In short
A business wireless access point is a managed Wi-Fi radio that is run centrally, powered over Ethernet and secured with your network policy. Pick the range by how you want to manage it: a controller, your FortiGate firewall or a cloud portal. Some need a per-AP subscription. We quote by part number and can survey and install.
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Add products and licences to your basket, then check out when you are ready.
Which access point range suits which site
A quick way to narrow the choice before you open the model tables:
| Your site | Ranges to look at | How it is managed | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small office or shop, a handful of access points | HPE Networking Instant On, WatchGuard AP130 or AP330 | Instant On app; WatchGuard Cloud | None for Instant On; WatchGuard Standard or USP Wi-Fi (opens in a new tab) |
| Office that already runs a FortiGate firewall | FortiAP | The wireless controller built into the FortiGate | No controller licence; FortiCare support per AP is optional |
| Multi-floor office, school or campus with on-premises control | Cisco Wi-Fi 7 and Cisco Catalyst 9800 or CW9800 controllers | Controller, optionally with Cisco Catalyst Center | Cisco Wireless Essentials or Advantage per AP (Wi-Fi 7) |
| Multi-site business that wants cloud management | HPE Aruba Networking, HPE Mist | HPE Aruba Networking Central; HPE Mist cloud | Central Foundation or Advanced; HPE Mist Wireless Assurance per AP |
| Car parks, yards, warehouses and outdoor areas | Cisco CW9177, FortiAP 244K and 432G, HPE Aruba Networking 760/670/580/570/560, HPE Mist AP64 and AP66, WatchGuard AP332CR and AP430CR | As the range above | As the range above |
Compare, then add to your basket
Every product in our shop lists its order codes and licences, ready to add.
Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 in plain terms
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) works in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It is still widely sold, but Cisco has set 31 Dec 2026 as the last order date for its indoor C9105AX, C9115AX and C9130AX Wi-Fi 6 models (the C9120AX has already reached end of sale), and HPE Mist's AP43 and AP63 have the same last order date.
- Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band: more clean channels for laptops and phones that support it, with the same 802.11ax technology.
- Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) adds wider channels and denser modulation. HPE's AP47 guide notes that "Wi-Fi 7 can support 320 MHz wide radio channels in the 6GHz band and offers 4K QAM", and WatchGuard lists Multi-Link Operation (MLO) modes on its AP340. In practice that means more capacity per access point and better use of the 6 GHz band.
For new projects we usually suggest Wi-Fi 7, or Wi-Fi 6E where budget is tight; see Wi-Fi 7 access points for every model side by side.
How many access points do you need?
Two things decide the number: coverage (every desk, room and corridor gets a good signal) and capacity (enough radios for the number of devices that connect at once). An open-plan office is usually capacity-led; a building with thick walls, a warehouse or a hotel is usually coverage-led.
The starting point is the floor plan, the building materials and a device count. We can carry out a wireless survey (predictive from plans, or on site) and turn it into a bill of materials with mounting positions, PoE needs and the subscription each access point needs. Survey and installation scope is confirmed at quote; see network installation.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us about your sites and we will recommend the right kit and licences.
Power over Ethernet and uplinks
Business access points take their power from the switch port. The higher-end Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 models need more than PoE+ (802.3at, 30 W) to run every radio: Cisco lists 802.3bt Class 5 (39 W maximum) for full function on the CW9176I and 802.3bt Class 6 (45.1 W maximum) on the outdoor CW9177 models, while smaller models such as the CW9172I run fully on 30 W. Several vendors let an AP run on PoE+ with some radios reduced.
Uplinks matter too: Wi-Fi 7 access points have 2.5G, 5G or 10G ports, so pair them with multigigabit switch ports. Compare switches on managed PoE switches and size the budget with the PoE budget guide.
Controllers, cloud management and licences
Each range is managed differently, and that decides the licence you buy with the hardware:
- Cisco Wireless (on premises): a Catalyst 9800 or CW9800 controller. Cisco says its Wi-Fi 7 access points "require a Cisco Networking Subscription, either Cisco Wireless Essentials or Cisco Wireless Advantage licenses"; the basket adds one with each AP.
- FortiAP: Fortinet says "The FortiGate Wireless Controller is built into all FortiGate models and does not require any additional licensing to use." FortiCare support per AP is optional.
- HPE Aruba Networking: HPE Aruba Networking Central, with Foundation or Advanced subscriptions.
- HPE Mist: the HPE Mist cloud, where HPE calls Wireless Assurance "mandatory" for every AP.
- WatchGuard: WatchGuard Cloud, with a Standard Wi-Fi or USP Wi-Fi licence.
- HPE Networking Instant On: the Instant On app, with HPE stating security features are "included at no extra cost".
For a wider view of the options, see wireless LAN controllers and management.
UK part numbers and regulatory domains
Access points are built for a country's radio rules, so the part number matters:
- Cisco Wi-Fi 7 models are "global use access points": Cisco says "you are no longer required to order using regulatory domain codes". Cisco Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6 models carry a regulatory domain suffix such as -E.
- FortiAP part numbers end in a regional code; Fortinet's knowledge base maps the United Kingdom to E (for example FAP-231K-E).
