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Wi-Fi 8: Focus on Reliability, Not Just Speed
After the recent flurry of Wi-Fi updates, from Wi-Fi 6 to the current Wi-Fi 7, you might wonder what’s next. Enter Wi-Fi 8, a new standard that’s shaping up to be less about pushing ever-higher speeds and more about improving reliability. While Wi-Fi 7 boasts impressive theoretical speeds, in real-world conditions, achieving those speeds can be challenging due to factors like interference and signal attenuation.
The Shift in Focus
Wi-Fi 8, also known as 802.11bn, began as the Ultra High Reliability (UHR) study group in 2022. Sian Morgan, Research Director at industry watcher Dell’Oro Group, explains this shift: “Since Wi-Fi 4, the theoretical throughput of a Wi-Fi AP has grown about 40 times… It’s not surprising that the focus for Wi-Fi 8 has been on reliability, manageability, and the power efficiency of Wi-Fi communications.”
Expected Adoption Timeline
Don’t expect Wi-Fi 8 to hit mainstream devices anytime soon. Wi-Fi 7 is still being ratified, and widespread adoption is ongoing. Morgan predicts that the first enterprise-class Wi-Fi 8 access points will likely be available in the second half of 2028.
Enhancements for Stronger Reliability
Wi-Fi 8 is likely to build upon the already impressive capabilities of Wi-Fi 7, which introduced features like multi-link operation (MLO), allowing multiple frequency bands to be used simultaneously, and 6 GHz frequency support for a less congested spectrum. Some key improvements for Wi-Fi 8 include:
- **Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR):** APs would coordinate to avoid signal clashes, especially in mesh networks.
- **Dynamic Sub-channel Operation (DSO):** Devices will be assigned to individual sub-channels for better spectrum utilization.
- **New Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS):** Adaptable data rates based on signal strength for more reliable connections.
Gartner senior director analyst Sylvain Fabre believes that these advancements could make Wi-Fi 8 a valuable upgrade in environments where consistent connectivity is crucial for industrial and IoT applications. While Wi-Fi 7 is still evolving, Wi-Fi 8 looks promising for the future of reliable connectivity.
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