Zyxel ushers in multi-gig, high-power PoE era for SMBs with XMG2230 access switches

Zyxel Networks is positioning small and medium-sized businesses for heavier bandwidth and power demands with the launch of its XMG2230 series, a new generation of Multi-Gig Layer 3 Access PoE switches built to support increasingly complex, device-dense networks.

As WiFi 6 and WiFi 7 access points, surveillance systems, point-of-sale terminals, network-attached storage and IoT devices all compete for bandwidth and power, Zyxel said the XMG2230 series is designed to simplify network expansion without forcing SMBs into costly, disruptive upgrades.

The series includes two models, the XMG2230-28HP and XMG2230-52HP, offering flexible combinations of 1G and 2.5G ports to support both legacy and next-generation devices. Both models integrate 10G SFP+ uplink ports to aggregate backbone traffic and help eliminate bottlenecks for bandwidth-intensive applications such as video conferencing, while still providing headroom for future growth.

To address uptime concerns in environments where even brief outages can disrupt operations, the XMG2230 series features dual power input options, combining a built-in AC power supply with an external DC input. Zyxel said this design minimizes single points of failure and allows organizations to leverage existing DC infrastructure or add backup power only when required, avoiding the cost of fixed dual-power systems.

Power delivery is a key focus of the new switches. With support for both PoE++ and PoE+, the XMG2230 series can power high-draw WiFi 6/7 access points alongside lower-power IoT endpoints from a single platform. Using AC power, the switches deliver up to 960 watts of PoE budget, reducing the need for external injectors. When paired with external DC sources, PoE capacity can scale up to 2400 watts, extending the platform’s use cases to industrial environments, small data centers and smart city deployments.

On the management side, Zyxel said the XMG2230 series is designed to give SMBs enterprise-class control without adding operational complexity. The switches support full Layer 2 and essential Layer 3 capabilities within a single device, helping reduce reliance on additional core infrastructure. Integration with Zyxel’s Nebula Cloud platform enables centralized onboarding and management of devices, sites and organizations through a single cloud interface.

The switches also include a dedicated Networked AV Mode optimized for low-latency audio-visual over IP applications, supporting digital signage and conferencing setups with improved audio performance for Dante and AES67 standards. In addition, the XMG2230 series is compliant with the Trade Agreements Act, meeting government procurement requirements that mandate products originate from designated countries.

“The XMG2230 series is designed for SMBs that need enterprise-class power without enterprise-level complexity,” said Gary Chen, SEA regional head at Zyxel Networks. “By combining multi-gig performance, high-power PoE, resilient design and flexible management, we’re helping businesses build robust network foundations through a new era of reliable connectivity.”