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AI Managed Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 8
Why The Future of Wi-Fi is Managed: Wi-Fi 8 and AI

Are you finding it hard to keep up with Wi-Fi standards?

Whilst we are still in the midst of telecommunications providers rolling out Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7, we’re already being bombarded with how the next generation is taking shape. 

We’re beginning to see the definitions of Wi-Fi 8, with early pre-standard products being expected to land in 2027 followed by standardised devices in 2028. 

The step up to Wi-Fi 7 has largely been about speed, with it being nearly 4 times as fast as Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 8 on the other hand, as you will likely have read about already, is focusing more on real-world performance – Namely reliability and stability. Hugely important things when it comes to Wi-Fi networks we’re sure you’ll agree. 

The industry is also simultaneously being reshaped by AI. We’re seeing AI everywhere – Maybe even at times when you don’t even realise it is in fact AI! Imagery, video content, social media platforms, captions, blogs – It is absolutely everywhere. And it’s coming for your Wi-Fi. 

So how will AI impact connectivity, and how quickly? 

Wi-Fi is getting more powerful and more complex

What we know about tech is that things are constantly striving to improve. Bigger, better, faster, stronger. Wi-Fi 8 and AI are promising significant improvements, but let’s remember that they are arriving in a world where consumers are actually pretty frustrated with Wi-Fi. 

Consumers demand strong connectivity and reliability – But often without the understanding of the fundamentals of Wi-Fi. Do people realise how sensitive Wi-Fi can be to interference? Things like neighbouring networks, microwaves, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, even people moving about a room or office. 

Every time we move to a new standard and a new generation of Wi-Fi emerges, the number of parameters and optimisations increases. What does this mean? Well, in short, the average person will no longer be able to tune their own networks. You’re probably going to need a Wi-Fi engineer. (Like us here at Geekabit! Hello!).

Now whilst our Wi-Fi expert engineers understand the sensitivities of Wi-Fi interference and other factors, the average consumer may not. And this is where telecommunications providers get in a tricky spot. When the Wi-Fi underperforms, the end user doesn’t think ‘Oh that’s just Margaret heating up her lunch with the microwave’ – They blame the internet provider.

When it comes to Wi-Fi problems, many end users and consumers will blur the lines between ‘My Wi-Fi is slow’ and ‘My internet is slow.’ The broadband being delivered to the premises may well be performing just fine, but it’s actually interference within the building that’s causing the Wi-Fi to buffer and fail. 

So what needs to come next? 

Managed Wi-Fi

The way forward for telecommunications providers and happy, non-frustrated consumers is Managed Wi-Fi.

Telecommunication providers will be able to use a cloud-based control platform, where they can consistently collect performance data from home Wi-Fi devices and automatically optimise key parameters. This would completely remove the burden from the end user. 

Instead of end users trying to guess whether they should change a band or a channel, or change a setting, the network would adjust itself—often even before the customer notices an issue.

As we said above, consumers expert strong, reliable Wi-Fi – And not just to their door, but to every receiving user device. Managed Wi-Fi will also enable telecommunication providers to shift the demarcation point from the front door and actually into the home. 

Companies need to be doing more than just delivering high speeds to the router – Telecommunications providers need to make sure that high quality connectivity is achieved in every room of a premises. Mesh networking and centralised cloud optimisation will allow them to do exactly that.

A managed platform will be able to see all Wi-Fi nodes across a network. This means it will be able to reduce operational expenses by giving customer care agents and network administrators better visibility into the root causes of any issues. 

Managed Wi-Fi significantly shortens resolution time and reduces operating costs, even without AI enhancements.

Transformative AI will accelerate Managed Wi-Fi

Cloud platforms already gather enormous volumes of data. We’re talking around 200 billion data points in a 24 hour period across deployed devices. 

This gives telecommunications companies a huge amount of data and detail about exactly Wi-Fi behaves in real-world environments.  

It won’t be long before AI and machine learning will enable telecommunications providers to use these data points for even deeper insights. 

For example:

  • Identifying the root cause of any issues by correlating symptoms across the premises, the access link and the RF environment
  • Reducing the need for a customer agent walk through by automatically eliminating unlikely causes
  • Assisting support teams by giving improved guidance so that issues can be resolved on the first try
  • Optimising Wi-Fi conditions across millions of premises in a way that is not currently practical

Those that have already deployed Managed Wi-Fi will be best positioned to benefit from these insights when the industry makes this leap forward. 

