en.Wedoany.com Reported - Wi-Fi 8 is expected to be standardized by 2028, and the industry is positioning it as the next-generation wireless connectivity technology that goes beyond mere speed improvements. Compared to Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 will introduce handover and inter-access point (AP) collaboration features to enhance network stability and service continuity, catering to service environments requiring real-time connectivity, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Although the standard has not yet been finalized, chip manufacturers including Qualcomm, Broadcom, MediaTek, and Samsung Electronics have begun launching related chipsets, predicting technical directions by participating in the standardization process and preemptively positioning themselves in the market.

According to industry sources, the Wi-Fi standard only sets minimum requirements for interoperability, with actual performance depending on the design capabilities of chipset manufacturers. Currently, Qualcomm and Broadcom have a strong presence in the global telecom operator and enterprise markets, MediaTek is expanding its influence in the affordable and cost-effective market segment, while Samsung Electronics adheres to a strategy centered around its own product ecosystem.

Qualcomm unveiled an integrated chipset combination supporting Wi-Fi 8 at MWC 2026. The "Dragonwing NPro A8 Elite" features a five-core central processing unit and AI computing performance based on a neural processing unit (NPU), integrating a network AI engine to enable agentic AI in edge environments, supporting real-time network insights and intelligent adaptive optimization. The "FastConnect 8800" is redesigned with a 4x4 Wi-Fi architecture, offering twice the speed and up to three times the coverage range of the previous generation. This solution integrates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband, and Thread, with the "Proximity AI" feature enabling smartphones to interact with various compatible devices, achieving functions such as ultra-precise vehicle door unlocking, finding dropped items, gesture-controlled notifications, and health monitoring like sleep detection. Qualcomm stated that consumers will increasingly demand experiences like vehicle positioning, digital key access, and lost item tracking, while enterprise environments will require applications such as asset tracking, indoor navigation, and location-based services.

Broadcom expanded its Wi-Fi 8 product portfolio in May by unveiling three system-on-chip (SoC) models: "BCM6772," "BCM6774," and "BCM6776." These products adopt a single-chip design, integrating an application processor, network processor, and 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios on a single die, aiming to reduce component costs, heat generation, and power consumption. Broadcom stated that the design features a high-performance quad-core CPU and a dedicated network engine, supporting bottleneck-free multi-gigabit wireless connectivity in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) environments. FTTH refers to ultra-high-speed internet infrastructure where optical cables are used for the entire connection from the telecom office to the home.

Samsung Electronics currently offers the Wi-Fi 7 chipset "Exynos Connect 6375" and, in May, jointly released an integrated reference platform targeting the fixed wireless access (FWA) market with Broadcom, integrating Samsung's 5G wireless communication technology with Broadcom's Wi-Fi 8 technology. The core component supplied by Samsung in this platform is the 5G modem chip "B1320," manufactured using a 5-nanometer (nm) process, supporting the 3GPP Release 17 standard and non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite communication technology. Combined with Broadcom's Wi-Fi 8 SoC "BCM6776," users can receive 5G signals simply by plugging in the power, turning the entire home into a high-speed Wi-Fi environment, suitable for next-generation wireless routers.

MediaTek is leading the Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem with its "Filogic 8000" series. This series is based on ultra-high reliability (UHR) and is applicable to various terminal environments, including broadband gateways, enterprise-grade APs, smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, streaming devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Against the backdrop of successive Wi-Fi 8 chipset launches, communication equipment manufacturers are also targeting the currently popularizing Wi-Fi 7 market while preparing for the next-generation Wi-Fi 8.

Cisco currently offers a range of Wi-Fi 7 products, from the entry-level "Cisco Wireless 9171I" based on 2x2 SS to the "Cisco Wireless 9179F" featuring antenna designs optimized for ultra-dense environments. In addition to hardware supply, Cisco provides flexible network architectures supporting various cloud-based and on-premises IT operations. Kim Chan-woo, Managing Director of Enterprise Network Solutions Engineering at Cisco Korea, stated that Cisco is discussing IEEE 802.11bn standardization as well as Wi-Fi 8 technical specifications and certification systems from the Wi-Fi Alliance, and will continue to strengthen collaboration with major terminal and chipset manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, and Intel to contribute to the smooth introduction and ecosystem development of Wi-Fi 8.

H1 Radio aims to expand its presence in the public Wi-Fi market used in crowded environments, growing the Wi-Fi 7 market by supplying 5G-to-WiFi 7 routers for buses. The company also plans to develop AI Wi-Fi routers and believes Wi-Fi 8 will be utilized as an AI infrastructure technology, intending to introduce Wi-Fi 8 technology early and focus on smart Wi-Fi technology development. Choi Yong-hwan, Head of the Development Team at H1 Radio, stated that since Wi-Fi 8 involves minimal changes to the PHY layer specifications and hardware, it may hit the market sooner than expected.

Hucom Wireless independently develops 5G modems, with its main product "HM975" supporting 5G networks at 28GHz and Wi-Fi 7, and router products including the "HR975." The company participates in building public Wi-Fi for buses, subways, and other public transportation, and supplies router equipment to smart operating rooms at institutions such as Samsung Hospital and Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. Baek Woon-hyuk, CEO of Hucom Wireless, stated that the company is establishing a bridgehead for the 5G home router business targeting the Japanese market and conducting internal technical research for Wi-Fi 8 standardization and commercialization. Hucom Wireless has been acquired by Dongwoo Fine-Chem, the Korean subsidiary of Japan's Sumitomo Chemical.

The industry is closely watching whether Wi-Fi 8 can transcend being a mere wireless standard to become a new growth driver for the Wi-Fi ecosystem. The home AP market has entered a mature phase, and Wi-Fi 7 is also considered to offer limited differentiation that ordinary consumers can perceive. The industry is focusing on exploring new application scenarios such as AI services, industrial sites, and public infrastructure. Particularly, 5G private networks handle areas where mobility is crucial, while Wi-Fi handles high-capacity data transmission and terminal acceptance in indoor spaces. Cisco stated that in general enterprise and office environments, most terminals are equipped with Wi-Fi chipsets, so Wi-Fi 8 is expected to see broader adoption, and hybrid network structures combining Wi-Fi 8 and 5G private networks will become common in industrial fields like smart manufacturing and logistics. An industry insider from the telecommunications sector noted that Wi-Fi, as an unlicensed standard, initially started as a low-power wireless device, and while technology has advanced rapidly, it has not yet reached the stage of replacing 5G and should be viewed as complementary to 5G technology. There is also a view that Wi-Fi can serve as an offloading technology within 5G networks to provide users with free data, for example, covering low-latency areas with 5G and non-low-latency areas with Wi-Fi in smart factories. Industry insiders pointed out that investment needs to be expanded to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic Wi-Fi ecosystem, noting that domestic market investment and attention remain focused on mobile communications, with relatively insufficient opportunities for Wi-Fi-related technology development and validation. As demand for low-latency, high-reliability networks increases in the Wi-Fi 8 era, domestic companies need to make active investments and ecosystem expansion efforts in chipsets, equipment, and services.