Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless comparison

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and Cisco are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is ranked #20 with an average rating of 9.0, while Cisco is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.2. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise holds a 0.8% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Cisco’s 12.6% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess S...

Read 14 Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar reviews

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615 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Read 119 Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN reviews

13,735 Views
11,204 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Cisco Wireless

Read 153 Cisco Wireless reviews

13,319 Views
12,077 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess S...

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Cisco Wireless

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar, Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN, and Cisco Wireless based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ruckus, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN.

To learn more, read our detailed Wireless LAN Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

June 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar is 0.8%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is 12.6%, up from 12.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 11.2%, down from 14.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Attila Gyalus

Owner at TeloNet

An Easily Deployable and User-Friendly Solution with Rapid Installation

The support of this solution is great. The timeliness of their responses is crucial for me. When I raise an issue, I can count on receiving a prompt reply, eliminating the need for extensive online searches or phone calls. This efficiency is paramount in saving time. In the rare instances where problems arise, they are usually swiftly addressed.

Read full review

RezaPradipta

Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk

Streamline network management with a unified dashboard for seamless device integration

The primary use case for Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is mostly for enterprise wireless, including guest Wi-Fi and enterprise Wi-Fi. I use it across various industries with a focus on retail Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers a single pane of glass management. It only comes with a controller on the…

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Theesula Majuwanagamage

Head Of ELV and ICT at Intec Systems Solution Pvt Ltd

Bridging capabilities ensure network continuity and reliability in large-scale deployments

The most valuable feature of Cisco Wireless ( /products/cisco-wireless-reviews ) is the bridging capability. If one network fails, there is a link between different access points, which ensures network continuity. Additionally, Cisco offers significant discounts for large projects. The reliability and robust solution are also key aspects, as there have been no errors or failures. The implementation is straightforward, and the user interface connection is easy.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The features aren't much different than those in Aruba, but deployment is easier to configure and the pricing is better."

"I have worked with different solutions in the past and switched to Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar because of its quick installation time. It requires no additional preparation. The product is highly stable. I rate it a nine out of ten. The support of this solution is great. The timeliness of their responses is crucial for me. When I raise an issue, I can count on receiving a prompt reply, eliminating the need for extensive online searches or phone calls."

"I have not seen any downtime in the tool."

"There is a definite ROI with this product. This product creates a baseline of technology that will be a means to grow from five to ten years from now. By using this solution, it is an investment on the installation of that baseline."

"The solution allows you to see the SNMP packets, the DPI packets, and the SNMP server."

"Express in default configuration mode with first turn-on is easy to set up and deploy from a medium installation standpoint."

"One feature that differentiates Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar from some other vendors is the fact that on-premise OmniVista licenses are perpetual."

"The initial setup is pretty straightforward."

More Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar pros

"The functionalities are quite professional and complete. It offers good integration with other Meraki products, like switches and the firewall. You can get an overview of all networks and the host. It's really great; nobody else can do that."

"It is a scalable solution."

"I really don't have any problems with the stability of the product."

"The solution ensures seamless connectivity as users move within the office. Six installed Meraki APs provide excellent coverage for around three hundred users, offering reliable speeds. Additionally, the system allows guests and users with priority devices to connect using their SAP ID. The traffic is managed through D and G controllers to meet the specified requirements for continuous connection and speed."

"The most valuable features are the multiple types of user groupings and access management."

"The solution has worked very well in our campus environment."

"I think the IoT integration is the most valuable. I started applying IoT solutions 12 years ago on location-based services. Aruba had implemented this at the time. So I think the integration, particularly into the applications and stuff, is pretty interesting in Meraki."

"Multiple access ID capabilities, meshing, and the quality of the product itself are all valuable features."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros

"This is a very stable solution that solves complex issues."

"For me, the most valuable thing about Cisco Wireless is its ease of use and stability."

"Cisco Wireless solutions are easy to use."

