Wifirst and TP-Link: joint interview

Wifirst is diversifying its equipment catalogue by adding TP-Link and its Omada range as a new supplier. Why this choice? What are the benefits for Wifirst customers? 

To shed light on this partnership, we spoke with David Berkowicz, CTO of Wifirst, and Fares Abdi, Channel Sales Director of TP-Link France.

David, why has Wifirst decided to bring TP-Link on board as a new hardware partner?

David Berkowicz: At Wifirst, we are constantly striving to improve and offer flexibility to our customers. Adding TP-Link to our catalogue of solutions was an obvious choice. Firstly, they offer network equipment that combines high performance and competitive pricing, which is a major advantage in highly competitive markets. Secondly, TP-Link's move upmarket with their Omada professional solution is now very relevant to our customers' needs. It allows us to offer a robust, managed alternative that is perfectly suited to the requirements of our various verticals and fits in with our multi-manufacturer strategy.

Fares, what does this partnership with a player such as Wifirst mean for TP-Link?

Fares Abdi: We are absolutely delighted with this partnership. Wifirst is not only a leader in its markets, it is also recognised for its ability to deploy on a very large scale and for its operational excellence. Relying on a partner with such a strong commercial track record as Wifirst is a tremendous opportunity. It offers very strong growth prospects for our B2B ranges and validates our strategy of moving upmarket in the 'Enterprise' market.

This announcement comes just before the SETT trade show in France. The camping market is precisely a segment in which TP-Link has recognised expertise. Is this a key point in the collaboration?

Fares Abdi: Absolutely. TP-Link has a long history and in-depth knowledge of the needs of the outdoor hospitality industry (but not only). Our Omada solutions are designed to provide reliable WiFi coverage in dense and sometimes complex environments, such as campsites, with simple and efficient centralised management. We know that Wifirst is a major player in this sector, and we are convinced that our combined expertise will bring immense value to site managers.

David, in practical terms, what does TP-Link's "SMB & Camping expertise" and their Omada range offer Wifirst customers?

David Berkowicz: This means that we integrate hardware that has been designed from the outset for our customers' use cases. Whether it's a hotel, student residence or campsite, reliability, coverage and cost management constraints are paramount. TP-Link's expertise in these segments, combined with the robustness of the Omada platform, allows us to enhance our offering. Their catalogue also includes products for deploying GPON networks. This is a particularly relevant solution for certain large campsites that require very high speed over long distances. This enables us to address our customers' needs with even greater precision, guaranteeing the 'As a Service' quality of service that is Wifirst's strength, while keeping the economic equation under control. It is a perfect balance between performance, reliability and accessibility.

What are the next steps for this partnership?

David Berkowicz: The technical integration and certification phases for the Omada range, including GPON solutions, within our multi-vendor monitoring platforms have been completed. The first commercial proposals including TP-Link equipment are already underway and the first deployments are imminent. We are very confident in the success of this new offering.

Fares Abdi: On our side, all our teams are mobilised to support Wifirst, both technically and commercially. This partnership is strategic for TP-Link in France, and we are fully committed to making it a lasting success. We look forward to seeing the first major projects come to fruition.

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This strategic partnership promises to combine Wifirst's operational excellence and deployment capabilities with the performance and competitiveness of Omada by TP-Link network solutions. This is excellent news for tourism and hospitality professionals, which promises to be rich in innovations.