Inside ASUS’s Vision for Smarter Connectivity: Will Hsu on IoT Innovation at GITEX 2025
From Edge AI to WiFi 7: ASUS reimagines networking for a connected, sustainable future in the Gulf, showcases innovative solutions at GITEX 2025
At GITEX Global 2025, ASUS demonstrated its growing influence in the IoT and networking space with a showcase that bridged innovation and real-world application. From the portable 5G-GO router to advanced enterprise solutions like the QG series switches and BQ16 mesh system, ASUS reaffirmed its commitment to powering the next generation of intelligent connectivity. In this exclusive conversation with Will Hsu, EMEA Territory Product Manager at ASUS, we discuss how the brand is redefining IoT infrastructure for the Middle East. He shares insights into the company’s design philosophy, product roadmap, and strategic direction—highlighting how ASUS is shaping a connected, AI-empowered, and sustainable digital future across the Gulf region and beyond.
Q1 - ASUS has showcased a strong IoT / networking line at GITEX, including 5G-GO, RT-BE58 Go, QG-U1080, QG-U1050, BQ16, and GT-BE19000AI. From your perspective, how do these devices differentiate themselves in the highly competitive MENA market—especially versus local or regional vendors?
ASUS’s core strength lies in its ability to integrate connectivity across diverse scenarios. Rather than focusing on standalone devices, we center our ecosystem around the AiMesh intelligent networking system, seamlessly combining wired and wireless, indoor and outdoor, home and business environments into a unified and scalable network architecture. Through this approach, ASUS delivers a consistent, stable, and seamless connectivity experience that extends from home entertainment to professional applications.
What truly sets ASUS apart is our focus on modular design and long-term adaptability. We recognise that the MENA region is evolving rapidly, with hybrid workplaces, smart cities, and 5G rollouts demanding interoperable systems. ASUS’s IoT and networking solutions—such as the RT-BE58 Go and 5G-GO—bridge consumer-grade ease of use with enterprise-grade reliability. Our products are engineered to support multiple WAN failovers and to integrate easily with both AI and cloud management platforms. This end-to-end, ecosystem-first strategy enables ASUS to serve not only tech enthusiasts and small businesses but also industrial and governmental sectors that require performance, security, and scalability.
Q2 - In what verticals or use cases (e.g. remote work, pop-up retail, oil & gas field connectivity) do you see ASUS pushing 5G-GO in the EMEA region, particularly in the Gulf?
In the EMEA region, particularly across the Gulf, ASUS 5G-GO MiFi is positioned for sectors that demand secure, high-speed, and mobile connectivity in dynamic environments. For oil & gas fields, construction sites, and logistics fleets, its external antennas and IP51 durability ensure stable 5G links under harsh outdoor conditions. Remote professionals and business travellers benefit from WiFi 7 speeds up to 6.5 Gbps, global 5G/4G roaming in 232 countries, and VPN protocols like WireGuard and IPSec for secure work sessions. Event organisers and pop-up retailers can use Ethernet tethering or mesh bridging to deploy broadband networks instantly. The 6030 mAh battery with QC4.0/PD fast charging provides all-day uptime, while OpenWrt compatibility allows system integrators to customise features for enterprise monitoring or smart-city use.
Beyond mobility, 5G-GO also plays a key role in enabling the deployment of smart infrastructure. It can act as a portable network hub for temporary IoT networks, supporting surveillance cameras, environmental sensors, or pop-up kiosks at exhibitions and outdoor events. Its combination of portability and enterprise security makes it ideal for remote connectivity in education, healthcare, and disaster recovery scenarios—sectors that are becoming increasingly data-driven in the region. Ultimately, 5G-GO is not just a travel router; it’s a compact yet capable networking backbone designed for industries that need fast deployment and uncompromising uptime across challenging terrains.
Q3 - For business travellers, remote workers, or SMEs in the Gulf, what value proposition does RT-BE58 Go bring that earlier WiFi generations or standard routers couldn’t deliver?
The ASUS RT-BE58 Go offers unmatched flexibility with tri-mode connectivity (Router, WISP, Mobile Tethering), USB-C power support, and a compact design perfect for travel. It supports WiFi 7 for ultra-fast, stable connections and includes built-in VPN support—ideal for business users who need secure remote access. With a one-click switch between Home and Travel modes, users can easily use it as an AiMesh node at home or take it on the go without reconfiguration. Whether used as a primary or backup internet source, it ensures reliable, secure connectivity across any environment, making it a powerful tool for productivity and mobility in the Gulf region.
What differentiates the RT-BE58 Go further is its ability to deliver performance in a portable form factor. Many small businesses and digital nomads in the Gulf operate across co-working spaces, airports, and field locations, where public networks can be unreliable or unsafe. RT-BE58 Go bridges that gap by offering 3600 Mbps tri-band throughput, simultaneous VPN tunnelling, and advanced QoS prioritisation. Combined with its AiMesh compatibility, it becomes a multi-role device—serving as a travel companion, a secure edge node for SMEs, and a home or office extension for seamless roaming. This flexibility reflects ASUS’s commitment to empowering professionals to stay connected, protected, and productive anywhere they operate.
