Wi-Fi 8: While the rollout of Wi-Fi 7 hasn't been completed yet, work on its next-generation variant has already begun. Wi-Fi 8 will focus on improving speed and stability.
Wi-Fi 8 testing has begun
Wi-Fi 8: While Wi-Fi 6 is currently being used in most places and people haven't yet gotten access to Wi-Fi 7 routers, testing of a new wireless standard, Wi-Fi 8, has begun. It could launch in about two years, in 2028. TP-Link, the Chinese company behind the testing, says it's preparing to move from concept to real-world entry. Being a next-generation technology, it will offer better speeds, but it will focus more on reliability. This means that this technology focuses more on stabilizing connections rather than improving speeds. Let's learn more about it.
What is Wi-Fi 8?
This is a new wireless standard currently under testing. It will utilize technologies introduced with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, such as the 6GHz spectrum, 320MHz channels, and multi-link operation (MLO). The new standard will not only provide improved speeds but also focus on reliability in high-traffic areas. The industry is referring to this concept as Ultra High Reliability (UHR). To achieve UHR, it will utilize several existing technologies as well as several new ones. It will use a new version of multi-access point coordination technology. This will allow access points in high-traffic areas to share their resources, increasing speed and stability.
This new technology will be used in Wi-Fi 8
Wi-Fi 8 features several technologies behind the scenes. Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR) will allow access points to adjust their transmit power. Coordinated Time Division Multiple Access (Co-TDMA) will allow access points to share transmissions within reserved time slots. Coordinated beamforming will be incorporated to improve signal quality. Regarding older technologies, it will also leverage Wi-Fi 6's Target Wake Time (TWT) and Wi-Fi 7's Restricted Target Wake Time (R-TWT).
How stable will connections be in Wi-Fi 8?
To reduce latency and improve network connectivity in high-traffic areas like apartment buildings, airports, and shopping centers, it will utilize several spectrum-efficient technologies. The first technology is Dynamic Sub-Band Operation (DSO). This will allow any access point to split a wide channel, such as a 320MHz channel, to serve multiple devices simultaneously. Similarly, it will also utilize Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA), which allows devices to access a secondary channel when the primary channel is unavailable. This will prevent data flow from being interrupted when the primary channel is unavailable. The new standard also incorporates Single Mobility Domain, a new concept. In current versions of Wi-Fi, when a client device tries to connect to another access point, its connection with the first access point is broken, causing a slight delay. With this new concept, devices will be able to connect to the second access point without breaking the connection.
What will be the benefit of Wi-Fi 8?
The new standard is being designed with AI-powered systems, industrial automation, and robotics in mind. The new version will address the challenges faced by the current version. It will also offer approximately 25 percent faster speeds, providing stable connections even in crowded and high-traffic areas. This will prevent connection drops even when multiple devices are connected to a single router.
When will you be able to use Wi-Fi 8?
Wi-Fi 8 is expected to receive approval in the first half of 2028. Supported devices will begin arriving on the market as soon as approval is received. Asus showcased a concept Wi-Fi 8 hardware at CES 2026, but certified routers and client devices will have to wait until 2028. In India, the new standard may take a little longer to arrive.
