CommScope’s Ruckus bullish on AI-driven private networks in LatAm

CommScope is bullish on new deals coming from AI-led automation projects across Latin America for its Ruckus Networks enterprise networks provider unit. 

“AI is at the core of Ruckus One,” Moises Montaño, Ruckus Networks' senior regional sales manager, told BNamericas.

Ruckus One is a new AI-suite launched by Ruckus to provide unified management of converged multi-access public and private enterprise networks. The solution debuted in June and is already available in Latin America, according to Montaño.

Enterprises, schools and factories, as well as hospitality, government and service providers in general, are the main verticals served by CommScope/Ruckus. In enterprise wired and wireless infrastructure, CommScope competes with the likes of Cisco, Juniper Networks and Huawei, among others.

Montaño said that Ruckus One eliminates the complexity of deploying and managing multiple-access public and private corporate networks, which are those that integrate Wi-Fi, cable, IoT, Edge and public and private 4G/5G.

The solution, said the executive, is "ideal" for enterprises and partners that need to deploy private cellular solutions for smart manufacturing and other applications that integrate with their existing IP network infrastructure.

“We aim to be a one-stop shop for customers looking for a powerful end-to-end enterprise network. For licensed and unlicensed private network applications, they can leverage on our expertise in Wi-Fi and 5G IoT, cutting-edge solutions, services and security,” said the executive.

Montaño did not disclose any sales projections for the region this year.

Worldwide, CommScope's net sales amounted to US$1.91bn in 2Q23, down 16.6% year-on-year, decreasing across all regions in the period. In Latin America, sales dipped 14.8% to US$128mn. 

Despite the drop, CommScope's global sales of its Networking, Intelligent Cellular and Security Solutions (NICS) line jumped 59.5% to US$328mn, bolstered by Ruckus and Intelligent Cellular Networks projects. 

“We're well positioned for continued growth as we invest in new services and software as part of the segment's transformational growth strategy,” CEO Charles Treadway said about the NICS unit performance in an earnings call.

“In addition to Ruckus One, we're a leader in the development of Wi-Fi 7. We expect to be one of the first in the market when we launch our Wi-Fi 7 product in the fourth quarter of 2023,” the executive added.

From a broader perspective, macroeconomic factors such as higher interest rates, inflation and concerns about a global economic slowdown have softened demand for CommScope's products, said the company, with customers reducing purchases, resizing inventories and others pausing capital spending.

CommScope warned that this scenario could still negatively impact its operations in the rest of the year.