ • Channel 95 (320 MHz): 5 APs │
│ • Clients per AP: 10-15 concurrent (peak load) │
│ • Total rooms: 25 conference rooms (100% wireless) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Wireless Presentation Equipment:
Large Conference Rooms (6 rooms):
Display: 75" 4K LCD
Wireless Presentation: AppleTV 4K (WiFi 7)
Video Conferencing: Webex Room Kit Pro (WiFi 7 backup, wired primary)
AppleTV Configuration:
SSID: Corp-Secure-7
Authentication: WPA3-Enterprise (device certificate)
SGT: 21 (Video endpoints)
MLO: Enabled
Preferred Band: 6 GHz (320 MHz)
Medium Conference Rooms (12 rooms):
Display: 55" 4K LCD
Wireless Presentation: AppleTV 4K (WiFi 7)
No dedicated video conferencing (laptops use Webex)
Small Meeting Rooms (7 rooms):
Display: 43" 4K LCD (portable)
Wireless Presentation: Miracast adapter (WiFi 7)
BYOD: Laptops connect directly via AirPlay/Miracast
Expected Performance:
Screen Sharing Latency Test (AirPlay):
MacBook Pro (WiFi 7) → AppleTV 4K → 75" Display
Test Setup:
• Content: 4K video with millisecond timer
• Measurement: High-speed camera (240fps frame-by-frame analysis)
Results:
• Mean latency: 18ms ✓ (Target: <20ms)
• 95th percentile: 22ms (acceptable outlier)
• Jitter (std dev): 3ms (low variability)
• User perception: "Feels instant"
Multi-Stream Conference (20 Participants):
Scenario: All 20 participants in Webex meeting, cameras on
Test Setup:
• 20 laptops (WiFi 7) in Room A
• Single AP (AP-01, Ch 31, 320 MHz)
• Webex meeting: All cameras enabled, 1 person screen sharing
Results:
• Aggregate throughput: 380 Mbps (downlink from AP)
• Per-client video quality: 1080p @ 30fps (no degradation)
• Screen sharing latency: 18ms ✓
• AP channel utilization: 22% (plenty of headroom)
• Multi-RU efficiency: 35% better than WiFi 6 single-RU
4.2.5 Mumbai HQ Pilot Summary¶
Overall Deployment:
| Floor | Use Case | APs | Users/Devices | Key Metrics | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor 6 | Executive wireless-only | 15 | 80 executives | >4 Gbps per client | Executive satisfaction >90% |
| Floor 3 | Edge AI cameras | 10 | 150 users + 20 cameras | <10ms camera latency | 99.98% camera uptime |
| Floor 2 | Conference rooms | 15 | 150 concurrent | <20ms screen sharing | Zero HDMI cables needed |
| Floors 1, 4, 5 | (Not in pilot) | 0 | - | Baseline data collection | Phase 5B planning |
| TOTAL | All 3 use cases | 40 APs | 470 users + 20 cameras | - | All 3 validated |
Wired Infrastructure Impact:
| Metric | Pre-WiFi 7 | Post-WiFi 7 (Week 12) | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Switches | 42 switches | 21 switches | 50% |
| Wired Ports Active | 610 ports | 360 ports | 41% |
| Wired Ports Freed | - | 250 ports | - |
4.3 Chennai HQ Pilot Design (30 APs)¶
4.3.1 Site Overview¶
Chennai HQ Profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Building | 4 floors, 80,000 sq ft total |
| Users | 1,800 employees |
| Current WiFi APs | 130 (20 WiFi 6E, 70 WiFi 6, 40 WiFi 5) |
| Current Wired Ports | 1,680 (35 access switches) |
| Pilot Scope | Floors 2, 4, 1 (partial) |
| WiFi 7 AP Deployment | 30 APs |
| Primary Use Cases | Conference rooms (Floor 2), Executive wireless-only (Floor 4) |
4.3.2 Floor 2: Conference Center (12 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 2 - Conference Center:
Size: 20,000 sq ft
Layout: 18 conference rooms
Users: 120 concurrent (peak)
WiFi 7 Goal:
• <20ms screen sharing latency
• Support all 18 rooms with wireless presentation
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CHENNAI HQ - FLOOR 2 (Conference Center) │
│ 20,000 sq ft │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Large Conference Rooms (6 rooms, 20-30 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ Room A (30-seat) Room B (30-seat) Room C (20-seat) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-04] [AP-05] [AP-06] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ Room D (20-seat) Room E (20-seat) Room F (20-seat) │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Medium Conference Rooms (8 rooms, 10-15 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-07] [AP-08] [AP-09] [AP-10] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • │ │
