WLPC 2025 Recap: Where Hundreds of Wi-Fi Geeks Unite

Since 2014, there has been one conference that stands out as truly unique in the IT world—the Wireless LAN Professionals Conference (WLPC). This is not your typical vendor-driven tech event. Instead, it’s a gathering of Wi-Fi professionals, by Wi-Fi professionals, where every attendee is a self-proclaimed Wi-Fi geek. And yes, I use that term with great affection because I am one myself! 

Every year, I eagerly jump on a plane to attend this event and reconnect with my fellow Wi-Fi enthusiasts. WLPC is a conference built for learning, sharing, and growing together in the field of wireless networking. This year, the Phoenix edition marked the 11th anniversary of the conference, and as always, it was an unforgettable experience. 

What makes WLPC so unique? 

WLPC is the brain-child of Keith Parsons, a Wi-Fi industry veteran who originally created the event because he loved the topic and wanted to bring like-minded professionals together. It didn’t take long before others with the same passion for designing, deploying, and troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks flocked to the event. And so, WLPC was born.

It happens every February in Phoenix, Arizona, and every October in Prague, Czech Republic, for the European version. In recent years, it’s even expanded into Latin America, where the sessions are conducted entirely in Spanish. No matter where it’s held, the heart of WLPC remains the same—it’s all about learning, sharing, and having fun with fellow Wi-Fi pros. 

A learning conference, not a sales pitch 

Unlike many IT conferences that feel like giant sales expos, crammed with vendor booths and endless marketing pitches, WLPC is refreshingly different. This event isn’t about flashy product launches or scripted demos—it’s about real education, real conversations, and learning. 

Yes, networking vendors are present, and many of them actively participate in discussions. But there’s an unspoken rule at WLPC: leave the sales pitch at the door. What matters here are the presentations, the deep-dive technical discussions, and the hands-on learning sessions that help Wi-Fi professionals sharpen their skills. And let’s not forget the countless impromptu conversations that spark in the hallways, during meals, and late into the evening over a cold drink. Some of the most valuable knowledge transfers don’t happen on stage—they happen in those candid, off-the-cuff moments when passionate professionals come together to exchange ideas and debate the future of Wi-Fi. 

And here’s the best part: even if you can’t attend in person, you don’t have to miss out. Every WLPC session is recorded and made available for free on YouTube after the event. No paywalls, no exclusive access, just pure, open knowledge-sharing for the entire Wi-Fi community. Whether you’re sitting in the front row in Phoenix or watching from your laptop halfway across the world, WLPC makes sure that everyone has a chance to learn and grow. 

So, how do you get a chance to present at WLPC? 

Each year, Wi-Fi professionals from around the world submit proposals to speak at WLPC, hoping to share their knowledge with the community. But with so many compelling topics and limited speaking slots, competition is fierce. The community itself plays a direct role in shaping the WLPC agenda. Each year, the call for votes is announced on Twitter, and the voting process takes place on SurveyMonkey, where Wi-Fi professionals cast their votes for the topics they find most interesting and valuable. This community-driven approach ensures that the sessions on the main stage reflect the subjects that matter most to the people who live and breathe Wi-Fi every day.

Typically, only about 40% of the submissions are selected for live presentations, but WLPC doesn’t let great content go to waste. Those who don’t make the main stage still get the chance to record “spotlight sessions”—pre-recorded presentations that are also uploaded to YouTube, ensuring that every valuable insight finds its audience. 

My time on stage 

I’ve had the honor of presenting at multiple WLPC events over the years, and I was thrilled to be back again for WLPC 2025. This time, I gave a 30-minute session on Next-Generation Spectrum Analysis and how generative AI tools like ChatGPT can help take Wi-Fi troubleshooting to the next level. 

A huge thanks to my good friend Karl Benedict, a top-notch solutions architect at Extreme Networks, who helped me put this presentation together. It was great to explore how AI is starting to play a bigger role in wireless diagnostics and optimization—a topic I expect we’ll be talking a lot more about in the near future. 

Presentation highlights from WLPC 2025

This year in Phoenix, nearly 400 attendees came together, and 12% of them stepped up to the podium to present on a topic they’re passionate about. The sessions, which range from 10 to 30 minutes, move fast, keeping the energy high and the content diverse 

My favorite presentation was Jerry Olla’s session on Wi-Fi device roaming—a deep dive into how client devices make roaming decisions.   

Another big eye-opener for me personally was Jake Snyder’s talk on MBSSID.

Peter Mackenzie, is always a fan favorite, and his Protocol Junkie presentation delivered as promised. 

And, of course, I have to give a shoutout to Extreme Networks’ very own Rosalie Bibona, who delivered an eye-opening session on the challenges of building enterprise-grade access points. It was a fresh topic that resonated well with the audience. 

🎥 View the full WLPC 2025 YouTube playlist here: Watch Now 

Exciting new free tools for the Wi-Fi community 

WLPC isn’t just about presentations—it’s also a place where groundbreaking new tools and resources for the Wi-Fi community are unveiled. This year, two major announcements caught everyone’s attention, both offering free, powerful online tools designed to enhance how Wi-Fi professionals learn, analyze, and troubleshoot networks.

First, François Vergès took the stage to introduce an ambitious new project: a crowd-sourced Wi-Fi client database. This online resource, available at https://clients.semfio-apps.com aims to compile real-world data on Wi-Fi clients, helping engineers and IT pros better understand the behavior, capabilities, and quirks of various devices in real-world deployments. With Wi-Fi troubleshooting often revolving around client behavior, having access to a shared database like this could be a game-changer for the industry. 

Another major announcement came from Joel Crane, who, even though he wasn’t in attendance this year, still managed to make a big impact. His latest web app, a free spectrum visualization tool, was unveiled to the community, and it’s already generating buzz.  Available at https://spectrum.potatofi.com, this tool offers an intuitive and interactive way to visualize Wi-Fi spectrum activity, making it a fantastic learning resource for both newcomers and seasoned professionals. 

Deep dives: Hands-on learning at its best 

One of the most anticipated parts of WLPC is the Deep Dive sessions—three-hour hands-on learning experiences that let attendees work directly with the latest tools and technologies. This year, people got hands-on with LoRaWAN IoT sensors, Flipper Zero multi-tool geek devices, WLAN Pi tools, and even airborne drones for Wi-Fi surveys. 

The hands-on nature of these Deep Dive sessions is what makes them so valuable. It’s one thing to hear about these technologies—it’s another to actually use them and understand their real-world capabilities. This is what WLPC is all about—learning, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with wireless networking. 

It’s all about the people

At the end of the day, what makes WLPC truly special isn’t just the presentations or the gadgets—it’s the people. For me, this conference is an annual family reunion, where I get to catch up with colleagues, I’ve known for 25+ years, as well as meet new faces who are just as passionate about Wi-Fi as I am. 

Some of the best moments at WLPC happen outside the sessions—in the hallways, at lunch, or during evening social events. Those spontaneous conversations, debates, and idea exchanges are just as important as anything that happens on stage. And that’s what makes WLPC feel like more than just another conference. It’s a community. 

Why you should be there next year 

If you’re into Wi-Fi—whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out—WLPC is the place to be. It’s an event where you’ll learn, connect, and grow alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry. 

So, start making plans now. Mark your calendar. Book your flight. And get ready for an unforgettable experience. You can learn more about WLPC at www.wlanpros.com.

See you next year!