Marthesh Nagendra, the Sales Director, India, MEA, and South-East Asia regions at NETGEAR, embodies dynamic and visionary leadership. Throughout his tenure, Marthesh has been instrumental in fostering high-performance teams that consistently exceed their business goals year after year. His talent for mentoring and empowering team members has been pivotal to NETGEAR’s sustained success.
In an exclusive interview with Smart Home World, Marthesh Nagendra discusses NETGEAR’s latest product line and the company’s future vision, showcasing his profound insights into the industry and his commitment to innovation.
Can you provide an overview of the latest product range introduced by NETGEAR for 2024?
I’d be delighted to provide you with an overview of our latest product range. Our recent introductions reflect our commitment to innovation and addressing the evolving needs of our customers. We recently launched our Enterprise-Class AV M4350 Series Switches in India. These switches are engineered and certified for AVoIP with dedicated service and support. The M4350 is packed with more Enterprise-class hardware, redundant power supplies, and up to 100G uplinks. The revolutionary NETGEAR AV user interface and Engage Controller contain pre-configured profiles for all major audio, video, and lighting protocols. The M4350 Series features IGMP Plus™ with Auto-LAG and Auto-Trunk, NSF, Selectable Port-Channel/LAG, Advanced IPv4/IPv6 security, a variety of PoE+ and Ultra90 PoE++ options for up to 90W AVoIP endpoints, controlled thermal and acoustics with intelligent fans, NSF, and a lot more.
NETGEAR M4250, M4300, M4350 and M4500 series managed switches are unique in the industry with an innovative AV-oriented interface. Removing all the complex menus filled with arduous IT network jargon, the NETGEAR AV OS™ provides a simple AV-friendly, template-based approach to switch configurations. The M4350 series incorporates this simplicity into enterprise-class hardware with redundant power supplies, Power over Ethernet (PoE), up to 90W per port, ultra-quiet fans and easy setup managed by the NETGEAR Engage™ Controller. The revolutionary NETGEAR AV OS contains pre-configured profiles for all major audio, video, and lighting protocols including: AVB, Dante, AES67, NDI4/NDI5, NVX, AMX, Q-SYS, ZeeVee, Aurora Multimedia, Kramer, Atlona, LibAV, Visionary, SDVoE and others. SMPTE ST 2110 is supported on the VSM4320C (copper) and XSM4344C (fiber) M4350 models with 10G to 100G ports and PTP synchronization.
What has been the response to the recently launched Enterprise-Class AV M4350 Series Switches? Please share the advantages it provides to the users.
The response to our product has been overwhelmingly positive and we’re grateful for the support and enthusiasm our product has received. We’re confident that our product is addressing key customer needs and making a positive impact.
Advantages of NETGEAR Enterprise-Class AV M4350 Series is that it is designed for the most demanding AV over IP installations of up to thousands of endpoints. AV-centric User Interface allows for simple, profile-based, per-port configuration in a snap. Featuring robust Enterprise-class hardware, redundant power supplies, and larger switch fabrics with 25G and 100G uplinks. Simplify your multicast AV deployments with NETGEAR IGMP Plus™ for out-of-the-box functionality. Ideal for Commercial AV, Medical, Residential, Broadcast, Lighting installations, and more.
Plus, the NETGEAR Engage™ Controller makes configuring and managing all your M4350 switches a breeze. And NETGEAR offers features like Auto-LAG and Auto-Trunk to automatically configure multiple switches. A Free NETGEAR Pro AV Design team is always available to help with system design and implementation to ensure the project will work. Works out of the box with automatic, multi-switch configuration for most AV-over-IP installs.
How does NETGEAR plan to ensure compatibility and interoperability with emerging technologies and standards in the networking industry?
To ensure compatibility and interoperability with emerging technologies and standards in the networking industry, NETGEAR employs several strategic approaches:
We actively participate in industry standards bodies, consortia, and forums that define and shape networking protocols, technologies, and interoperability standards. By engaging with organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Wi-Fi Alliance, and Ethernet Alliance, NETGEAR stays informed about emerging standards and contributes to their development and adoption. Our M4350/M4250/M4300/M4500 switches work seamlessly when you connect different AV devices to a single switch.
NETGEAR prioritizes the adoption of open standards and protocols that promote interoperability and compatibility across diverse networking environments. By adhering to established standards such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, TCP/IP, and SNMP, we ensure that our networking products seamlessly integrate with third-party solutions and are interoperable with a wide range of devices and platforms. From time to time we conduct rigorous interoperability testing and certification programs to validate the compatibility of our products with emerging technologies, industry standards, and ecosystem partners.
Tell us about the speeds of the WAX628 and WAX638E access points. What advantages does each offer in terms of network performance?
Both access points are designed to deliver high-speed wireless connectivity and robust performance to meet the demands of modern networks.
WAX628: Insight Managed Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 Dual-band Access Point with Multi-Gig PoE.
Advantages of WAX628
* Business class Wi-Fi based on next generation 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology on both 5.0GHz and 2.4GHz bands.
* Enterprise security and Enhanced open security, such as WAP3, WPA Enterprise, 8x SSID and VLAN.
* High speed and easy wiring with a 2.5GbE port with PoE
WAX638E: Insight Managed AXE7800 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Access Point
Advantages of WAX628E
* Business class Wi-Fi based on next generation 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology on 6.0GHz, 5.0GHz and 2.4GHz bands. Enterprise level security with WPA3 and 8 separate wireless networks (SSIDs).
