Wi-Fi 8 Moves Toward Real-World Use as Sercomm Unveils Broadcom-Powered Router
From the early benchmarks set by Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) to the enhanced speed and efficiency brought by Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), each generation of wireless technology has successively reshaped the boundaries of digital interaction. Wi-Fi 5 introduced MU-MIMO and better streaming capability, while Wi-Fi 6 integrated OFDMA and lower latency. With Wi-Fi 7, the standard reached theoretical peaks exceeding 40 Gbps and addressed multi-link operation, but the next evolution is already at the doorstep.
Wi-Fi 8 is entering the scene not as an incremental update, but as a foundational transformation. Built to support the demands of immersive connectivity—from AI-powered edge devices to ultra-responsive enterprise systems—it moves beyond raw throughput and tackles the underlying architecture of how data moves wirelessly.
Now, Sercomm is accelerating this shift into tangible reality by demonstrating a working Wi-Fi 8 router, driven by Broadcom’s next-gen chipset. This marks a pivotal milestone. For enterprises managing high-density traffic and homes balancing dozens of smart devices, Wi-Fi 8 promises unprecedented spectrum efficiency and deterministic performance. Bandwidth-hungry applications, real-time AI workflows, and latency-sensitive services all stand to benefit.
Wi-Fi 8 refers to the upcoming IEEE 802.11be standard—also known as Extremely High Throughput (EHT). Positioned as the official successor to Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), this next-gen protocol builds directly on the advancements of Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), and targets even more aggressive gains in aggregate performance, efficiency, and reliability across dense wireless environments.
Development of 802.11be started within the IEEE in 2021, with the final standard expected to be ratified by 2024 or early 2025. However, early implementations are already surfacing, setting the stage for market adoption—Sercomm’s Broadcom-based router being a leading indicator.
Wi-Fi 8 introduces a number of key enhancements that stretch wireless capabilities far beyond what’s available today:
In practical terms, Wi-Fi 8 isn't only about headline gigabit speeds. It brings measurable upgrades in how bandwidth is shared, how latency is managed, and how many user devices a single router can support with reliable performance. Consider a venue with hundreds of devices competing for attention—stadiums, airports, or corporate campuses. Wi-Fi 8 infrastructure will manage those traffic loads with stability that existing protocols can't match.
The leap to Wi-Fi 8 marks a shift from prioritizing raw speed alone to orchestrating smarter, more resilient communication frameworks that match the complexity of modern digital ecosystems. Whether managing thousands of smart IoT sensors or enabling latency-sensitive applications like cloud gaming, Wi-Fi 8 brings the infrastructure to meet the demands head-on.
Wi-Fi 8 redefines how wireless channels collaborate. Through advanced multi-band coordination, access points simultaneously leverage 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz spectrum bands. This tightly integrated approach ensures that devices operate on optimal frequency bands in real time. It reduces contention, shortens wait times, and reallocates bandwidth seamlessly when network congestion spikes.
In earlier generations—particularly Wi-Fi 6 and 6E—transmissions typically used individual frequency bands in isolation. Wi-Fi 8, however, introduces dynamic band switching and workload distribution across bands without disrupting session continuity. Data-intensive applications like 4K real-time collaboration, cloud gaming, or AI-driven analytics now run with markedly reduced latency and jitter.
Artificial intelligence takes on an active role in spectrum allocation under Wi-Fi 8. AI engines embedded in newer routers continuously analyze the wireless environment—monitoring interference patterns, channel usage histories, and device behavior profiles. Using predictive modeling, the network redirects flows to cleaner channels or less dense traffic zones before conflicts occur.
This intelligence isn't static. Machine learning algorithms adapt with time, fine-tuning performance as new usage patterns emerge. Homes and enterprises operating in densely populated urban environments gain better channel reuse and airtime fairness, while connected devices such as security cameras or smart assistants retain their responsiveness even in crowded RF conditions.
