Open Wi-Fi Isn't Experimental.

It's Inevitable.

By Doron Givoni, Shasta Cloud Co-Founder & CTO 

 Let’s be honest, “open networking” sounds like one of those buzzwords that either means everything… or absolutely nothing.

Is it just another way to say “do it yourself”?
Is it actually reliable?
And if it’s so great, why hasn’t everyone switched already?

These are the questions I’ve heard for years, and they’re exactly why I’m excited to talk about OpenWiFi and OpenLAN.

What started as a small industry initiative has quietly evolved into something that could reshape enterprise and campus networking as we know it. And no, it’s not a half-baked science project. It’s very real, and it’s solving real problems. 

From Closed to Open: Why It Matters

Back when I helped bootstrap OpenWiFi at Meta, the mission was simple: challenge the decades-old model that still dominates networking today.

If you’ve worked with legacy systems, you know the drill. Buy the hardware, use their OS, subscribe to their cloud. You don’t get a lot of say in the matter. It’s rigid, expensive, and hasn’t kept pace with how networks are actually built and used in today’s world.

With OpenLAN and OpenWiFi, that script gets flipped. You get:

• Choice in hardware and software.
• Factory-direct pricing to reduce bloated hardware costs.
• No more vendor lock-in.
• Performance equal to brand-name boxes.

Same silicon. Same specs. Better economics. Full stop.

But Isn’t “Open” Just a DIY Headache?

Nope.

Let’s bust a myth right now: Open doesn’t mean harder.

It’s not about rolling your own solution or hiring an army of engineers. Open is about freedom without the extra work. At Shasta, we’ve built on top of open frameworks to deliver reliable, high-performance networking without the monolithic baggage. You get the benefits of openness with the ease of a turnkey system.

This is about freedom without the fuss. 

The Real Shift: Software, Not Speeds

For years, hardware was king. Now? It’s all about what happens behind the scenes.

With hardware commoditized, the real differentiator is the software experience—automation, smarter decisions, and streamlined deployment. It’s about how easily you can touch tens of millions of buildings, not just Fortune 500 HQs. 

What’s Next

The big players have had their run. The future belongs to those who:

• Build on open
• Automate everything
• Create solutions that actually make sense for the people using them

We’re proud to be part of the shift, and we’re just getting started.

Stay tuned,

Doron Givoni
OpenWi-Fi Grandfather 

Up Next on The Shasta Summit... 

 We’re diving into tariffs, taxes, and why supply chains are bending but not breaking. Ron’s got the scoop, and trust us, you’ll want to hear it. 
👉 Follow us on LinkedIn for more.