Wi-Fi 8 is coming – the next leap forward in wireless connectivity

Over the years, Wi-Fi has become an indispensable part of modern living, seamlessly connecting us to the digital world. From streaming our favourite shows to conducting video conferences, Wi-Fi underpins countless aspects of our daily routines. With an estimated 5.44 billion internet users globally, according to Statista, our reliance on wireless connectivity is greater than ever before. This reliance is also exacerbated by the rapid development of new technologies like AI that influence the evolving needs of customers, who increasingly demand faster, more reliable wireless experiences.

As these demands increase, the need for advancements in Wi-Fi technology becomes even more critical. A few years ago, Wi-Fi 6E ushered in the era of 6 GHz connectivity and mobility for Wi-Fi, and now, Wi-Fi 7 is building on that spectrum foundation with a strong emphasis on higher speeds.

Introducing Wi-Fi 8

As Wi-Fi 7 delivers record-breaking speeds, the next evolution—Wi-Fi 8—will focus on something even more critical: reliability. Currently in early development under the IEEE 802.11 Ultra High Reliability (UHR) Study Group, Wi-Fi 8 aims to minimise latency, enhance stability, and eliminate connectivity gaps. Rather than just increasing speed, Wi-Fi 8 is designed for seamless mobility and uninterrupted performance, making it ideal for enterprises and real-time applications like AR/VR that demand ultra-low latency. With development accelerating, this next-gen technology could debut as early as 2028, setting the stage for a wireless future where reliability is just as important as speed. 

Two APs are better than one!

The most promising capability of Wi-Fi 8 is called Multi-Access Point Coordination (MAPC), an innovation that enables multiple access points (APs) to work together dynamically, improving network efficiency and stability. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi networks, where client devices connect to a single AP and rely on roaming mechanisms to switch between them, MAPC enables coordinated transmission and reception across multiple APs, reducing latency and minimising disruptions. This shift in network architecture will be instrumental in meeting the stringent requirements of emerging applications, ensuring that Wi-Fi remains a viable alternative for ultra-reliable, low-latency communications in both consumer and enterprise environments. 

These technical leaps are exciting for engineers. But beyond all the buzzwords and acronyms, what real, tangible benefits will Wi-Fi 8 bring to our daily lives in the near future?

Roaming Without the Roadblocks

Today, when moving around a large space—such as an office, airport, or stadium—your device typically disconnects from one AP and connects to another in a process called roaming handoff. Even with fast transitions, brief disruptions can still occur, leading to choppy video calls, slow application responses, or, in the worst case, a complete (if momentary) service outage.

Wi-Fi 8 has the potential to eliminate this issue by allowing devices to connect to multiple APs simultaneously. Rather than “jumping” from one AP to another like stepping across stones in a river, Wi-Fi 8 creates a continuous, connected path—more like walking on a bridge. Your device will no longer need to break one connection before establishing another. Instead, it will be able to maintain links with multiple APs at once, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and a completely seamless roaming experience.

Is Wi-Fi 8 the Cure for Latency?

Quality of Experience (QoE) is a popular term in the networking world, and as we head towards 2030, latency is poised to become the most critical performance metric. Latency in Wi-Fi is like using a walkie-talkie—when you say something, there’s a slight delay before the other person hears and responds. The longer the delay, the higher the latency. In older Wi-Fi networks, this lag can affect application performance in enterprise environments, delayed responses in cloud-based collaboration tools, and inefficiencies in industrial automation. 

Latency above 150ms in VoIP or video calls results in noticeable delays, making conversations awkward and difficult to follow. In VR applications for remote collaboration or product design, latency above 20-30ms can cause motion sickness and discomfort for users. High latency in cloud-based trading platforms or banking applications can result in failed transactions, costing businesses time and money. In automated factories or IoT-driven coordination, high latency causes delays in processing sensor data, impacting real-time decision-making. In robotics-powered warehouses, high latency may lead to mistimed movements, causing operational inefficiencies. For time-sensitive applications used in your business, low latency is often more important than speed. The Multi-Access Point Coordination capabilities of Wi-Fi 8 are designed to deliver enhanced network response times by intelligently managing traffic across multiple connections, ensuring that time-sensitive applications always get priority.

With Wi-Fi 8, enterprise applications that depend on real-time performance will see significant improvements. VoIP and video conferencing will experience ultra-low latency, eliminating awkward pauses and delays in conversations. In financial services, transactions and market data processing will occur without lag, reducing the risk of failed trades. Industrial environments will benefit from real-time automation, with robotics and IoT-driven logistics operating with precision and efficiency. In AR/VR-driven collaboration and product design, motion lag will be virtually eliminated, ensuring an immersive and comfortable user experience. These advancements will drive greater reliability, responsiveness, and efficiency across industries where network delays can have significant consequences.

A More Reliable, Future-Proof Wireless Experience

With Wi-Fi 8, connectivity will be more predictable, stable, and resilient than ever before. No more dropped signals, no more lag, and no more frustration—just consistent, high-performance wireless networking that keeps pace with the demands of modern life.

As the development of Wi-Fi 8 progresses, this technology will unlock new possibilities for businesses and consumers alike, ensuring that Wi-Fi remains the backbone of our digital world. Whether at home, at work, or on the go, Wi-Fi 8 will set a new standard for wireless reliability, seamless mobility, and near-instantaneous responsiveness—bringing us one step closer to a truly uninterrupted digital future.