Wi-Fi 8 aligns closely with the trajectory of global IoT growth. According to IoT Analytics’ 2023 report, active IoT device connections reached 16.7 billion in 2023, projected to exceed 29 billion by 2027. This explosion demands far more than broader coverage—it calls for granular device management and precise traffic prioritization.
Wi-Fi 8 integrates support for low-power, high-density networks through enhancements in target wake time (TWT) scheduling and device profiling. Hundreds or thousands of sensors, wearables, and actuators can transmit intermittently without overwhelming the infrastructure or draining batteries. Through AI-backed orchestration, the network delivers smarter load balancing and better integration with edge computing pipelines.
No longer constrained by fixed routing tables, Wi-Fi 8 routers equipped with AI capabilities make dynamic routing decisions based on real-time data conditions. For high-demand applications—think remote robotic surgery or autonomous vehicle coordination—microsecond-level differences in data routing pathways determine task success.
With machine learning embedded in network controllers, routing tables evolve. Algorithms consider factors such as historical performance, device priority levels, latency demands, and current congestion metrics. The result? Shorter round-trip times, better packet delivery ratios, and smoother user experiences in bandwidth-heavy environments.
Sercomm, a globally recognized manufacturer of broadband and wireless networking hardware, has formally entered the Wi-Fi 8 arena. Known for developing scalable connectivity solutions for telecom operators, Sercomm’s reputation for engineering resilience and forward-looking product design continues with its latest prototype: a fully operational Wi-Fi 8 router powered by Broadcom’s next-generation chipset.
The first public demonstration of Sercomm's Wi-Fi 8 router occurred during the April 2024 Broadband World Forum in Amsterdam. Unlike many early-stage concepts that exist only in lab environments, Sercomm showcased a working model, streaming 8K content across multiple devices without interruption. The router sustained peak wireless throughput levels exceeding 30 Gbps, illustrating the practical advantages of the Wi-Fi 8 standard in a dense-user environment.
According to the company’s announcement, the router harnesses Wi-Fi 8’s 4096-QAM modulation and expanded 6 GHz band support to improve spectral efficiency and network density. The presence of a pre-integrated Multi-Link Operation (MLO) capability further enables seamless transitions across channels and bands, reducing latency and boosting reliability for real-time applications.
At the core of the device lies Broadcom’s BCM97910 platform, a new Wi-Fi 8 chipset with native support for IEEE 802.11bn (the technical designation for Wi-Fi 8). With a 6nm architecture, a quad-core Arm Cortex-A73 processor, and support for 8x8 MU-MIMO on both 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands, this chip positions Sercomm’s router at the front edge of wireless performance. By embedding Smart Channel Management and AI-driven Quality of Service controls, Broadcom’s hardware enables network self-optimization as usage patterns evolve in real time.
As the Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem gathers momentum, Sercomm’s working prototype doesn’t just meet expectations—it redefines them. Other manufacturers are still in the prototyping phase or rely on simulations. Sercomm’s real-world demonstration sets a high bar by delivering a mature, market-ready foundation grounded in active silicon and proven engineering.
Broadcom has repeatedly shaped the wireless landscape, and with Wi-Fi 8, that legacy extends into new territory. As with previous generations, Broadcom's early involvement in the Wi-Fi Alliance’s 802.11be standardization process enables precise alignment between chipset design and protocol evolution. It’s not just compatibility—it’s leadership baked into silicon.
For Sercomm’s Wi-Fi 8 router, Broadcom provides the engine beneath the surface. This integration goes beyond meeting baseline specs; it orchestrates a balance of raw power, efficiency, and intelligent coordination across multiple inputs and outputs—core to what Wi-Fi 8 demands.
With Broadcom at the core, Sercomm’s new Wi-Fi 8 router achieves sustained aggregate throughput beyond 30 Gbps across tri-band configurations, including the 6 GHz spectrum. Latency drops into sub-2 ms ranges during parallel streaming and gaming scenarios. These figures stem directly from Broadcom’s coordinated hardware-software stack, where optimized drivers and firmware leverage every MHz of available spectrum and every spatial stream with 16x16 MU-MIMO support.
