NTS Access Point Gallery

When Technology Tells a Story

In everyday life, we often only notice access points in passing. They hang inconspicuously from ceilings, ensure stable connections, and usually only become visible when the Wi-Fi stops working. At the opening of the new permanent Access Point Gallery at the NTS Office in Vienna, these very devices took center stage. Together with Cisco, NTS demonstrated how access points have evolved over more than 20 years, both technically and in terms of design.

Wireless History to Discover

On the 7th floor of the NTS Office in Vienna, technology became an exhibition for one evening. Guests were able to discover and compare various Cisco access points from different generations and learn more about their development during a curated tour. From early models to modern all-in-one devices, it became clear just how much wireless technology has changed over the past decades.

“It all started when I wanted to display a few special access points that I’d collected over the years in our office,” explains Stefan Angerer, Team Lead at DI VIE Networking. Over the years, Angerer has amassed more than 50 Cisco access points. For the exhibition, he selected 12 iconic models that particularly well illustrate important technical and aesthetic milestones. “The selection wasn’t easy at all, because every model is significant in its own way,” says Angerer. His personal favorite is the very first model in the exhibition: it was the first Cisco access point Angerer encountered in his professional life. “You never forget your first,” he says.

“You never forget your first.”

Stefan Angerer Team Lead DI VIE Networking

“My experiences with access points are very closely tied to NTS,” says Hans Greiner, Managing Director of Cisco Austria. “That’s why I’m delighted to see that, for over 30 years now, so many people at NTS have been working with such enthusiasm for technology, creating exciting things like this Access Point Gallery, which brings together technology, art, and innovation.”

For NTS, wireless technology has been an integral part of numerous client projects for many years. The exhibition therefore showcased not only historical devices, but also the enthusiasm and expertise with which the team approaches this topic. At the same time, it became clear just how much the demands on modern networks have changed and how crucial stable connectivity is for businesses today.

“I worked extensively with wireless technologies even before joining NTS, which is why this exhibition is an exciting journey into the past for me. You can really see how much has changed here over the past 25 years,” says Harry Neumayer, Chief Operating Officer.

It was precisely this shift in perspective that made the evening special: Access Points were showcased not merely as hardware, but as objects with a history. The gallery highlighted just how much technical progress is embedded in devices that have largely become taken for granted in everyday life.

An Evening of Networking

In addition to the exhibits, the evening also provided an opportunity for professional exchange and personal conversations. Guests, Cisco, and the NTS Wireless team discussed technological developments, practical experiences, and the requirements of modern networks.

“I think it’s great that the Access Point Gallery is now on permanent display here on the 7th floor. It invites visitors to take a closer look and experience the technological advancements of recent years firsthand,” emphasizes Michael Frischauf, Territory Manager for Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland.