Wireless routers — a growing market expected to be worth billions by itself as consumers become more connected — are getting major upgrades from some start-ups.
In the effort to prevent the surge in data and device use from creating a nightmare of dead zones and overloaded networks, companies such as Eero and Luma are moving to get ahead of the curve by creating routers that can power multiple devices with ease.
More gadgets than ever — from lights to thermostats to cameras — rely on home routers to make them all work seamlessly. Yet some of these routers may not be up to the task, as multiple devices can easily overwhelm a network, or make it run sluggishly.
Enter Eero, a Wi-Fi maker that recently procured $50 million in funding by creating a mesh network using multiple access points. The system blankets a home and creates stronger, more reliable personal internet access.
Traditionally, "Wi-Fi connectivity was in such a bad state that people were often returning perfectly great products because they didn't quite work where the customer wanted to place them. It was a Wi-Fi problem," Nick Weaver, co-founder and CEO of Eero and a veteran of Menlo Ventures, told CNBC in a recent interview.
"Wi-Fi is the utility of the 21st century," says Weaver, "as important as electricity or running water for a functioning home."