Extreme Networks: Security, Trust & AI in Venue Networks

At MWC 2026 in Barcelona, Extreme Networks' CTO, EMEA Markus Nispel outlined how Platform One addresses critical security challenges in high-density environments, from stadium networks to enterprise infrastructures, through AI-driven threat protection and robust network segmentation.

At the core of Platform One's security capabilities lies a fundamentally reimagined data architecture built specifically to support AI and agentic workflows.

"Platform One was designed and created from scratch to support AI and agentic workflows specifically," Markus says. "This really starts from bottom up with a clean data architecture."

Markus notes that the company re-architected its entire data pipeline end to end, creating a secure foundation that could feed into AI effectively while maintaining visibility and control across millions of network devices and tens of millions of endpoints.

This approach leverages years of cloud security experience, enabling AI-driven threat detection to scale seamlessly across complex network environments.

High-density environments demand robust security

Stadium Wi-Fi and 5G networks present unique challenges beyond typical connectivity concerns.

Extreme user density creates not only interference and bandwidth bottlenecks but also expands the attack surface exponentially. Each connected device represents a potential vulnerability that threat actors could exploit.

Extreme Networks began addressing these security challenges when it started working with stadiums in the US – mainly for the NFL – in 2013. The company has since expanded its secure connectivity solutions to other sporting leagues in the US and now Europe.

Now deploying its solutions at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, Extreme Networks is demonstrating how security architecture must evolve for high-density environments.

"It's a combination of art, science and experience to serve 50,000 or 100,000 fans in a stadium – it's not easy," Markus says.

"The design and architecture is critically important. We’re using AI to optimise the RF environment and to deliver a unique experience to fans in the stadium itself."

Extreme Networks' secure Wi-Fi technology is being deployed at stadiums hosting England and Scotland's group games at the 2026 World Cup.

These implementations showcase how security can be maintained without compromising user experience.

From car parks to turnstiles, the network must secure digital ticketing transactions, protect payment data for mobile food and drink ordering and safeguard the personal data of fans sharing photos and videos across the network – all while maintaining performance in packed 65,000-seat stadiums in locations including the Gillette Stadium in Boston and Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

Network segmentation is mission-critical

The sheer scale of stadium deployments brings into sharp focus the cybersecurity imperative. With tens of thousands of fans, team members and operational staff connected simultaneously, the number of endpoints creates a complex threat landscape where security cannot be an afterthought.

"Stadiums are tricky because they are dense environments," Markus says.

"The technology we've deployed in the last few years allows us to segment the network infrastructure effectively – because you not only have fans at the stadium that you're connecting, but you also have the operational technology of the stadium itself from press to other various teams."

This segmentation approach creates distinct security zones, isolating operational technology from public-facing fan networks. The architecture integrates with security monitoring tools for real-time threat response, creating multiple layers of defence.

"Segmentation has to be able to integrate with security monitoring tools for threat response. That is our solution to that problem," Markus says.

The data flowing through these segmented networks enables both performance optimisation and security analytics. "It's all about the data that the network is producing," Markus says. Network-generated data provides insights into potential security incidents, allowing teams to identify unusual patterns that could indicate threats while optimising the flow of crowds within venues.

Transparency builds trust in AI security

For security teams deploying AI-driven tools, explainability and transparency have become non-negotiable requirements. Markus reemphasises this principle as fundamental to gaining user trust and driving adoption of AI-powered security systems.

"Explainability is critically important as we look at using AI for network operations," Markus says. "Trust drives adoption, and you can only gain the trust of your users using those tools with transparency."

Within Platform One, Extreme exposes all of the reasoning and planning that its agents execute to users, allowing security teams to understand precisely how decisions are being made.

"This allows the user to action their own approval in a human-in-the-loop type of setting. This means humans are always in control, but with the knowledge and the transparency on how an agentic system came to that result," Markus says.

This transparency becomes particularly crucial when AI systems are making security-related decisions that could affect network access, threat response or incident mitigation.

Security professionals need to verify the logic behind automated actions, especially in environments where false positives could disrupt operations for thousands of users.

When it comes to deploying agentic AI for security operations, Markus urges senior tech leaders to identify specific use cases where AI can address genuine security challenges.

"You should think about how to use AI to create new experiences. It's not just about automation and efficiency, but how can you leverage the technology to do something unique," Markus says.

He encourages the conversations on AI to move beyond theoretical discussions. "Don't just talk about AI, experience it," Markus says. "Use it in your private life and your business life alike because we're at a huge inflexion point that is changing not only the networking industry, but society and humanity."