* Enterprise security and Enhanced open security, such as WPA3, WPA2 Enterprise, WPA3 Enterprise, 8x SSID, Dynamic VLAN and VLAN
* High speed and easy wiring with a 2.5GbE port with Ultra60PoE++
How does NETGEAR Insight simplify the configuration and management of SSIDs and VLANs for enhanced security?
NETGEAR Insight is a Cloud-based management platform that enables easy setup and configuration of NETGEAR Insight Managed Access Points, and Switches. With the cloud advantage of unified setup and configuration of devices, simplified ongoing maintenance, continuous visibility and control, remote access, constant evolution, scalability, and reliability, Insight take the complexity and rigidity out of networking.
Here are some of the advantages and features of NETGEAR Insight:
* Single view of all your Business devices and one-touch registration with Insight.
* One-step product registration of all your NETGEAR Business devices
Unified view of all Business devices.
- 24/7 instant access to support.
- Easily find relevant documentation.
- Useful updates & product information.
- Easy access to guided assistance.
How does the mesh capability of these access points extend the reach of the Wi-Fi network and what are the benefits for users in areas without Ethernet wiring?
By adding multiple access points that form a mesh network, the coverage area expands significantly. Each access point within the mesh network functions as a link, reinforcing the Wi-Fi signal and extending the range throughout the designated coverage area. This architecture allows users to experience strong and stable Wi-Fi connectivity, even in areas that were previously out of reach or had poor signal quality.
Overall, the mesh network architecture offers a robust solution for extending Wi-Fi coverage and ensuring reliable connectivity throughout the coverage area. By leveraging multiple access points to form a unified network infrastructure, users can enjoy strong and stable Wi-Fi connectivity, even in challenging environments or areas with architectural barriers that may impede signal propagation.
What is Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 technology, and how does it utilize a 160 MHz channel to achieve 100% more throughputs compared to Wi-Fi 6 Release 1?
The new release adds optional features that Wi-Fi 6 device developers can take advantage of, including multi-user uploads and better power efficiency.
2019 saw the debut of 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6, the newest and fastest version of the Wi-Fi standard. Now, three years later, that standard is getting upgraded to provide a new swath of spectrum that is less congested and offers wider channels compared to the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands used in previous Wi-Fi generations. Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 supports more robust uploads and better power efficiency, which is key for battery-powered Wi-Fi devices, particularly in IoT applications.
Can you provide examples of real-world scenarios where this increased throughput delivers tangible benefits for users?
Certainly! The increased throughput delivered by Wi-Fi 6 Release 2, especially with the utilization of a 160 MHz channel in the 6 GHz frequency band, offers tangible benefits across various real-world scenarios:
* High-Density Environments: In crowded environments such as airports, stadiums, conference centers, and concert venues, where large numbers of users simultaneously access Wi-Fi networks. Users can enjoy faster download and upload speeds, smoother video streaming, and better overall network performance even in densely populated areas.
* Enterprise Networks: In corporate environments, where employees rely on Wi-Fi connectivity for productivity and collaboration, the increased throughput translates to faster file transfers, seamless video conferencing, and improved access to cloud-based applications and services.
* Education Institutions: In schools, colleges, and universities, where students and faculty members depend on Wi-Fi for online learning, research, and communication, the increased throughput supports multimedia-rich content delivery, interactive learning applications, and collaborative projects.
* Healthcare Facilities: In healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and medical offices, where doctors, nurses, and staff rely on Wi-Fi connectivity for electronic medical records (EMRs), telemedicine consultations, and medical imaging, the increased throughput enables faster access to critical patient information, seamless transmission of medical images and test results, and improved communication among healthcare professionals.
* Smart Homes and IoT Devices: In smart home environments, where an increasing number of IoT devices such as smart TVs, security cameras, thermostats, and smart appliances are connected to Wi-Fi networks, the increased throughput ensures smoother streaming of 4K/8K video content, faster downloads of large files, and more responsive control of connected devices.
How does the inclusion of a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enable multi-gigabit speed, and what advantages does it offer in terms of network performance?
The 5-G Multi-Gig port supports intermediate speeds, so your network devices can run at their designated speeds without any limitations. It is also backward compatible. If you already have the traditional Cat5E and Cat6 cables, you won’t need to buy new ones.
Overall, the inclusion of a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enables multi-gigabit speeds by delivering higher bandwidth and faster data transfer rates, thereby enhancing network performance, supporting high-speed connections, future-proofing network infrastructure, and maintaining compatibility with existing cabling infrastructure. These advantages make 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports a valuable asset for modern network deployments seeking to meet the demands of today’s data-driven environments and prepare for future growth and scalability.
Any new launches and plans for the Indian Market?
Our dedication to excellence drives us to continually enhance our product base. We’re thrilled to announce that we have exciting new products in the pipeline, which are poised to set new standards in the industry. Stay tuned as we unveil these innovations designed to elevate your experience and meet evolving needs.
Our Wi-Fi 7 products are already available in the US and getting great responses from the consumers. And we are ready to bring these to India when the government opens it up. We will also be introducing a broader range of AV and Smart Switch options, designed to elevate performance, streamline operations, and meet the evolving demands of our customers.
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