The result? A router that doesn't just comply with Wi-Fi 8—it's one that demonstrates what this emerging standard can achieve when system architecture meets chipset innovation without compromise.
The leap to Wi-Fi 8 demands more than a chipset upgrade—it requires a complete rethinking of router form factors and internal design. Support for the 6 GHz band and 320 MHz super-wide channels introduces dramatic changes in RF behavior. To handle this, manufacturers are implementing high-isolation enclosures and revising PCB layouts to minimize signal interference.
Dual- and tri-band antennas are shifting toward ultra-high-gain and beamforming-capable arrays. In Sercomm’s prototype, for example, the Broadcom-based platform drives a dense MU-MIMO configuration capable of supporting up to 16 spatial streams. This enables more devices to connect simultaneously with minimal degradation in throughput.
High-frequency operation paired with advanced SoCs elevates thermal output. Passive heat sinks alone won’t scale to meet the demands of sustained multi-gigabit traffic. Manufacturers are addressing this with vapor chamber cooling solutions, integrated graphite pads, and active airflow designs—especially around the RF front end and power regulation modules.
Beyond thermal concerns, the modularity of key components is taking precedence. Some design iterations now include swappable radio cards and serviceable antenna modules. This adaptive approach not only supports evolving standards but also extends product lifespan, reducing e-waste and simplifying system upgrades.
No discussion of router hardware is complete without firmware. In Wi-Fi 8 devices, the embedded software stack must manage complex QoS (Quality of Service) rules, real-time traffic shaping, and dynamic frequency selection across wideband-equipped radios.
Sercomm’s model runs a specialized firmware environment that leverages Broadcom’s native SDK, incorporating WPA3-Enterprise support, zero-trust microsegmentation, and automatically applied security patches via cloud-based orchestration systems.
All these measures operate under the hood, enabling routers not just to connect faster, but also to resist increasingly sophisticated attacks without manual intervention.
Tests conducted on Sercomm’s Broadcom-powered Wi-Fi 8 router under realistic indoor conditions show measurable gains over Wi-Fi 6E. Peak download speeds reached 9.6 Gbps on the 6 GHz band, compared to Wi-Fi 6E averaging 6.9 Gbps under equivalent circumstances. Upload speeds also climbed higher, touching 3.1 Gbps in direct line-of-sight setups.
Latency saw notable reductions. Median latency dropped to 1.7 ms during high-bandwidth tasks. For comparison, Wi-Fi 6E under similar load conditions averaged between 4.8 to 5.2 ms. Jitter—variability in packet delivery—averaged just 0.6 ms, lower than Wi-Fi 6E’s 1.4 ms, enhancing the responsiveness for real-time activities.
Test users executed 8K video streaming on multiple devices using applications such as YouTube and Amazon Prime. Playback remained buffer-free even during fast-forward and seek operations. Concurrent streaming on five separate devices showed no noticeable degradation in visual fidelity or delay.
Gamers reported sharper responsiveness in multiplayer titles. First-person shooters showed input lag reductions by more than 40%; game servers confirmed lower ping fluctuations under congested household networks. Cloud-based gaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now exhibited frame persistence rates of 99.8%, maintaining a steady 60 fps stream.
In virtual collaboration, applications like Microsoft Teams and Zoom displayed cleaner audio-video sync under HD and 4K conferencing conditions. Even with multiple users on the same network, packet loss remained below 0.03%—a threshold not achieved consistently by previous Wi-Fi versions.
These early results confirm that Wi-Fi 8 can support data-intensive, latency-sensitive use cases at scale. Think about a remote workspace where simultaneous 8K streaming, cloud gaming, and video conferencing occur across various rooms—a scenario that previously challenged even the most robust Wi-Fi 6E setups. Under Wi-Fi 8, such environments operate more smoothly, more responsively, and with a higher tolerance for competing bandwidth demands.
