Outstanding features of WIFI 8 developed by Qualcomm

The next wireless standard is currently being developed as part of the “Ultra High Reliability” (UHR) initiative, in partnership with a variety of companies, including US chipmakers.

The Wi-Fi 8 standard isn't expected to be finalized until 2028, but Qualcomm has revealed improvements to wireless network reliability that are expected to come with Wi-Fi 8.

Wifi 8 is not only faster but also improves reliability to the same level as wired networks for devices. Photo: IEEE

According to Qualcomm, Wi-Fi 8 will bring a number of performance and reliability improvements, including the ability to coordinate multiple access points and seamless roaming.

Citing IEEE scope documents, Qualcomm said Wi-Fi 8 will bring improvements such as lower latency in P95, higher throughput in crowded areas, and improved roaming between access points. Wi-Fi 8 will also improve peer-to-peer (P2P) communications, while improving power efficiency and delivering “wired-grade” reliability.

Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE802.11be), the latest Wi-Fi networking standard, brings a number of performance improvements over Wi-Fi 6, including faster throughput and features like flexible channel usage. Wi-Fi 7 is developed under the Extreme High Throughput (EHT) initiative, which focuses on improving indoor and outdoor performance.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm says the UHR initiative focuses on improving wireless network reliability, while Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6 deliver better performance and efficiency, respectively.

The chipmaker also highlighted new types of wireless devices that are expected to become widely used in the coming years, including augmented reality (AR) glasses and other wearables. Qualcomm, Samsung and Google are also working on a pair of AR glasses.

Tentative timeline for the next Wi-Fi standard. Photo: Qualcomm

Five key areas where Wi-Fi 8 is expected to deliver more reliable network performance include moving across multiple access points (seamless roaming), higher power efficiency at access points and client devices, better co-operation with other wireless protocols, improved edge performance, and coordination in high-density areas.

The IEEE802.11bn standard is still in development and is expected to be finalized in March 2028. However, both Qualcomm and MediaTek have touted the benefits of Wi-Fi 8 and their efforts to contribute to the upcoming wireless standard, which is likely to be supported by new devices by the end of the decade.