│ │ Rooms G+H Rooms I+J Rooms K+L Rooms M+N│ │
│ │ (2 rooms/AP) (2 rooms/AP) (2 rooms/AP) (2 rooms/AP)│
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Small Meeting Rooms (4 rooms, 4-6 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-11] [AP-12] │ │
│ │ Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ Rooms O+P + Collaboration Rooms Q+R + Pantry │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary: 12 APs │
│ • Channel 31 (320 MHz): 4 APs │
│ • Channel 63 (320 MHz): 4 APs │
│ • Channel 95 (320 MHz): 4 APs │
│ • Coverage: 18 conference rooms (100% wireless) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.3.3 Floor 4: Executive Floor (10 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 4 - Executive Offices:
Size: 20,000 sq ft
Layout: Private offices + open workspace
Users: 60 executives (regional VPs, directors)
WiFi 7 Goal:
• 100% wireless-only workspace
• >4 Gbps throughput per executive
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CHENNAI HQ - FLOOR 4 (Executive Offices) │
│ 20,000 sq ft │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ North Wing - Open Workspace (30 executives) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] [AP-04] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • │ │
│ │ Exec Desks Exec Desks Exec Desks Exec Desks│
│ │ (8 users) (8 users) (7 users) (7 users) │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ South Wing - Private Offices (30 executives) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-05] [AP-06] [AP-07] [AP-08] │ │
│ │ Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • │ │
│ │ VP Offices VP Offices Director Director │ │
│ │ (8 offices) (8 offices) Offices Offices │ │
│ │ (7 offices) (7 offices)│ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Center - Executive Meeting Rooms │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-09] [AP-10] │ │
│ │ Ch 95 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ Executive Board Room Executive Meeting Rooms │ │
│ │ (30-seat) (3 rooms, 8-seat each) │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary: 10 APs │
│ • Channel 31 (320 MHz): 4 APs │
│ • Channel 63 (320 MHz): 3 APs │
│ • Channel 95 (320 MHz): 3 APs │
│ • Clients per AP: 6 executives (low density for high throughput) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.3.4 Floor 1: General Office - Baseline Data Collection (8 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 1 - General Office:
Size: 20,000 sq ft
Layout: Open office workspace
Users: 400 employees (engineering, operations)
WiFi 7 Goal:
• Limited pilot deployment (8 APs)
• Baseline data collection for Phase 5B planning
• Mix of wired and wireless users
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CHENNAI HQ - FLOOR 1 (General Office) │
│ 20,000 sq ft │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Open Office Area (400 users) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] [AP-04] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • │ │
│ │ North Zone North Zone North Zone North Zone│ │
│ │ (100 users) (100 users) (100 users) (100 users)│
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-05] [AP-06] [AP-07] [AP-08] │ │
│ │ Ch 63 Ch 95 Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • │ │
│ │ South Zone South Zone South Zone South Zone│ │
│ │ (optional pilot, limited coverage for baseline data) │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Note: This is a LIMITED pilot deployment on Floor 1 │
│ • Purpose: Baseline data collection │
│ • Not full floor coverage (Phase 5B will add 15 more APs) │
│ • Mix of wireless and wired users (voluntary WiFi 7 adoption) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.3.5 Chennai HQ Pilot Summary¶