How will this be monetised?

A survey conducted by Nokia gathered data from 600 gamers – A data set known for their hardcore broadband use. Results suggest that 8 out of 10 would be willing to switch broadband providers if it meant better Wi-Fi. Not only that, but they’d also be prepared to pay a premium for it too.

Once a telecommunication provider is delivering reliable, optimised coverage, other value-added opportunities arise. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay for additional services and features like 

  • Cybersecurity
  • Parental controls
  • Smart home protection, etc.

Whilst these can be sold as add-ons, they can also be bundled into higher-tier broadband packages. And once a customer finds a package deal that meets their needs, the tend to rarely downgrade. 

Wi-Fi 8 and AI are well on the way

Whilst there are many fantastic opportunities that Wi-Fi 8 and AI will bring, they will also bring complexities. The best thing to do is prepare for it now.  

Next generation connectivity will be made possible with Managed Wi-Fi through the platform, the data, and the operational framework. Will telecommunication providers take full advantage of what’s coming next?

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Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi 8 Wi-Fi Advice
What Does Wi-Fi 8 Have to Offer?

The short answer is Wi-Fi 8 UHR (Ultra High Reliability) is being designed to deliver:

  • Longer range
  • Better reliability
  • Improved performance
  • More security

For the first time in almost 30 years, the latest standard of Wi-Fi to be released (Wi-Fi 8) will not be arriving with an increase in speed, like the standards that have come before. 

Based on the forthcoming IEEE 802.11bn standard, this next generation of Wi-Fi will instead be touting Ultra High Reliability (it’s in the name). It’s expected to start certification at the start of 2028. 

This change from speed to reliability shows a strategic shift from merely chasing throughput, to delivering dependable, consistent connectivity to environments dense with devices. 

Wi-Fi 8 UHR Designed with User Experience in Mind 

It sounds rather obvious, but the main focus with next-generation technology needs to be the end user and their experience. 

In everyday life we use applications constantly, the majority sensitive to latency. We need things to work in real-time in a responsive and reliable way. 

This ‘always-on’ approach to connectivity has crept forward in importance over an increase of 1 or 2 Gbps. 

What’s the use of speed if the reliability isn’t there to back it up? Wi-Fi 8 is all about making the best use of Wi-Fi. 

Certification for Wi-Fi 7 Has Begun

If you’re sitting there thinking, wait a minute, we’re chatting about Wi-Fi 8 but have we even got Wi-Fi 7 yet? Well, no. At the start of this year back in January, Wi-Fi 7 began its certification process. 

In theoretical terms, Wi-Fi 7 can offer:

  • Peak downlink speed of 46 Gbps using 16 spatial streams
  • 320 megahertz channels in 6 GHz bands
  • 4096 QAM
  • Support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

Wi-Fi 8 will then follow this up by introducing new capabilities that are not optimised for peak speed. Instead, the new Wi-Fi 8 standard will focus on overcoming alternative obstacles to good Wi-Fi, like environments with jitter, interference, and range issues. 

Where Will Wi-Fi 8 Have the Highest Impact? 

As well as speed, the new Wi-Fi 8 standard will focus on being consistent and predictable with seamless performance for scenarios with multiple devices and multiple access points.

This will make Wi-Fi 8 most impactful for things like:

  • Extended reality
  • Cloud-based gaming
  • Industrial automation
  • Real-time communications

Thus, the scope for a big impact is huge. 

The Evolution of Wi-Fi 7 to Wi-Fi 8

Moving from Wi-Fi 7 to Wi-Fi 8 will be less of an abrupt departure from one standard to another, but instead an evolution of technology. In many ways. So how will Wi-Fi 8 deliver Ultra High Reliability? 

Let’s have a look at the main upgrades in architecture we’ll see from Wi-Fi 8 UHR. 

Range

There will be longer range and higher speeds at a given range with Wi-Fi 8. 

  • Signal resilience across longer distances will be brought by Enhanced Long Range (ELR) optimisations. 
  • APs will be able to transmit higher speeds at any given range through unequal modulations. 
  • Distributed Resource Unit (DRU) technology improves range by spreading resource units across a wider channel bandwidth enabling higher transmit powers.

