The hidden role of connectivity in todays AI race

Date:
Thu, 21 May 2026 09:00:43 +0000

Description:
AI needs a strong networking foundation, but outdated infrastructure is holding many organizations back.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter AI is moving from experimentation to expectation.

But many organizations are trying to adopt it on network connections that arent built to support it, all while costs continue to rise across the supply chain and technology stack. Ben Allcock Social Links Navigation

Vice President of B2B, TP-Link UK&I. For example, prices of consumer electronics are anticipated to increase by as much as 20 percent this year
due to chipset shortages, while shipping prices are rising at the sharpest rate since 2022. Latest Videos From You may like Boards are funding AI transformations on a network they haven't looked at in a decade Balancing trust and control to unlock AI-powered networking Don't let AI enthusiasm
lock you into outdated infrastructure

The challenge for business leaders is clear: how to keep investing in AIled productivity and growth without letting infrastructure costs spiral.

The answer is not to slow down AI adoption. It is to rethink connectivity. AI is only as strong as the network beneath it AI promises efficiency,
automation and longterm cost savings, and many organizations are already seeing benefits. In fact, research suggests 40% of organizations are using AI today to reduce costs.

However, as cloud AI drives sustained rather than burst traffic patterns, adopting AI requires a high-performance, reliable LAN, WiFi and switching infrastructure foundation. Without it, organizations face ongoing latency, reliability issues and higher operational risk; all of which quickly erode
any return on AI investment. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

In a cost-constrained environment, businesses cant afford any additional
risk. Advanced connectivity must be a top consideration. Choosing a strategy that prioritizes solutions that deliver resilience, scalability and long-term value without unnecessary complexity or cost, ensures organizations have the foundation needed for AI. Practical priorities for costeffective connectivity For organizations balancing tight budgets with rising performance demands, a few criteria matter most in decision-making:

Design for scale from day one . AI workloads increase network traffic,
device density and performance requirements. Retrofitting later is almost always more expensive. Avoid performance degradation, hidden OPEX and delayed AI rollouts by thinking about scale from the outset. What to read next Five signs your infrastructure is stalling your AI strategy How businesses can
turn AI pilots into scalable solutions How AI will collide with data
readiness

Prioritize resilience and simplicity. Complex networks drive higher operational costs. Fewer points of failure mean fewer outages and less IT
time spent firefighting.

Optimize, not overspecify. Not every site needs the most premium solution, but every site does need reliability and consistency.

Optimizing IT infrastructure for connectivity today requires selecting the right networking partner that will mitigate risks. Vendors that own the manufacturing process end-to-end have greater control over pricing and availability, allowing efficiencies to be passed onto the customer. At the same time, local availability also matters.

Shorter supply chains reduce lead times and minimize exposure to shipping
cost spikes, helping businesses plan AI adoption and upgrades with greater confidence. Ultimately, the right partner helps organizations invest once and invest well. Smarter networking for AI-ready environments With businesses managing increasingly complex networking environments, Wi-Fi is often stretched thin, spanning large and multiple sites, while powering an increasing number of devices.

This creates issues such as dead zones, interference and drop-outs precisely the challenges that can derail AI-driven operations.

As organizations adapt to the AI evolution, their networking infrastructure must evolve too. This means adopting:

Modern access points and switches built for the latest WiFi standards

Consistent performance across sites, not just headline speed

Cloudbased management that gives IT teams full visibility and reduces operational overhead

This centralized management also allows issues to be identified and resolved faster, helping ensure AI systems stay available, reliable and secure without increasing headcount or complexity. An investment in the future In todays economic climate, networking decisions are no longer just IT decisions; investing in advanced networking infrastructure can be a true competitive differentiator. So, its time to assess whether your current networks are designed for AI traffic patterns, device growth and centralized management at scale.

By selecting the right partners and adopting smarter networking solutions, organizations can absorb external pressures while still enabling the adoption of transformative technologies like AI. This will sustainably and securely unlock long-term value for both the business and its customers. We feature
the best Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software . This article was
produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives , our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit



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