Cisco Catalyst 9136I Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Indoor Access Point

The Cisco Catalyst 9136I is a next-generation enterprise access point engineered to unleash the power of Wi-Fi 6E in indoor environments. Designed to thrive in high-density spaces such as campuses, airports, enterprises, and modern office floors, this tri-band AP extends your wireless capabilities with the new 6-GHz band. It delivers faster speeds, lower latency, and smarter performance by leveraging three frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) to accommodate more devices, reduce interference, and optimize client experiences. Built for resilience and security, the 9136I integrates Cisco’s proven reliability with intelligent, cloud-ready management to simplify deployment and ongoing operations at scale.

• Wi‑Fi 6E tri-band performance: Access the revolutionary 6 GHz band alongside traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, delivering significantly higher capacity and less congestion in dense environments. The 9136I enables seamless roaming for bog-standard laptops, smartphones, IoT devices, and next‑gen endpoints, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted connectivity.
• Enterprise-grade security and resilience: Built to meet the demands of mission-critical networks, with robust encryption, advanced authentication, and integrated threat mitigation. The AP supports modern security standards to protect sensitive business data while providing secure guest access and network segmentation.
• Scalable, intelligent management: Designed to work with Cisco DNA Center and related management platforms, offering centralized provisioning, policy-based access, real-time analytics, and automated firmware updates. This enables IT teams to deploy, monitor, and optimize hundreds or thousands of APs with ease.
• High-density capacity for modern workplaces: Optimized to handle high client density, IoT deployments, and high-bandwidth applications—from video conferencing to collaborative tools—without sacrificing performance for individual users.
• Indoor-ready design with flexible deployment: Engineered for indoor environments with secure mounting options, PoE support, and a compact form factor that blends into office ceilings and walls while delivering reliable coverage across large open spaces and complex floor plans.

Technical Details of Cisco Catalyst 9136I

• Wireless standards: IEEE 802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6), backward compatible with 802.11ac/n/g/b/a devices, and optimized for Wi‑Fi 6E operation on the 6 GHz band.
• Frequency bands: Tri-band support across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and the new 6 GHz (Wi‑Fi 6E) spectrum for expansive capacity and reduced interference.
• Maximum data rate: Theoretical aggregate speeds up to 10.2 Gbps, enabling high‑bandwidth workloads, streaming, and rapid file transfers across a crowded environment.
• Antenna configuration: Advanced antenna system designed to deliver robust coverage, with support for modern MU‑MIMO and OFDMA techniques to maximize spectral efficiency in dense deployments.
• Security features: Enterprise-grade security with WPA3, 802.1X authentication, and integrated security policies to protect users, devices, and data across the wireless network.
• Management and orchestration: Compatibility with Cisco DNA Center and related management ecosystems for streamlined provisioning, policy enforcement, analytics, and automated firmware updates.
• Power and connectivity: Power over Ethernet (PoE) support (including PoE+ on compatible switches) for flexible deployment without local power sources; standard network connectivity via Ethernet.
• Deployment intent: Indoor deployment optimized for enterprise environments, with secure mounting options for ceilings or walls and resilience against environmental factors typical of modern offices and campuses.

How to install Cisco Catalyst 9136I

• Plan your deployment by mapping coverage areas, identifying high‑density zones, and determining optimal AP locations to minimize interference and maximize client capacity.
• Choose mounting options appropriate for your space—ceiling-mount or wall-mount—using the included brackets, anchors, and hardware designed for secure indoor installation.
• Connect the Catalyst 9136I to a PoE+ capable switch or power injector to supply power and network connectivity through a single Ethernet cable, simplifying cabling and reducing clutter.
• Power on the AP and perform an initial network discovery using Cisco DNA Center, or the chosen Cisco management platform, to provision the device, apply baseline policies, and assign the appropriate SSIDs and VLANs.
• Configure security settings, including WPA3 encryption, user authentication methods (802.1X or captive portal for guests), and network segmentation to protect sensitive data and ensure compliant access controls.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the Cisco Catalyst 9136I? It is an enterprise indoor Tri‑Band Wireless Access Point that supports Wi‑Fi 6E (including the 6 GHz band) and delivers high capacity, security, and intelligent management for large and dense networks.
• Does the 9136I support Wi‑Fi 6E? Yes. The 6 GHz band is part of its tri‑band design, enabling greater channel width, more simultaneous clients, and improved performance in crowded environments.
• What deployment scenarios is it best suited for? The 9136I is ideal for offices, campuses, healthcare facilities, retail spaces, airports, and other high‑density environments where reliable coverage, low latency, and secure access are critical.
• What management tools work with this AP? Cisco DNA Center and compatible Cisco management platforms are designed to provision, monitor, and optimize Catalyst 9136I deployments, with analytics, firmware management, and policy enforcement baked in.
• What kind of security features does it include? It includes enterprise-grade security with modern encryption, 802.1X authentication options, and support for secure guest access, helping to maintain a strong security posture across the wireless network.