Latest news with #UltraHighReliability
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
Wi-Fi 8 Focuses on Reliability Over Speed to Handle Advanced AI Experiences
Only one in 50 homes in the US currently uses a Wi-Fi 7 router, but the next generation of wireless routers is already on the way. New details on Wi-Fi 8 were just released by Qualcomm, with the standard expected to be finalized in 2028. While Wi-Fi 7 is all about speed, increasing the maximum amount of data that could be transmitted from 2.4Gbps to 5.8Gbps, Wi-Fi 8 will focus on improving reliability. The initiative is being called Ultra High Reliability, and it states its goal as making connections 'faster, more responsive and more robust.' The reality is, most of us have all the Wi-Fi speed we need. Online gaming and videoconferencing don't require more than 50Mbps speeds, but the median US household gets 288Mbps. The real pain point for most of us is when our internet drops out or fails to reach parts of the house. Those are the problems Wi-Fi 8 is looking to solve. 'Over the generations, we've had significant increases in throughput and speeds and area. Now we're at a stage where we really need to make sure that we have a very high-quality, reliable, low-latency user experience,' Rolf De Vegt, Qualcomm's vice president of technical standards, told CNET. According to the scope document published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Wi-Fi 8, or 802.11bn, will have the following targets: Locating local internet providers At least 25% higher throughput in challenging signal conditions. 25% lower latency at the 95th percentile of the latency distribution. 25% fewer dropped packets especially when roaming between access points. Qualcomm Wi-Fi for an AI world Many of the improvements outlined in the Wi-Fi 8 scope document predict a world in which AI is deeply embedded in everyday life. Rather than raw data throughput being the Wi-Fi north star, responsiveness and reliability are now being prioritized. 'By 2028, you're in a situation where there are a significant amount of devices that are completely reliant on continuous, high-speed, low-latency connectivity,' De Vegt says. 'With things like AI, there's a significant dependency on higher reliability for your Wi-Fi.' Wi-Fi 8 engineers are also working to develop a standard that can hold up in difficult environments where congestion, interference and coverage boundaries have impaired the user experience in the past. Qualcomm's report cites the increase in 'personal device ecosystems' like augmented reality glasses, health monitors and wearable tech as a reason for improving the dynamism of local Wi-Fi networks. 'Whether wearable, embedded in smart environments or autonomous, AI-driven systems demand reliable, low-latency connectivity to access edge or cloud-based AI for real-time inference,' De Vegt writes in the Qualcomm report. Improved Wi-Fi range A big part of the reliability goal for the Wi-Fi 8 standard is maintaining a continuous connection across multiple access points. One of the new features is called Single Mobility Domains, which allows devices to keep a seamless connection as they move around a space. In past Wi-Fi standards, slight interruptions or packet drops were common as the device gets handed off to a different access point. Expanded range will also be one of the key improvements in Wi-Fi 8 routers, with a 'range of physical layer enhancements' added in to maintain high-quality connections at the outer bounds of a router's coverage. These routers will also be designed to work in high-density environments like apartment buildings or airports, where overlapping signals can often result in a laggy and slow connection. Wi-Fi 8 routers will have something called multi-AP, or access point, coordination. This feature will allow routers to work together rather than independently to share resources between access points. How to improve your Wi-Fi connection right now Three years is still a long time to wait for a more reliable Wi-Fi connection. Fortunately, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 routers still offer more than enough speed for most households, and there are several things you can do to increase the reliability of your network right now:
Tom's Guide
02-08-2025
- Tom's Guide
First official Wi-Fi 8 details emerge — and it's slower than you might expect
Wireless internet is a constantly changing area of technolgy. It feels like we were just celebrating the speed and performance offered by Wi-Fi 6 and then Wi-Fi 7 came along. Now, we're already getting teasers for what Wi-Fi 8 could bring to the table. Surprisingly, it's not speed that's the main selling point. In a press release, Qualcomm detailed Wi-Fi 8 and its key features. "Wi-Fi 8 is being defined to prioritize reliable performance in challenging real-world conditions, enhancing connectivity even in congested, interference-prone and mobile environments," said Qualcomm's Rolf De Vegt. Notice that nowhere in there did they mention anything about how fast it would be, which is typically one of the biggest selling points when a new Wi-Fi standard is teased. Instead, they're talking about reliable performance and working well in congested areas — all things that could certainly be improved even in today's high-performing Wi-Fi standards. Wi-Fi 8 is also designed to reduce latency, which is particularly beneficial for gamers. "Wi-Fi 8 marks a fundamental pivot — moving beyond peak speeds to prioritize reliable performance in challenging real-world conditions. It's designed to deliver consistent, low-latency and near-lossless connectivity even in highly congested, interference-prone and mobile environments," De Vegt said. The release highlighted three key benefits of Wi-Fi 8: at least 25% higher throughput in challenging signal conditions, 25% lower latency at the 95th percentile of the latency distribution, and 25% fewer dropped packets, especially when roaming between access points (such as in a mesh network). Qualcomm said we'll have to wait until 2028 to experience Wi-Fi 8, but that "Leading technology companies," including itself, are working on it and being led by "task group IEEE802.11bn under the initiative known as 'Ultra High Reliability' (UHR)." "Going forward, the 802.11bn task group will be busy finalizing a solid and high-quality basis of the future Wi-Fi 8 generation — a generation that is again anticipated to be used in billions of devices in the next decade," Qualcomm's Rolf De Vegt said to wrap up the release. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. In the meantime, be sure to grab one of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers so you can make the most of the technolgy available now.
