Engineering the Future of Wireless: Inside the Promise and Power of Wi-Fi 8

Staying ahead of the curve in the technology business is essential. With Wi-Fi 8 on our industry's doorstep, its promise to dramatically advance connectivity as we know it-It's time to make ready. This new standard promises not just faster internet speeds but also smarter, more efficient networking. To help us navigate the intricacies of Wi-Fi 8 and its implications for design engineers, we spoke with several experts, including Qorvo Connectivity Product Line Directors Kevin Gallagher and Wayne Polonio. Here, Kevin and Wayne share their expert insights on what engineers can expect from Wi-Fi 8 and how it will shape the future of wireless networking, including how key front-end innovations will support the next leap in wireless networking.

Q: What's the real difference between Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 8?

Kevin Gallagher: At a glance, it might seem like Wi-Fi 8 offers only incremental changes over Wi-Fi 7-both support high data rates and similar throughput. But under the hood, Wi-Fi 8 introduces important enhancements focused not on raw speed but on efficiency, coordination, and futureproofing.

The most visible change is an increase in available spectrum. Wi-Fi 8 extends the upper band limit from 7.125 GHz to 7.25 GHz. This subtle shift enables the addition of one more 320 MHz channel and another 160 MHz channel-critical assets in reducing interference and enhancing performance in dense environments.

Q: So does Wi-Fi 8 just mean "faster Wi-Fi"?

Wayne Polonio: Not exactly. While faster data rates are always desirable, Wi-Fi 8 is about smarter Wi-Fi. It builds on the technologies introduced in Wi-Fi 7, like Multi-Link Operation (MLO), but adds features that enable better coordination between access points (APs) and client devices.

One standout feature is multi-AP coordination, which allows multiple routers or access points to work together to optimize coverage and reduce latency. This is a shift from the brute-force model of today's home networks where devices cling to a weak signal until they drop, rather than seamlessly handing off to a better AP.

Q: How will these changes affect CPE and mobile design?

Kevin Gallagher: On the CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) side expect more emphasis on adaptive transmission modes. Historically, routers operated in a single, high-power mode to ensure coverage. But this isn't always optimal, especially for nearby devices.

Wi-Fi 8 encourages a shift toward dynamic front-end modes, similar to mobile handsets. This means APs will intelligently select different transmit profiles based on range and throughput needs, improving efficiency and thermal performance.

In mobile, the requirements are diverging regionally. For example, some phone makers are demanding higher output power (up to 26 dBm) to enable unique use features, while others are focused on minimizing current draw thus extending the battery life per charge. This variability increases pressure on front-end module (FEM) designers to offer more flexibility-without compromising range or battery life.

Q: What challenges do engineers face when designing for Wi-Fi 8?

Wayne Polonio: There are several:

• Thermal Management: Higher power demands and tighter packaging (especially in mobile) increase heat dissipation challenges.
• Power Efficiency: Regulatory and environmental pressures-especially in the EU-are pushing for reduced power consumption in APs.
• Filtering Requirements: More spectrum and more radios mean greater coexistence complexity, particularly for multi-band and multi-protocol systems.
• System Complexity: Supporting multiple transmit and receive modes and mode-level optimization adds to design complexity.

Q: What solutions are emerging to meet these challenges?

Kevin Gallagher: Qorvo is focusing on three core pillars to enable Wi-Fi 8 system design:

• Flexibility: Multi-mode FEMs allow for balancing power and performance based on range and traffic type.
• Integration: Integrated front-end modules (iFEMs) reduce RF losses by eliminating component-level interconnects, leading to smaller footprints and improved thermal profiles.
• Efficiency: Nonlinear design techniques, advanced filtering, and better materials reduce power consumption and support longer battery life or cooler operation.

Q: Will the shift to Wi-Fi 8 be as disruptive as 5G?

Wayne Polonio: No. Unlike the bumpy transition to 5G, Wi-Fi standards mandate backward compatibility. Consumers will be able to use Wi-Fi 8 routers with legacy devices, and infrastructure upgrades are more evolutionary than revolutionary.

That said, with emerging applications like VR/AR demanding ultra-low latency and consistent handovers, Wi-Fi 8's system-level improvements will become critical to user experience.

Q: Final takeaway: What should design engineers prioritize?

Kevin Gallagher: Wi-Fi 8 won't be defined by eye-popping data rates, but by intelligence and efficiency. To build systems that are ready for this shift, engineers should focus on:

• Designing for power-aware performance across varied use cases
• Leveraging integration to reduce size, heat, and loss
• Preparing for greater spectral coordination across bands

Qorvo remains committed to supporting both CPE and mobile solutions across the ecosystem-enabling our partners to deliver robust, efficient, and future-ready Wi-Fi 8 experiences. Learn more about Qorvo's Wi-Fi technology and innovations.