Presented herein are techniques for optimizing spectral efficiency in a network. One or more metrics of one or more wireless access points that enable one or more wireless client devices to connect to a wireless network are monitored. The one or more metrics reflect a level of client device activity. Based on the one or more metrics, the level of client device activity is determined to require a change in a number of the one or more wireless access points that are active to serve the one or more wireless client devices. The one or more wireless access points are activated or deactivated to improve a spectral efficiency of the wireless network.