Interference Management

There will be smarter coordination through Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR) and Coordinated Beamforming (Co-BF). 

  • This allows interference to be managed through mesh nodes and APs while sharing spectrum. 
  • Seamless roaming through Muilti-APs, ensuring better device handoff between APs without degradation providing a smoother user experience.

Improved Error Correction

Improved error correction and roaming will improve reliability. 

  • Error correction at range and in noisy environments is enhanced with Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coding. 
  • Higher speeds at a given distance are possible with more Modulation Coding Scheme (MCS) options, providing more granular rate selection and more precise matching to real-time signal conditions.

Adaptive Channel Access

Adaptive channel access and smarter spectrum use will help improve throughput and reduce bandwidth waste. 

  • APs can dynamically assign sub-channels to different clients based on changing situational conditions via Dynamic Sub-Channel Operation (DS). 
  • Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) enables data transmission on side channels when the primary channel is congested. 
  • DSO and NPCA respectively reduce bandwidth waste and improve effective throughput.

Stronger Security

Malicious actions that could potentially disrupt Wi-Fi based services and jeopardise user security like jamming or spoofing can be prevented via Wi-Fi authentication and management frames being encrypted.

Wi-Fi 8: Reliability Over Speed?

Obviously as Wi-Fi users we want speed. We want, and have come to expect, a fast connection wherever we are, whether it’s for work or leisure time. But actually – What’s the point of having that theoretical speed sitting there, if the connection isn’t reliable? How frustrating is it to have that video call freeze or the internet drop out at a crucial part of an online game? 

Reliability is key – It’s what users in real life want and need. Previous Wi-Fi generations have been all about speed so we’ve got that box ticked already, but what Wi-Fi 8 brings is what people need for the way we use our devices – Ultra High Reliability. 

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Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi 8 Wi-Fi Advice Wi-Fi Standards
What Can We Expect from Wi-Fi 8? 

Towards the end of November, there was an IEEE 802.11 conference in Thailand taking a look at what will eventually come to pass as what we will know as Wi-Fi 8. 

As with all things tech, things move at a quick pace as standards and technology advance. These meetings and conferences are important to discuss these advancements and how they affect and consolidate the next standard. 

They are a great opportunity for members of the IEEE to not only raise questions but be a part of technical proposals, as well as see what is coming up next in the world of Wi-Fi. 

New developments have the potential to affect things like certification and products, so it’s really useful to get insider knowledge. 

So what happened at this latest meeting and what will it mean for Wi-Fi 8?

You might be thinking, wait – Do we even have Wi-Fi 7 yet? The Wi-Fi 7 certification program is expected to be rolled out in 2023. But as always, there is always the next standard waiting in the wings! Things are advancing all the time and the next tech development is always on the horizon. 

Currently, we’re waiting for the 802.11be standards to be finalised. The latest IEEE meeting had a look at this with a view to getting some of the more intricate details all ironed out ready. 

The specifications for Wi-Fi 8 will likely be determined by the UHR (ultra high reliability) study group that studies various proposals. 

Will mainstream Wi-Fi use the 60 GHz spectrum in the future?

There will have been various technical presentations as a part of the IEEE meeting, with different contributors vying for different approaches to the next standard of Wi-Fi. 

An interesting potential consideration for Wi-Fi 8 was the use of the 60 GHz spectrum within mainstream Wi-Fi. WiGig, based within IEEE 802.11ad/ay, isn’t a popular choice within mainstream Wi-Fi when it comes to products. 

There are contributors that want to change this for the next gen standards, particularly in terms of integrating AR/XR/VR and the like on the 60 GHz band. 

Not everyone was pro this idea, with other contributors raising the fact that the 60 GHz band had been lacking in success. Instead, they want the UHR to study another area of the spectrum – sub-7 GHz – And look for Wi-Fi improvements there. 

Of course, these meetings are the prime place for these discussions, with a view to identifying the best course of action for the next generation of Wi-Fi standard, and where the most enhancements can be found.

The outcome of these discussions within the IEEE 802.11be meetings and the UHR studies will ultimately shape what we will come to know as Wi-Fi 8. Nothing has been finalised yet, but watch this space! 

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