Key points
- Wi-Fi 8 is currently under development, with Broadcom announcing the industry’s first Wi-Fi 8 silicon ahead of the specifications being finalized.
- The 802.11bn specification prioritizes consistent performance under challenging conditions, introducing coordinated multi-access point features, dynamic spectrum management, and hardware-accelerated telemetry designed for AI workloads.
- Wi-Fi 8 aims to provide a better user experience by bundling multiple coordinated technologies to address median and tail latency performance, unlike previous generations of Wi-Fi that competed on peak throughput numbers.
As a reporter covering the latest developments in wireless technology, I am excited to share with you the latest news on Wi-Fi 8. Although Wi-Fi 7 was only officially released in January 2024, work is already underway on its successor, Wi-Fi 8. In fact, Broadcom has just announced the industry’s first Wi-Fi 8 silicon, marking an early entrant ahead of the specifications being finalized. The 802.11bn specification is expected to be finalized by 2028, but that hasn’t slowed down the pace of technology development.
Unlike previous generations of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 8 prioritizes consistent performance under challenging conditions. The specification introduces coordinated multi-access point features, dynamic spectrum management, and hardware-accelerated telemetry designed for AI workloads at the network edge. This represents a significant shift in approach, as previous standards centered on one major capability, such as OFDMA for Wi-Fi 6 or 6 GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 8, on the other hand, bundles multiple coordinated technologies to address median and tail latency performance.
A core part of the Wi-Fi 8 architecture is an approach known as Ultra High Reliability (UHR). This architectural philosophy targets the 99th percentile user experience rather than best-case scenarios. The innovation addresses AI application requirements that demand symmetric bandwidth, consistent sub-5-millisecond latency, and reliable uplink performance. Traditional Wi-Fi optimizes for 90/10 download-to-upload ratios, but AI applications push toward 50/50 symmetry.
Wi-Fi 8 also introduces inter-access point coordination as a core innovation. Multiple APs communicate and collaborate rather than operating independently. This represents a significant architectural change from autonomous AP operation. Enterprise deployments gain prioritized packet handling across the infrastructure, with APs labeling and processing voice and video traffic cooperatively. The system ensures latency-sensitive applications receive resources even during congestion.
The specification also includes features such as Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR), Coordinated Beamforming (Co-BF), and Dynamic Spectrum Access innovation. These features work together to maximize spectrum efficiency, with Broadcom’s apartment density simulations showing a 200% median throughput improvement and 6x lower latency at the 99th percentile compared to Wi-Fi 7.
In addition, Wi-Fi 8 introduces Extended Long Range (ELR) mode specifically for IoT devices. This feature uses lower data rates with more robust coding to extend coverage. The tradeoff accepts reduced throughput for dramatically improved range. ELR operates by increasing symbol duration and using lower-order modulation, improving the link budget for battery-powered sensors, smart home devices, and outdoor IoT deployments.
Broadcom’s Wi-Fi 8 silicon portfolio includes four chips spanning residential, enterprise, and mobile markets. The company’s Wi-Fi 8 silicon is based on 802.11bn draft 1.5, and while the specification remains under IEEE development, Broadcom has expressed confidence in compatibility.
As Wi-Fi 8 continues to develop, it’s clear that this new standard will provide a significant improvement in performance and reliability, particularly for AI applications and IoT devices. With Broadcom already announcing its Wi-Fi 8 silicon, we can expect to see more developments in the coming years. The future of wireless technology is looking bright, and Wi-Fi 8 is set to play a major role in shaping it. Microsoft, with its Azure cloud platform and Windows Server, will likely be impacted by the development of Wi-Fi 8, as it continues to invest in AI and IoT technologies. As we move forward, it will be exciting to see how Wi-Fi 8 and Microsoft’s technologies intersect and drive innovation in the industry.
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