Professional WiFi has nothing in common with the home router you have at your house. For a hotel on the Promenade des Anglais, a restaurant in Cannes, an architect's studio in Sophia Antipolis or a coworking centre in Antibes, the wireless network is critical infrastructure. In 2026, WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 deliver unprecedented performance to meet these requirements. Here is what you need to know before investing.
WiFi 6, WiFi 6E, WiFi 7: which to choose in 2026?
The professional WiFi network market has evolved rapidly in recent years. While WiFi 5 remains functional in many contexts, new standards bring significant gains for high user-density environments typical of Nice hotels, Menton restaurants or Sophia Antipolis corporate campuses.
| Norme | Max theoretical speed | Bandes | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 5 (802.11ac) | 3,5 Gbps | 2,4 & 5 GHz | PME < 20 utilisateurs |
| WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | 9,6 Gbps | 2,4 & 5 GHz | Bureaux 20-100 personnes |
| WiFi 6E | 9,6 Gbps | 2,4, 5 & 6 GHz | Hotels, restaurants, high density |
| WiFi 7 (802.11be) | 46 Gbps | 2,4, 5 & 6 GHz | Critical applications, 4K/8K video, XR |
For most hotels and restaurants in the Alpes-Maritimes, WiFi 6E offers the best performance-to-investment ratio in 2026. WiFi 7 should be considered for high-end establishments, Sophia Antipolis tech companies or Monaco conference venues with 4K videoconferencing requirements.
Cas d’usage typiques dans les Alpes-Maritimes
🏢 Hotels (Nice, Cannes, Monaco)
Access points per floor or per room according to the building, GDPR-compliant captive portal, separate staff/guest VLAN, per-client bandwidth management.
🍳 Restaurants & bars (toute la Côte d’Azur)
Isolated guest WiFi, dining room + terrace coverage, QR code login, compatible with WiFi payment terminals and order screens.
🏢 Offices & coworking (Sophia Antipolis, Antibes)
Seamless roaming between access points, 802.1X authentication, guest/employee network segregation, managed via Meraki or UniFi.
🏭 Retail (Cagnes-sur-Mer, Vallauris, Vence)
Guest WiFi for customer loyalty (portal with optional email collection), EPOS network separation, OTA update of digital display screens.
Steps for a successful professional WiFi project
1. The site survey
Before positioning a single access point, we carry out a predictive coverage study using specialist tools (Ekahau, iBwave). This mapping takes into account the building topology, materials that attenuate the signal, existing interference sources and simultaneous users per zone. For a hotel of 50 rooms in Nice or Saint-Laurent-du-Var, this step is non-negotiable.
2. Network security
A poorly configured professional WiFi is an entry point for cybercriminals. Our standard configuration includes: WPA3 Enterprise on the internal network, segregation VLANs (employees / guests / IoT), firewall between segments, rogue AP detection and connection logging (a legal requirement in France). This approach integrates naturally with our IT security offering.
3. Centralised management and monitoring
We deploy centralised management solutions (Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti UniFi, Aruba Central) that allow all access points to be monitored from a single interface, anomalies detected in real time and security updates pushed automatically. As part of our managed maintenance service, we provide continuous supervision of your WiFi infrastructure.
💡 Legal obligation: in France, any operator of a public WiFi network (hotel, restaurant, business) must retain connection logs for one year (LCEN). Our solution systematically includes this component to keep you compliant.
What budget to plan for?
The cost of a professional WiFi installation depends on the area to cover, the number of access points and the security level required. As a guide, for an SME or restaurant in the Alpes-Maritimes:
- Small site (< 200 m², 1–3 APs): €500–€1,500 equipment + 3–4h labour
- Medium site (200–1,000 m², 4–10 APs): €2,000–€6,000 depending on cabling requirements
- Hotel or large site (10+ APs): custom quote after site survey, typically €8,000–€30,000
These prices include supply, installation, configuration and testing. Annual maintenance (firmware updates, monitoring, support) is available as an option. To learn more, contact us for a free quote or a phone consultation.
Frequently asked questions about professional WiFi
What is the difference between WiFi 6, WiFi 6E and WiFi 7?
How many WiFi access points does my hotel in Nice need?
How do I separate guest WiFi from professional WiFi?
Can I charge my hotel guests for WiFi?
Un projet WiFi professionnel in the 06 ?
SOS IT Services 06 carries out your coverage study, installs and configures your WiFi infrastructure. Coverage in Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Sophia Antipolis, Monaco, Menton, Saint-Laurent-du-Var and the entire Côte d'Azur.