The Future of Wi-Fi: Inside Wi-Fi 8

Wi-Fi 8, or the 802.11bn standard, will represent a new generation focused on reliability rather than speed alone.

It is expected to introduce the concept of Ultra High Reliability (UHR), ensuring more stable connections even in dense or disrupted environments.

Thanks to technologies such as Coordinated Beamforming and Spatial Reuse, access points would collaborate to optimize coverage and limit interference.

Actual throughput would be improved by approximately 25% compared to Wi-Fi 7, while latency would be reduced by 25%, benefiting demanding applications such as online gaming or virtual reality.

Wi-Fi 8 could achieve theoretical throughputs close to 100Gbps, but its priority would be a smoother and more stable experience. Improvements in modulation (MCS) would also allow for smoother transitions depending on signal quality.

Finally, it would still rely on the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. The standard is expected to be finalized in the 2028 timeframe, with initial products appearing shortly thereafter.

Wi-Fi 8 will be aimed at connected homes, dense business environments, and critical industrial applications.

Michael Ponomarenko

Henrik Kanngard