Overall Deployment:
| Floor | Use Case | APs | Users/Devices | Key Metrics | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor 2 | Conference rooms | 12 | 120 concurrent (18 rooms) | <20ms screen sharing | All 18 rooms wireless |
| Floor 4 | Executive wireless-only | 10 | 60 executives | >4 Gbps per client | Executive satisfaction >90% |
| Floor 1 | General office (baseline) | 8 | 400 users (mixed) | Baseline data | Plan Phase 5B rollout |
| TOTAL | Mixed use cases | 30 APs | 580 users | - | Conference + Executive validated |
4.4 Bangalore Branch Pilot Design (10 APs)¶
4.4.1 Site Overview¶
Bangalore Branch Profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Building | 2 floors, 15,000 sq ft total |
| Users | 200 employees (engineering, sales) |
| Current WiFi APs | 20 (8 WiFi 6, 12 WiFi 5 legacy) |
| Current Wired Ports | 192 (4 access switches) |
| Pilot Scope | Full branch (both floors) |
| WiFi 7 AP Deployment | 10 APs |
| Primary Use Case | Small-scale wireless-first validation, branch rollout template |
4.4.2 Full Branch Design¶
Floor 1 Design (5 APs):
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BANGALORE BRANCH - FLOOR 1 │
│ 7,500 sq ft (Engineering + Sales) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Open Office Area (100 users) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 95 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ Engineering Engineering Engineering │ │
│ │ (30 users) (35 users) (35 users) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-04] [AP-05] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ Sales + Meeting Rooms Collaboration + Pantry │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary (Floor 1): 5 APs │
│ • Channel 31: 2 APs, Channel 63: 2 APs, Channel 95: 1 AP │
│ • Users: 100 per floor │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Floor 2 Design (5 APs):
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BANGALORE BRANCH - FLOOR 2 │
│ 7,500 sq ft (Operations + Conference Rooms) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Open Office + Conference Rooms (100 users, 3 conference rooms) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-06] [AP-07] [AP-08] │ │
│ │ Ch 95 Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • │ │
│ │ Operations Operations Operations + Conf Room A │ │
│ │ (30 users) (35 users) (20 users + 12-seat room) │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-09] [AP-10] │ │
│ │ Ch 95 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ Conf Rooms B+C Management Offices + Pantry│ │
│ │ (2 rooms, 8-seat each) (15 users) │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary (Floor 2): 5 APs │
│ • Channel 31: 2 APs, Channel 63: 1 AP, Channel 95: 2 APs │
│ • Users: 100 per floor │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.4.3 Bangalore Branch Unique Value¶
Why Bangalore Branch Selected:
✅ Branch Rollout Template: Full branch deployment validates Phase 5B rollout strategy for 30 branch sites
✅ Infrastructure Upgrade Validation: Tests 10G uplink upgrade, power circuit addition, cooling expansion
✅ Remote Management: No on-site network engineers (2 hours from Mumbai HQ) tests remote troubleshooting
✅ Cost Model: Provides actual data for branch site economics (WiFi 7 APs vs wired switch refresh)
Expected Outcomes:
| Metric | Target | Measurement Method |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless Adoption | 70% of users wireless-only | User surveys + port utilization |
| Wired Port Reduction | 192 → 80 ports (58% reduction) | Switch port counts |
| Access Switch Decommission | 4 → 2 switches (2 decommissioned) | Physical removal |
| User Satisfaction | >85% | Post-pilot survey |
| Remote Troubleshooting | 90% issues resolved remotely | NOC incident logs |
4.4.4 Bangalore Branch Summary¶
Overall Deployment:
| Floor | APs | Users | Key Validation | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor 1 | 5 | 100 | Wireless-first engineering | >70% wireless adoption |
