What Does Enterprise Networking Actually Cost?
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What does enterprise networking actually cost? We'll spare you from the"contact sales for pricing" line. Here's the real model.
Most networking vendors won't tell you what anything costs until you've sat through a call. That's backwards! Pricing shouldn't be the thing you have to earn access to.
We partner with Meter - a Visionary in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure to bring a better way. Here's the actual model.
How it's priced Meter runs on a flat, predictable monthly fee, based on the square footage of your site(s).
That single fee covers:
- All hardware - firewalls, switches, access points, and power distribution - and their future upgrades
- The software layer that manages, monitors, and secures the network
- Design, deployment and ongoing around the clock support
- Optional managed internet, where circuits are sourced and managed directly with carriers on your behalf
Two options for structuring your solution
- Subscription (most common): zero upfront capital spend - hardware, software, and support are bundled into one OpEx line
- Capital lease: if you'd rather own the hardware outright, that option exists too - same software and support model, different ownership structure
What it replaces The honest comparison isn't "Meter's fee vs. zero." It's Meter's fee vs. the sum of what most teams are already paying without realising it:
| Cost | Fragmented Model | Meter |
| Hardware | Capital purchase, refreshed every 5–7 years | Included in monthly fee |
| Software/management platform | Often a separate license | Included |
| MSP/support retainer | Separate ongoing cost | Included |
| Who you call when something breaks | Depends which vendor | Meter - available 24/7 |
Most teams are surprised how close (or how much lower!) the flat fee comes out once every one of those line items is actually added up.
A few honest answers to the questions people usually ask next:
- Is there a long contract? Terms vary by scope, but the model is built around predictability, not lock-in for its own sake - ask for specifics against your footprint.
- What if hardware fails? As the hardware is owned by Meter, it's their responsibility to replace and maintain it. There's no additional charge for this - it's part of the fee.
- Is installation included? Yes - deployment and setup are part of the service, not billed as a standalone project.
→ Next: see how this actually compares to DIY, a Service Integrator setup, or a traditional MSP.
