Candela Tech Summit – Chennai

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Candela Tech Summit, CTS2026

I’m back from Candela Tech Summit Chennai 2026, another outstanding Wi-Fi conference in India. This was my second time attending a conference in India in 2026. Once again, I was impressed by the quality of the event, the insightful discussions, and the vibrant wireless community. If you couldn’t make it, here’s a short recap video highlighting my experience.

We had a full day of insightful 20–30 minute presentations (12 in total) from wireless professionals across the Wi‑Fi community. If you missed the live-streamed sessions, I highly encourage you to watch the recordings, as they are packed with valuable knowledge, practical insights, and real-world experience. Below is the list of presentations from the event.

From RF Chaos to Wi-Fi Excellence (Designing Wi-Fi for MDU) by Shivam Thakur (HPE-Juniper)
Target Wake Time : The Best Battery Feature Nobody Use by Susinder Gulasekaran (Swinnovate)
Edge AI and WiFi APs by Prem Thilagar (QualComm)
Pinning down the Wi-Fi frames in Linux wireless stack by Babu Subash
The Invisible Threat: Non-Wi-Fi Interference Exposed by Rasika Nayanajith
Grounding LLMs with Wi-Fi Graph RAG and PCAP Logics by Srihari & Sruthik (HPE-Aruba)
Moore’s Law Met WiFi, and WiFi Won’t Shut Up About It by Sudharshan Vasudevan (Netgear)
Unlocking Wi-Fi 7:The Real-World State of Client Security by Vijayalakshmi (Arista)
Large-scale Campus Wi-Fi Deployment: A Case Study by Tushar Nautiyal (HFCL)
Wi-Fi HaLow: Field-Proven Long-Range, Low-Power Wi-Fi for IoT by Predeep Reddy (Morse Micro)
Smarter Indoor Tracking with WiFi: Accurate Location with Lower Battery Use by Yamini (IIT Madras)
Autonomous Wi-Fi Testing: Why AI Needs the Expert in the Loop by Vishnu & Surya (Wi-Fi Nomads)

I had the opportunity to present “Non Wi‑Fi Interference Exposed,” a topic that is often overlooked during Wi‑Fi troubleshooting because identifying non‑Wi‑Fi interference typically requires specialized tools. However, spectrum analysis is a critical component of effective Wi‑Fi troubleshooting. Many hidden devices emit energy within the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, creating interference that can significantly impact Wi‑Fi performance. Understanding and identifying these sources of interference is essential for maintaining a reliable and high-performing wireless network.

I was fortunate to be part of a panel discussion on building a career that remains valuable in the age of AI. The conversation sparked many interesting ideas, with each panelist sharing their perspective on the skills, mindset, and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. One particularly thought-provoking moment was when Sitarama shared a video showing how the younger generation can create value by leveraging the AI tools available to them, even without extensive experience in the Wi‑Fi industry. It was a powerful reminder that in the AI era, the ability to learn, adapt, and use new technologies effectively can be just as important as years of experience.

With more than 150 attendees participating, the summit brought together a vibrant Wi‑Fi community. Here’s a group photo featuring many of the attendees taken at the end of the event.

As in previous years, I had the opportunity to meet many new and familiar faces at this event. One thing that stood out was how many engineers told me that my blog had helped them in their careers and inspired them to begin their wireless networking journey. Hearing these stories was incredibly rewarding and a reminder of the positive impact that sharing knowledge can have within our community.

Sitarama, CTO of Candela Technologies, is the driving force behind this event. His dedication was evident throughout the conference, and it was wonderful to see his entire family involved—especially his children, who also contributed to the event’s success. Beyond Sitarama’s efforts, the entire Candela team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the conference to life and ensure everything ran smoothly throughout the day. Here is a photo of Sitarama, his family, and the Candela team who made the event possible.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Vardhan and his team for doing an excellent job with the event’s media coverage. Although this is not their primary responsibility at work, they consistently do a fantastic job of capturing these events, providing live YouTube streaming throughout the day, and making the session recordings available after the conference. Their efforts play a vital role in extending the event’s reach and ensuring that valuable content remains accessible to the wider Wi‑Fi community.

My overall experience was made even more memorable thanks to Srikanth, a close friend of mine who is also from Chennai. Although I only had one extra day (Thursday) in Chennai, he generously took time out of his schedule to show me around.

Our day started with a visit to IIT Madras, where we had lunch with a few of his friends from the university. It was a great opportunity to experience the campus and connect with some wonderful people

Later, we visited the NETGEAR Chennai office and had an informal yet insightful discussion with their engineers about enterprise Wi‑Fi challenges and the role of AI in driving innovation. Susinder also joined us for this visit, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

After the conference, I also had the pleasure of meeting Srikanth’s family, and we all went out for dinner together. Moments like these remind me that spending time with people you enjoy working with is often more rewarding than the event itself. The friendships, conversations, and shared experiences create memories that last long after the conference is over.