| Floor 2 | 5 | 100 | Conference rooms + operations | Remote mgmt successful |
| TOTAL | 10 | 200 | Branch template validated | All metrics achieved |
Infrastructure Upgrades (Completed Week 1-3):
| Upgrade | Before | After | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uplinks | 2× 1G | 2× 10G SFP+ | $2,000 | ✅ Week 2 |
| Power Circuits | 2× 15A per IDF | 3× 20A per IDF | $4,000 | ✅ Week 2 |
| Cooling | 1 ton per IDF | 2 tons per IDF | $6,000 | ✅ Week 3 |
4.5 London HQ Pilot Design (25 APs)¶
4.5.1 Site Overview¶
London HQ Profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Building | 5 floors, 100,000 sq ft total |
| Users | 2,200 employees |
| Current WiFi APs | 155 (25 WiFi 6E, 80 WiFi 6, 50 WiFi 5) |
| Current Wired Ports | 2,016 (42 access switches) |
| Pilot Scope | Floors 2-3 (executive + conference) |
| WiFi 7 AP Deployment | 25 APs |
| Primary Use Case | Executive wireless-only, 160 MHz validation (EMEA spectrum limit) |
CRITICAL DIFFERENCE: London uses 160 MHz (not 320 MHz) due to EMEA 6 GHz spectrum limitation (500 MHz vs 1200 MHz in India)
4.5.2 Floor 2: Executive Floor - 160 MHz Configuration (12 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 2 - Executive Offices:
Size: 20,000 sq ft
Users: 70 executives (EMEA leadership)
CRITICAL: EMEA 6 GHz Spectrum Limitation
• Available: 5.945-6.425 GHz (500 MHz total)
• 320 MHz channels: NOT possible (insufficient spectrum)
• 160 MHz channels: Only 2 non-overlapping (Ch 31, 63)
• Strategy: Alternate Ch 31/63, manage co-channel interference via power control
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LONDON HQ - FLOOR 2 (Executive Offices) │
│ 20,000 sq ft │
│ ⚠️ 160 MHz CHANNELS (EMEA LIMITATION) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Open Workspace + Private Offices (70 executives) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] [AP-04] [AP-05] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • • │ │
│ │ Exec Desks Exec Desks Exec Desks Exec Desks Exec Desks│
│ │ (6 users) (6 users) (6 users) (6 users) (6 users)│ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-06] [AP-07] [AP-08] [AP-09] [AP-10] │ │
│ │ Ch 63 Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • • │ │
│ │ Private Private Private Private Private │ │
│ │ Offices Offices Offices Offices Offices │ │
│ │ (6-7 each) (6-7 each) (6-7 each) (6-7 each) (6-7 each)│
│ │ │ │
│ │ [AP-11] [AP-12] │ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 │ │
│ │ 160 MHz 160 MHz │ │
│ │ • • │ │
│ │ Board Room (40-seat) Executive Meeting Rooms │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary: 12 APs │
│ • Channel 31 (160 MHz): 6 APs ⚠️ Co-channel interference managed │
│ • Channel 63 (160 MHz): 6 APs ⚠️ Co-channel interference managed │
│ • Transmit Power: 14 dBm (lower than India's 17 dBm for EMEA regulations)│
│ • Performance: 2-3 Gbps per client (vs 4-5 Gbps in India) │
│ │
│ Co-Channel Interference Management: │
│ • Alternating channel assignment (Ch 31, 63, 31, 63...) │
│ • Transmit power control (14 dBm, lower than max 20 dBm) │
│ • RRM (Radio Resource Management) monitors interference │
│ • Expected: 15-20% throughput reduction vs ideal (acceptable) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
160 MHz vs 320 MHz Performance Comparison:
London (160 MHz) vs Mumbai (320 MHz):
Throughput:
Mumbai (320 MHz): 4.5 Gbps per executive
London (160 MHz): 2.8 Gbps per executive
Difference: 38% lower ⚠️ (but still faster than wired 1G)
Latency:
Mumbai (320 MHz): 8-10ms
London (160 MHz): 10-12ms
Difference: 20% higher (still acceptable)
Channel Capacity:
Mumbai: 3 non-overlapping channels (Ch 31, 63, 95)
London: 2 non-overlapping channels (Ch 31, 63)
Impact: More co-channel interference (managed via power control)
Recommendation:
✅ 160 MHz sufficient for executive use case (2-3 Gbps > 1 Gbps wired)
✅ MLO still provides failover benefit (99.98% uptime)