Phone Arena
24-07-2025
- Phone Arena
Qualcomm takes a look into the future with Wi-Fi 8
Last November, we told you that Wi-Fi 8, the successor to Wi-Fi 7, will focus on reliability instead of speed. Qualcomm says that the goal of Wi-Fi 8 is to "prioritize reliable performance in challenging real-world conditions, enhancing connectivity even in congested, interference-prone and mobile environments." One cool feature of Wi-Fi 8 is "Seamless Roaming." This allows a device to provide a "once connected, always connected" experience. By maintaining a continuous low-latency connection as a device moves around, there are no interruptions or packet drops due to handoffs. An important capability of Wi-Fi 8 is its ability to continuously offer a reliable and high-quality connection under non-ideal signal conditions. For example, in some areas, there is signal degradation due to the distance the device is from the Wi-Fi signal, interference, or power limitations. Qualcomm says that Wi-Fi 8 uses a range of physical layer enhancements working together to keep Wi-Fi connected even if the environment isn't perfect. This is referred to as having reliable coverage at the edge. Where Ultra-High Reliability is most important. | Image credit-Qualcomm Ever run into problems with your Wi-Fi connection in areas considered high density, such as corporate campuses, apartment buildings, and public venues? Problems such as overlapping signals or battles among various devices for access to the shared wireless signal can lead to problems with the user experience. Wi-Fi 8 solves this using one of its most important features, multi-Access Point (AP) coordination. Connectivity challenges that Wi-Fi 8 will face. | Image credit-Qualcomm This allows APs to work as a team rather than independently. When APs work independently, devices could end up "attached" to a distant AP with a weaker signal, leading to poor performance. In Wi-Fi 8, Access Points, resources between APs, are shared, allowing for a more consistent experience for the user. Today's devices carry multiple radios (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, UWB), causing coexistence challenges. Wi-Fi 8 allows for improved in-device coexistence to ensure smoother operation when multiple radios share antennas or spectrum. This allows the wireless networking technology to gracefully handle the temporary outages when the antenna is used for another technology. Wi-Fi 8 features improved in-device coexistence thus ensuring smoother operation when multiple radios are sharing antennas or spectrum. Wi-Fi 8 also includes new features making wireless connectivity more energy aware without having to compromise responsiveness. The Evolution of Wi-Fi. | Image credit-Qualcomm Qualcomm says that Wi-Fi 8 will make the biggest impact in smart factories, hospitals, college campuses, homes, and public spaces. The latter include airports, stadiums, and transit hubs. Expected to be ready in 2028, IEEE802.11bn will be the upcoming standard serving as the foundation of Wi-Fi 8. It will help with two trends: Wi-Fi standards from Extremely High Throughput to Ultra High Reliability. | Image credit-Qualcomm The trend toward personal devices such as smart glasses, next-gen wearable devices, and health monitors. These devices need seamless short-range wireless performance so they can offload intensive tasks to other, companion devices. The second trend is the one moving toward AI-driven systems that require "reliable, low-latency connectivity to access edge or cloud-based AI for real-time inference." Again, keep in mind that Wi-Fi 8 will focus on improving Wi-Fi reliability, not speed. Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