"The solution offers central management, reliability, and signal, ensures the bandwidth, and segregates the network. It also maintains the authentication process in the compass solution, which is good regarding multiple software."

"Cisco Wireless is one of the more stable products so their products are scalable."

"Wireless connectivity is the main feature. It is also securely integrated with ISE, which is valuable because, in the banking industry, we also cover the security aspect. This Wi-Fi controller integrates with the ISE system that we have. Every user that comes on the wireless needs to log in with the domain. If they don't, it will not allow the user to join the network. This is the key feature of this solution."

"Cisco is one of the leading brands, particularly in the commercial sector. Other brands such as Extreme, cater to different categories at lower levels. Cisco maintains a comprehensive product range across all levels and excels in comparison to other networking sites. They also boast a team of highly qualified professionals, a feature that sets them apart from competitors like Netgear, which lacks such expertise."

"I've found it to be quite secure."

More Cisco Wireless pros

Cons

"It needs to be faster in order to process and transmit bigger packets."

"Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar's radio management side could be improved."

"The current implementation of our Guest Access network in isolation for Express mode is very complicated in comparison with leading market solutions."

"Most customers are asking for an on-premises hardware architecture while it is available as a software-based architecture."

"If the customers plan to go on the cloud side, they need encryption and daily communications from a security perspective."

"It is not possible to integrate Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar with third-party software like Opera, a property management system (PMS)."

"There are occasional OS bugs."

"I would prefer to have the integrated heat map feature provided by the basic controller in the Solution instead of purchasing an external one. Accessing this capability directly within the controller's access point would be convenient."

More Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar cons

"Meraki leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the technical capabilities in terms of throughput, spectrum, management, higher-level functions, etc"

"The integration options with third-party applications need enhancement."

"It would be useful to have a service management platform integrated within this solution where we can measure the customer experience."

"Meraki should share their viability roadmap. It is really hard to know which functionality will appear or when they will be available. It is also hard to know which features are available now but are not visible on the dashboard."

"The product's pricing needs improvement."

"The product's coverage area could be expanded. It would help ensure better connectivity."

"It lags a bit in providing reports for Wi-Fi performance."

"If you lose connectivity with the controller, your Wi-Fi network is immediately impacted."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons

"Cisco is costlier relative to other solutions."

"It's very scalable, but when you shift gears sometimes, you have to do more work than people anticipate."

"The price could be improved."

"It's expensive."

"Their software's really clunky."

"The main concern is the length and overlapping. We have to put on four to six access points on the same floor, and we face the issue of overlapping areas. If Cisco can extend the range of their indoor APs, we would need to install just one or two access points, and it would eliminate the problem of the overlapping area."

"It would be better if some utility lets us know the best place to install the system. Every time we install it, we have to change it, and we have to add more access points. This is a problem we have all the time. It would be better if it integrated seamlessly with products from other vendors. It'll also help if they included a device diagnostics feature in the next release."

"The reporting tool in Cisco Wireless could improve. If I am trying to receive information about a client or user, it's cumbersome to retrieve the information on the controller system. If I'm trying to find out where a client's been, it's cumbersome. You need another tool for Historical logs, but it should be all in one."

More Cisco Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"At times, it appears that the solution's pricing is slightly higher. This makes it challenging to persuade customers who primarily focus on the price."

"It's pricey, but better than similar solutions."

"The tool is cost-effective, according to our sales team's feedback."

"The price is in the range of other brands like Cisco, maybe a little cheaper but you get the same features, facilities, and security. Licensing is something Alcatel is making changes to. A few years ago you would buy a WLAN solution from Alcatel for half the price of Cisco, but you would spend the same amount on licensing. Today this is different and the licensing is cheaper."

"The price of this product is average and it is a one-time, perpetual license."

"We find the price comparable to other products on the market."

"Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar is a mid-range solution with respect to pricing."

"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a seven out of ten."

"The product is expensive. I rate the pricing a nine out of ten."

"As is always the case, the price could be better, although I do not recall exactly how much this comes out to."

"Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is not a reasonably priced product for home use. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is a reasonably priced product for enterprise-sized businesses."

"We pay licensing fees."

"The solution is overpriced and more expensive than Hauwei."

"Higher subscription fee may be necessary if extra features are required."

"We are on a SmartNet contract. All of our Cisco products are licensed under one contract. I do not think there are any additional costs."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice

"I feel the product's pricing is a good value."

"The pricing is high. It could be cheaper."

"It is an expensive solution."

"There is a need to renew the licenses for Cisco Wireless every three years. My company needs to pay around 25 percent of the budget meant for the tools we purchase towards the price of Cisco Wireless."

"Users have to pay a yearly licensing fee for Cisco Wireless."

"From a pricing point of view, it's a little bit expensive compared to competitors like Aruba and others."

"The solution does not come with a licensing fee."

"The licensing system is very rigid. I work for a school and we are just treated like big companies. At some point, there's a limit to what we can do about that."

More Cisco Wireless pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user212721

President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Mar 24, 2015

Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions

Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

12%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

18%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar?

The solution allows you to see the SNMP packets, the DPI packets, and the SNMP server.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar?

The tool is cost-effective, according to our sales team's feedback.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar?

Most customers are asking for an on-premises hardware architecture while it is available as a software-based architec...

See all answers

What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?

Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they h...

See all answers

Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to...

See all answers

How does Ruckus Wireless compare to Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are...

See all answers

Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?

Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user frie...

See all answers

How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?

On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Cisco Wireless?

Cisco Wireless improves mobility and flexibility. The only case we are working on is with hospitals, focusing on the ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar

Compared 33% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar

Compared 20% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar

Compared 18% of the time

More Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 32% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 14% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 11% of the time

Ubiquiti Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 6% of the time

Mist AI and Cloud vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 27% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 27% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 7% of the time

NETGEAR Insight Access Points vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 1% of the time

More Cisco Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar

June 2025

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar report

Download Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

June 2025

Download Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless

June 2025

Download Cisco Wireless product report

Also Known As

Alcatel Lucent OmniAccess Stellar, OmniAccess Stellar

MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN

Cisco WLAN Controller

Overview

The Alcatel-Lucent OmniAcces WLAN Switch/controller product family provides the industry's strongest integrated security feature set with a comprehensive line of WLAN switch/controllers, each designed for a specific environment such as the enterprise campus, building or branch office environments.

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

Cisco Meraki access points are built from the highest grade components and carefully optimized for a seamless user experience. The outcome: faster connections, greater user capacity, more coverage, and fewer support calls. The Cisco Meraki dashboard gives visibility into the network users, their devices, and their applications. Armed with rich analytics, administrators can quickly create access control and application usage policies, optimizing both the end-user experience and network security.

Cisco

Cisco Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.

Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.

What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?

High-Density Performance: Optimized for environments with a high number of devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and performance.
Advanced Security: Incorporates robust security measures such as WPA3, Secure Boot, and segmentation to protect data and devices.
Seamless Roaming: Enables uninterrupted connectivity as users move across different areas within the network.
Centralized Management: Cisco DNA Center provides a single pane of glass for managing and automating wireless networks, enhancing operational efficiency.
Flexible Deployment Options: Supports various deployment models, including on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid solutions.

What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?

Improved Mobility and Productivity: Users often highlight how Cisco Wireless enhances user mobility and productivity through reliable and consistent connectivity.
Scalability: Reviews frequently mention the scalability of Cisco Wireless, making it suitable for growing businesses.
Ease of Management: Many users appreciate the centralized management capabilities, which simplify network administration and troubleshooting.
Enhanced Security: The advanced security features are often noted for providing peace of mind and compliance with industry standards.
User Experience: The overall user experience, including ease of use and seamless integration with other Cisco products, is a common point of praise.

Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.

Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.

In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Mineola School District

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)

Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ruckus, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN. Updated: June 2025.

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