⚠️ Executives may notice slower performance vs Mumbai (survey feedback)
4.5.3 Floor 3: Conference Rooms - 160 MHz Configuration (13 APs)¶
Floor Profile:
Floor 3 - Conference Center:
Size: 20,000 sq ft
Layout: 15 conference rooms
Users: 100 concurrent
WiFi 7 Goal (160 MHz):
• <20ms screen sharing latency (target maintained)
• Wireless presentation (AppleTV, Miracast)
• Note: 160 MHz provides sufficient bandwidth for conference use case
AP Placement Design:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LONDON HQ - FLOOR 3 (Conference Center) │
│ 20,000 sq ft │
│ ⚠️ 160 MHz CHANNELS (EMEA LIMITATION) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Large Conference Rooms (7 rooms, 20-30 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-01] [AP-02] [AP-03] [AP-04] [AP-05] [AP-06] [AP-07]│ │
│ │ Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz│ │
│ │ • • • • • • • │ │
│ │ Room A Room B Room C Room D Room E Room F Room G │ │
│ │ (30-seat)(30-seat)(25-seat)(25-seat)(20-seat)(20-seat)(20-seat)│
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Medium/Small Conference Rooms (8 rooms, 8-12 person capacity) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [AP-08] [AP-09] [AP-10] [AP-11] [AP-12] [AP-13] │ │
│ │ Ch 63 Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 Ch 63 Ch 31 │ │
│ │ 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz 160 MHz │ │
│ │ • • • • • • │ │
│ │ Rooms Rooms Rooms Rooms Open Pantry │ │
│ │ H+I J+K L+M N+O Collab Area │ │
│ │ (2/AP) (2/AP) (2/AP) (2/AP) │ │
│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ AP Summary: 13 APs │
│ • Channel 31 (160 MHz): 7 APs │
│ • Channel 63 (160 MHz): 6 APs │
│ • Coverage: 15 conference rooms (100% wireless presentation) │
│ • Performance: 160 MHz sufficient for conference use case │
│ (screen sharing bandwidth: 50-100 Mbps, well within 160 MHz) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.5.4 London HQ Pilot Summary¶
Overall Deployment:
| Floor | Use Case | APs | Users | Channel Width | Key Metrics | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor 2 | Executive wireless-only | 12 | 70 executives | 160 MHz (EMEA limit) | 2-3 Gbps per client | Satisfaction >85% (lower than Mumbai) |
| Floor 3 | Conference rooms | 13 | 100 concurrent (15 rooms) | 160 MHz | <20ms screen sharing | All rooms wireless |
| TOTAL | Executive + Conference | 25 APs | 170 users | - | - | 160 MHz validated |
London Pilot Unique Value:
✅ EMEA Spectrum Validation: Validates WiFi 7 performance with 160 MHz (vs 320 MHz in India/Americas)
✅ Co-Channel Management: Tests interference mitigation with only 2 channels (vs 3 in India)
✅ Performance Baseline: Establishes 160 MHz expectations for other EMEA sites (Frankfurt, Paris)
⚠️ Throughput Caveat: Executives may report 30-40% lower performance vs Mumbai (2-3 Gbps vs 4-5 Gbps)
4.6 Pilot Architecture Reference Diagrams¶
4.6.1 High-Level Pilot Network Architecture¶
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHASE 5A PILOT - HIGH-LEVEL ARCHITECTURE │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ PILOT SITES (4 Locations, 115 WiFi 7 APs) │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ Mumbai HQ Chennai HQ Bangalore London HQ │ │
│ │ (50 APs) (30 APs) (10 APs) (25 APs) │ │
│ │ 320 MHz 320 MHz 320 MHz 160 MHz ⚠️ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ └──────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────┘ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ └───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ CATALYST 9800 WLC HA PAIRS │ │
│ │ WLC-MUM-01/02, WLC-CHN-01/02, WLC-LON-01/02 │ │
│ │ IOS-XE 17.16.1 (WiFi 7 support) │ │
│ │ • MLO Configuration: NSTR mode │ │
│ │ • 320 MHz Channels: Ch 31, 63, 95 (India) │ │
│ │ • 160 MHz Channels: Ch 31, 63 (EMEA) │ │
│ └──────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ CATALYST CENTER (DNAC 2.3.7+) │ │
│ │ • WiFi 7 AP provisioning (ZTP) │ │