- HPE Mist uses -WW codes, described by HPE as "outside US only"; HPE's price list also gives some models regional suffixes, such as AP723H-RW for the dual-platform AP-723H. For HPE Aruba Networking access points, add the model and we give the UK part number in your quote.
- WatchGuard publishes no public part numbers, so you add the model and we give the exact part number in your quote.
We check the right codes for every line before we quote.
Access points by range
| Range | Vendor | Models | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Wireless Wi-Fi 7 access points (CW917x) | Cisco | 12 | CW9171I, CW9172I, CW9172H, CW9174I, CW9174E, CW9176I and more |
| Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6E access points (CW916x, C9136I, CW9163E) | Cisco | 6 | CW9162I, CW9164I, CW9166I, CW9166D1, C9136I, CW9163E |
| Cisco Catalyst 9100AX Wi-Fi 6 access points | Cisco | 10 | C9105AXI, C9105AXW, C9115AXI, C9115AXE, C9130AXI, C9130AXE and more |
| FortiAP Wireless Access Points | Fortinet | 14 | FAP-221K, FAP-222KL, FAP-231K, FAP-23JK, FAP-241K, FAP-243K and more |
| HPE Aruba Networking Wi-Fi 7 campus access points (700 series) | HPE Networking | 6 | AP-754, AP-755, AP-745, AP-734, AP-735, AP-725 |
| HPE Aruba Networking Wi-Fi 6E campus access points (600 series) | HPE Networking | 5 | AP-654, AP-655, AP-634, AP-635, AP-615 |
| HPE Aruba Networking Wi-Fi 6 campus access points (500 series) | HPE Networking | 8 | AP-555, AP-534, AP-535, AP-514, AP-515, AP-504 and more |
| HPE Aruba Networking hospitality and remote access points | HPE Networking | 7 | AP-725H, AP-723H, AP-605H, AP-505H, AP-503H, AP-605R and more |
| HPE Aruba Networking outdoor, hardened and hazardous-location access points | HPE Networking | 19 | AP-765, AP-765EX, AP-675, AP-677, AP-675EX, AP-677EX and more |
| HPE Networking Instant On access points | HPE Networking | 5 | Instant On AP21, Instant On AP22, Instant On AP22D, Instant On AP27 (outdoor), Instant On AP32 (Wi-Fi 6E) |
| HPE Mist indoor access points (Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7) | HPE Networking | 13 | AP12, AP17, AP24, AP27, AP32, AP33 and more |
| HPE Mist outdoor access points | HPE Networking | 3 | AP63, AP64, AP66 |
| WatchGuard secure access points (Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7) | WatchGuard | 7 | AP130, AP230W, AP330, AP340, AP432, AP332CR and more |
Cisco access points on our sister store
Cisco Meraki MR and the Meraki-mode Cisco Wireless access points are on our sister store: see cloud managed Wi-Fi (opens in a new tab) on cloudnetworking.uk. The access points here are managed by a controller, a FortiGate firewall, HPE Aruba Networking Central, HPE Mist, WatchGuard Cloud or the Instant On app.
How to order access points
How ordering works. Press Add next to a part number and it goes into your basket; where the hardware needs a subscription or support term, you pick it in the same step. Add mounts, injectors and accessories, then View basket and Request a quote. We check every line, quantity and term against your site and come back with a personalised quote by email. Nothing is charged online. We can also design, supply, stage, install and configure the wireless network as a project, with the scope confirmed at quote (see network installation).
Not sure how many you need? Contact us with a floor plan and a rough device count, and we will suggest a bill of materials.
Explore Access points
How we can help with your network
Forever Systems can design, supply, stage, install and configure the network around the hardware you buy here, as a project or one step at a time.
- Design: we look at your sites, users and existing kit and size the switches, wireless and firewalls to fit
- Supply: every order gets a personalised quote by part number, with the subscriptions and support each product needs
- Stage: we can pre-configure and label equipment before it reaches site
- Install: we can rack and mount switches, access points and firewalls on site
- Configure: VLANs, wireless, firewall policy, VPNs and management platforms set up and documented at handover
Scope is confirmed at quote, so you only pay for the parts of the project you need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a business and a consumer access point?
A business access point is managed centrally with other APs, takes power over Ethernet, supports separate staff and guest networks with enterprise security such as WPA3 and 802.1X, and is designed to run alongside many others. Consumer routers and mesh kits are built for a single home.
Do business access points need a licence?
Some do. Cisco Wi-Fi 7 APs need Cisco Wireless Essentials or Advantage, HPE Mist APs need Wireless Assurance, and WatchGuard APs are managed with Standard or USP Wi-Fi. FortiAP needs no controller licence with a FortiGate, and Instant On has no subscription in our catalogue.
Should I buy Wi-Fi 7 or Wi-Fi 6E?
For a new installation, Wi-Fi 7 gives the most capacity and the longest life, provided your switches have multigigabit PoE ports. Wi-Fi 6E is a sound choice where budget or existing switching limits you.
How many access points does an office need?
It depends on the floor plan, walls and how many devices connect at once. We can survey the site and size the network for coverage and capacity before you order.
Can you install the access points?
Yes. We can design, supply, stage, install and configure the wireless network, cabling and switching included where needed, with the scope confirmed at quote.
Ready to order?
Build your basket and check out when you are ready.