Gartner® 2026 Strategic Roadmap for Enterprise Networking

Build an AI-Ready Network Strategy with AT&T

“Agentic NetOps, AI infrastructure, zero-trust, and cloud-centric architectures are transforming enterprise networks.” But here’s the reality: most networks aren’t ready for AI. Are you prepared to adapt?

Enterprise network leaders face unprecedented challenges as technology evolves—and AT&T is here to help you navigate them. This latest Gartner report provides actionable insights, and AT&T brings the expertise and solutions to make them real.

 

Key Takeaways from Gartner “2026 Strategic Roadmap for Enterprise Networking”:

✅ Although network operations are largely supported by humans, this will shift in the next three to five years.

✅ SASE needs are expanding to include AI traffic management, data sovereignty, and post-quantum cryptography

✅ Demand for on-premises AI workloads is growing, driven by open-source AI models, increasing cloud and data transfer costs, and concerns about data privacy and data sovereignty.

✅ Despite the rapid evolution of AI technology, enterprise network teams lack AI and agentic AI training.

 

How AT&T Helps You Stay Ahead:

✔ AI-Based Management: Our intelligent network solutions automate operations and deliver predictive insights for performance and security.

✔ Geopolitical Resilience: We help enterprises navigate data sovereignty and compliance challenges across global markets.

✔ Networks Aren’t Fully Ready for AI: AT&T bridges the gap with scalable, secure infrastructure designed for AI workloads and future-proof architectures.

✔ LAN Transformation: Shift from wired LAN to wireless-first with centralized management for agility, cost efficiency, and simplified operations.

 

What should you do next?

  • – “Pilot AI and agentic AI capabilities to verify their ability to streamline network operations, improve network and applications performance, integrate with existing network infrastructure, and deliver business value.
  • – Develop a SASE adoption plan that supports secure connectivity, AI traffic, data sovereignty, and PQC — and evaluate vendor roadmaps to guide platform selection.
  • – Build out dedicated network infrastructure if AI workloads are required on-premises. This will better support performance for both AI and existing workloads.
  • – Invest in cross-functional training programs to help network teams understand AI and agentic AI compute requirements and how they impact performance, security, and cost.”

 

Download the full Gartner report now. Let AT&T help you build a business case for change or get a readiness assessment.

Gartner, 2026 Strategic Roadmap for Enterprise Networking, Karen Brown, Andrew Lerner, Tim Zimmerman, Mike Leibovitz 17 October 2025 Gartner is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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