Q4 - Could you walk us through the intended roles and distinctions between QG-U1080 and QG-U1050 in your IoT portfolio?
The ASUS QG-U1050 and QG-U1080 bring enterprise-grade networking to small and micro businesses with simple, hardware-based control. The QG-U1050 offers five 2.5 Gbps ports, ideal for small studios or offices, while the QG-U1080 expands to eight 2.5 Gbps ports plus two 10 Gbps SFP+ uplinks for heavier data and WiFi 7 backhaul. With easy slide-switch activation, users can enable QoS Priority for smoother video calls, Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) to save power, Port Isolation for security between devices, and Static Trunk to boost bandwidth for NAS or server links. These features deliver reliable, high-speed performance tailored to cafés, retailers, and creative workspaces.
Both switches are designed to simplify professional-grade networking without requiring complex management software. While the QG-U1050 focuses on flexibility and efficiency for smaller setups, the QG-U1080 targets users who need higher bandwidth aggregation and network segmentation. They share ASUS’s design philosophy—performance without complexity. Their silent, fanless operation and metal casing make them durable even in 24/7 environments. When combined with ASUS AiMesh routers, these switches help create fully optimised hybrid networks that support cloud storage, media editing, and IoT systems—all with minimal latency and power consumption.
Q5 - The BQ16 is part of the showcased lineup. Can you explain its role—whether as a sensor hub, edge controller, or communications node—and how it integrates with the rest of ASUS’s IoT / networking offerings in real deployments?
The BQ16 is a high-performance mesh router designed for users who need both strong WiFi and ultra-fast wired connectivity. With dual 10G ports, it can act as a network backbone or a central hub for demanding applications like 8K streaming or smart surveillance. It integrates seamlessly into the ASUS AiMesh ecosystem, creating a unified and reliable network across large spaces. When paired with our QG series IoT gateways, the BQ16 becomes an edge hub that connects IoT devices and cloud services in one intelligent network.
Beyond performance, the BQ16 also exemplifies ASUS’s vision of converged connectivity. In large homes and hospitality venues, BQ16 ensures consistent throughput and centralised control. For IoT deployments, it acts as a coordination layer—managing device communications, aggregating data, and relaying it securely to the cloud. The combination of 10G wired backbone, WiFi 7 wireless speed, and AiProtection Pro security makes BQ16 a powerful networking anchor for next-generation digital infrastructure.
Q6 - ASUS’s networking IoT devices don’t exist in isolation. Could you describe how they interact with cloud infrastructure, AI/ML stacks, or management platforms (e.g. orchestration, monitoring, firmware updates)?
ASUS integrates AI at both the edge and the cloud. Edge AI handles privacy-sensitive tasks locally — such as traffic optimisation and quick user responses — without sending personal data to the cloud. Cloud AI focuses on non-privacy-related, compute-intensive work like threat intelligence and network analytics, then updates routers with new security signatures. This balance keeps our network smart, secure, and privacy-aware.
Expanding on this, ASUS employs a hybrid management ecosystem that gives enterprises and users flexibility over control and data sovereignty. Our cloud platforms, such as ASUS Router and ASUS Business Manager, offer real-time visibility into network performance, firmware health, and connected devices. Meanwhile, the AI stack performs predictive maintenance, intrusion prevention, and energy efficiency modelling. Firmware updates are distributed seamlessly through secure cloud channels, ensuring up-to-date protection without user disruption. In environments requiring compliance or on-premise operation, ASUS devices can also be integrated with private cloud or third-party monitoring tools. This layered integration allows enterprises to achieve smarter automation, centralised orchestration, and adaptive protection across distributed networks.
Q7 - Looking ahead beyond what has been on display at GITEX, what is ASUS’s roadmap or vision for the next generation of IoT / networking devices?
We see three main directions for the next generation of ASUS networking and IoT devices: AI integration — using AI for smarter optimisation, security, and automation; WiFi 8 technology — enabling more stable, faster, and lower-latency connectivity; and compact design — creating smaller, more power-efficient products without sacrificing performance.
As the network landscape evolves, our focus will be on intelligent convergence—combining AI, 5G, and cloud capabilities in unified architectures. We envision networking hardware that not only connects but learns: routers that self-heal, switches that adapt to traffic behaviour, and IoT devices that optimise themselves based on predictive insights. Sustainability will also play a major role, with energy-efficient components and modular designs that reduce electronic waste. For enterprise clients, the roadmap includes expanded integration with AI Factory and Professional Services to provide holistic, turnkey solutions—from infrastructure planning to deployment and lifecycle management. Our goal is to make ASUS synonymous with intelligent, adaptive, and sustainable networking solutions for the connected decade ahead.
Comments