│ │ • 320 MHz RF design tools │ │
│ │ • MLO telemetry collection │ │
│ │ • Deep Network Model (DNM) WiFi 7 client health training│ │
│ └──────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ┌───────────┴───────────┬────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ ▼ ▼ ▼ │
│ ┌───────────┐ ┌───────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │
│ │ ISE │ │ Splunk │ │ XDR │ │
│ │ (802.1X, │ │ (WiFi 7 │ │(Security)│ │
│ │ SGT) │ │telemetry) │ │ │ │
│ └───────────┘ └───────────┘ └──────────┘ │
│ │
│ INTEGRATION POINTS: │
│ • ISE: 802.1X authentication, SGT assignment, pxGrid context│
│ • Splunk: WiFi 7 telemetry (MLO events, 320 MHz utilization)│
│ • XDR: Security correlation (WiFi 7 device context) │
│ • DNAC DNM: WiFi 7 performance prediction, anomaly detection│
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.6.2 WiFi 7 Client Traffic Flow (MLO Enabled)¶
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WiFi 7 CLIENT TRAFFIC FLOW (MLO) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Executive Laptop (WiFi 7 Client, Intel BE200) │
│ MAC: AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF │
│ │ │
│ │ 802.1X Authentication (WPA3-Enterprise) │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────────────┐ │
│ │ ISE Policy Server │ │
│ │ • Authenticate user: john.exec@abhavtech.com │
│ │ • AD Group: Executives │
│ │ • Duo Posture: Compliant (OS patched, AV enabled, encrypted) │
│ │ • Assign SGT: 11 (Executives) │
│ │ • RADIUS Access-Accept with SGT cisco-av-pair="cts:sgt=11" │
│ └─────────┬───────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────┐ │
│ │ WiFi 7 AP (C9178I-BE)│ │
│ │ • Receives SGT 11 │ │
│ │ • MLO Association: │ │
│ │ - Link 0: 5 GHz (160 MHz, backup) │
│ │ - Link 1: 6 GHz (320 MHz, primary) │
│ │ • Apply SGT 11 to BOTH MLO links │
│ └─────────┬────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ │ Traffic from client (via MLO Link 1: 6 GHz) │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Fabric Edge Switch │ │
│ │ (Catalyst 9300) │ │
│ │ • VXLAN encap │ │
│ │ • SGT 11 inline tag │ │
│ │ (802.1Q 4-byte) │ │
│ └─────────┬────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ │ VXLAN + SGT 11 │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Fabric Underlay │ │
│ │ (IS-IS routing) │ │
│ └─────────┬────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Destination (Server)│ │
│ │ • SGACL enforced │ │
│ │ • SGT 11 → SGT 80 │ │
│ │ (Executives → Servers: Permit) │
│ └──────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ KEY POINTS: │
│ • MLO is transparent to ISE (ISE sees single MAC, single SGT) │
│ • SGT applied to ALL MLO links (both 5 GHz and 6 GHz) │
│ • Fabric edge switch tags VXLAN with SGT for Zero Trust │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
4.7 Pilot Site Comparison Summary¶
4.7.1 Site-by-Site Comparison Matrix¶
| Site | APs | Users | Use Cases | Channel Width | Unique Value | Infrastructure Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai HQ | 50 | 470 + 40 cameras | All 3 (AI, Conf, Exec) | 320 MHz | Primary pilot, all validations | Minor power/cooling issues (resolved) |
| Chennai HQ | 30 | 580 | Conference + Executive | 320 MHz | Conference validation | None (infrastructure ready) |
| Bangalore | 10 | 200 | General office (branch template) | 320 MHz | Branch rollout model | Uplinks, power, cooling (all resolved Week 1-3) |
| London HQ | 25 | 170 | Executive + Conference | 160 MHz ⚠️ | EMEA spectrum validation | None (160 MHz performance lower) |
| TOTAL | 115 | 1,420 | - | - | - | - |
4.7.2 Channel Plan Summary¶
India Sites (Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore):
6 GHz Spectrum: 5.925-7.125 GHz (1200 MHz)
Channel Plan: 3× 320 MHz non-overlapping
Ch 31: 6.115 GHz center (5.955-6.275 GHz)
Ch 63: 6.435 GHz center (6.275-6.595 GHz)
Ch 95: 6.755 GHz center (6.595-6.915 GHz)
Performance: 4-5 Gbps per client ✅
London Site (EMEA):