Wi-Fi 8 prioritizes reliability over raw speed

IEEE 802.11bn, marketed as Wi-Fi 8, keeps Wi-Fi 7's peak speed of about 46Gbps but targets reliability: 25% higher throughput in weak signal, 25% lower latency and 25% fewer dropped packets. Cisco says Multi-AP coordination and seamless roaming will support AI agents communicating over networks.

• Speed stays at Wi-Fi 7 levels: up to 46Gbps, 320MHz and 4096-QAM
• Targets: +25% throughput, −25% latency and packet loss
• Multi-AP coordination and Single Mobility Domain enable seamless roaming
• Cisco: AI agent traffic uses 450% more tokens and needs stable links