Wi-Fi 8, officially known as IEEE 802.11bn, is the next major step in wireless technology. While previous generations focused primarily on increasing peak speeds, Wi-Fi 8 is built with a new, crucial objective in mind: ultra-high reliability.
It’s designed to provide consistent, low-latency, and near-lossless connectivity, even in the most crowded and challenging environments. This is a fundamental shift that will benefit every type of user, from individual homeowners to large-scale enterprises. The standard is expected to be finalised around 2028.
The Technology: Beyond Reliability
Wi-Fi 8 achieves this new level of performance through a series of key technological advancements that work together to create a more robust network. One of the most significant is seamless roaming, which introduces a concept called Single Mobility Domains. This allows a device to move between multiple access points without experiencing interruptions. For example, you could walk through a large office or a multi-story house on a video call, and the transition from one access point to the next would be so smooth that there would be no dropped connection or loss of data. It creates a “once connected, always connected” experience, similar to a wired connection.
Another important innovation is reliable coverage at the edge, which focuses on improving the quality of the connection for devices that are far from the router or in areas with poor signal strength. Wi-Fi 8 uses physical layer enhancements to strengthen performance at the boundaries of a network’s coverage. This means fewer dropped connections and better performance for devices in the farthest corners of your home, or in a large warehouse where signal degradation is a constant challenge.
In environments with many access points and a high density of users, such as an apartment building or a stadium, Wi-Fi networks can struggle with overlapping signals. Wi-Fi 8 tackles this with smarter coordination for dense deployments, also known as multi-AP coordination. This allows access points to work together collaboratively instead of competing with each other. They can intelligently share resources and manage traffic, leading to a more consistent and reliable user experience for everyone.
Modern devices often have multiple wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and UWB (Ultra-Wideband), that share the same antenna. This can sometimes cause interference. Wi-Fi 8 includes improved in-device coexistence to ensure these different radios can coexist more smoothly, preventing one from disrupting the others and providing a more stable connection for all functions. Lastly, smarter energy use is a key feature, with Wi-Fi 8 introducing new features to make wireless connectivity more energy-efficient without sacrificing responsiveness. This is particularly beneficial for battery-powered devices like smartphones, wearables, and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, helping to extend their battery life.
Real-World Benefits and Examples
The innovations of Wi-Fi 8 translate into tangible improvements for a wide range of users and scenarios. For home users and power users, Wi-Fi 8 means an end to frustrating connection drops. For a family, this could mean uninterrupted streaming of a 4K movie in one room while another family member is on a video call and a third is playing a latency-sensitive online game. For those using smart home devices, it ensures that critical applications like real-time health monitors or automated security systems work flawlessly, even in dense urban environments where neighbouring Wi-Fi signals can cause interference. For power users, it means a more stable connection for tasks that demand high reliability, such as professional video editing with cloud-based assets or live streaming.
For business and enterprise, Wi-Fi 8 is designed to provide wired-grade reliability, which is a significant leap for business operations. In a smart factory, for example, collaborative robots and autonomous-guided vehicles (AGVs) can operate without interruption while moving across the factory floor, enabling complex automation and real-time decision-making. In a hospital, the technology can support mission-critical applications like wireless patient monitoring systems, ensuring a near-lossless connection for vital data transmission. For corporate campuses, it means employees can move seamlessly between meeting rooms and offices without their video calls or data transfers being disrupted.
Finally, public spaces like airports and stadiums will be transformed by Wi-Fi 8’s ability to handle high-density environments. Passengers in an airport will be able to enjoy uninterrupted Wi-Fi as they move between terminals, with their devices seamlessly switching between access points. This also supports critical operational systems like video surveillance, emergency communications, and real-time asset tracking, ensuring everything runs smoothly even during peak traffic times. Attendees at a large sports event will be able to share high-quality live video and use augmented reality (AR) apps without the network slowing to a crawl.
