WiFi 8: what the next generation will really change for businesses

WiFi 8, the future IEEE 802.11bn standard, made a striking appearance at CES 2026. Several manufacturers presented equipment that was already functional, even though the definitive standard will not be ratified until 2028. Unusual, but revealing: the industry is already anticipating the limits of current generations and actively preparing the transition to a new approach to WiFi.
So, what should we really remember about the arrival of WiFi 8? What does it change - or not - for businesses? And how can you prepare for it without rushing?

What is WiFi 8?

WiFi 8 (802.11bn) is the next major evolution in WiFi. Unlike previous generations, often marked by a race for ever-higher theoretical data rates, WiFi 8 adopts a different philosophy. The main objective is no longer to increase maximum speed, but to make connectivity more reliable, consistent and predictable, particularly in complex, dense environments. Key elements of the standard include

• Advanced coordination between multiple access points, for more intelligent network management
• Better interference management, essential in saturated urban and business environments
• Improved coverage and stability, even over long distances
  Reduced latency and performance fluctuations
• All crucial for modern business networks, where service continuity takes precedence over raw throughput.

WiFi 8 is not a revolution in data rates... And it's deliberate

WiFi 8 is not presented as a "revolution" in speed. That's true, and it's deliberate. In many real-life scenarios, maximum data rates will not be radically higher than those of WiFi 7. On the other hand, the way the network behaves under load is changing dramatically.WiFi 8 aims to offer :

• a more stable experience over time
• fewer micro outages and performance variations
• better distribution of resources between connected devices.

For businesses, these criteria are often far more important than a few extra gigabits advertised on a datasheet. In offices, factories, hospitals or campuses where hundreds (or even thousands) of devices are connected simultaneously, coordination between access points means better overall reliability, less interference and a more consistent user experience.

The transition from one access point to another - when moving around a building, for example - becomes less prone to interruptions and latency. A key point for real-time uses such as videoconferencing, VoIP or collaborative applications.

For industrial IoT, autonomous robots or even demanding applications such as augmented reality, network stability and predictability are far more critical than maximum throughput. It's precisely in these areas that WiFi 8 brings real value.

What are the adoption challenges for businesses?

There are several points to bear in mind:

• The standard is still being finalized.Although WiFi 8 equipment has been shown as early as 2026, the full specification will not be ratified until later (probably around 2028). This calls for some caution before large-scale investments.
• In the short term, very few terminals (PCs, smartphones, connected objects) are WiFi 8 compatible. Actual adoption will depend heavily on the timing of customer manufacturers.
• As with any emerging technology, being an early adopter can prove costly, with frequent upgrade cycles to keep in line with the final standard.

So should we rush to WiFi 8? In most cases, no. If your current WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 infrastructure already meets your needs, there's no rush.
We recommend that you continue to develop your network in line with your company's actual needs, rather than being guided by technological announcements alone. At the same time, you should keep a close eye on the evolution of WiFi 8, and plan pilot tests when the standard and its ecosystem have reached a sufficient level of maturity.

Finally, the evolution of the network must be thought through first and foremost in terms of reliability, stability and quality of experience for users, and not simply as a race to maximum speed.