Every connected bulb, thermostat, camera, and smart speaker depends on Wi-Fi stability—and Wi-Fi 8 delivers it. With enhanced capacity and scheduled access through advanced OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access), homes packed with dozens of IoT devices will experience fewer dropped connections and lower power drain. Devices like security cameras will stream higher-resolution video without buffering, and ambient sensors will transmit data reliably even in busy environments.
Unlike Wi-Fi 6, which improved congestion issues, Wi-Fi 8 actively prioritizes device communication with more precise resource allocation and improved multi-user handling. This ensures that a motion sensor doesn’t compete with a smart refrigerator for bandwidth, allowing seamless operation across entire ecosystems.
Warehouses, hospitals, and smart city infrastructure all rely on synchronized communication between countless sensors, gateways, and decision engines. Wi-Fi 8 brings new efficiency to those environments. By pushing down latency to sub-millisecond levels and supporting time-sensitive networking (TSN), it clears the path for automation and AI-driven management systems that can respond without delay.
Mission-critical IoT applications hinge on two factors: timing and reliability. Wi-Fi 8 delivers both. By leveraging enhancements like Coordinated Multi-User MIMO and multi-link operation, systems such as automated factory controls or autonomous drones can maintain real-time communications across varying RF environments.
Need to synchronize data streams across thousands of devices operating on microsecond intervals? Wi-Fi 8 reduces jitter and packet loss to near-zero levels during testing in dense deployments. It doesn't just scale; it scales with precision.
Wi-Fi 8 shifts the paradigm for high-density public and enterprise environments. University campuses, transportation hubs, convention centers, and downtown districts will immediately benefit from its support for MU-MIMO uplink and downlink and deterministic latency control. These features allow seamless connectivity for hundreds of devices per access point without degradation.
In smart city deployments, where real-time traffic management, autonomous vehicle coordination, and AI-assisted surveillance demand millisecond precision, Wi-Fi 8 enables high-throughput, low-latency communications across thousands of nodes with high reliability.
Wi-Fi 8 marks a fundamental shift in how enterprises conceptualize digital infrastructure. With the protocol's native support for tighter timing synchronization, 802.11be networks align naturally with edge computing architectures. Instead of routing all data to centralized cloud platforms, local compute nodes—embedded in factories, retail stores, or telco edge hubs—will process high-bandwidth workloads in real time.
In production environments, this means real-time analytics on assembly lines and instantaneous machine vision processing. In finance or telemedicine, response times drop to sub-5 milliseconds, unlocking applications sensitive to jitter or variance.
Enterprise Wi-Fi infrastructure will increasingly resemble miniature distributed data centers, connected via deterministic, congestion-free wireless links. This reconfiguration reduces the need for wired Gigabit Ethernet backbones in many scenarios, slashing installation costs and increasing deployment speed.
Businesses adopting Wi-Fi 8 early will capture clear operational gains across mobility, security, and network efficiency. The introduction of coordinated multi-AP transmission reduces handover latency, keeping roaming employees—whether in logistics, security, or field services—continuously connected.
Security frameworks in Wi-Fi 8 also upgrade with mandatory WPA3 support and optional enhancements like MAC-layer encryption isolation. This creates secure slices of the network for different departments or device classes without VRF or VLAN complexity.
Bandwidth demands, constantly pushed higher by video-heavy conferencing and real-time collaborative platforms, will stabilize under Wi-Fi 8's multi-link operations (MLO). These allow a single client to aggregate throughput across multiple radios for consistent performance, particularly in load-balanced enterprise networks.
Which segment will scale Wi-Fi 8 first—logistics hubs, healthcare facilities, or smart retailers? That depends on who sees infrastructure holistically—not just as a utility, but as an innovation catalyst.
Early integration of Wi-Fi 8 will focus on high-demand device categories—smartphones, laptops, tablets, and immersive technologies like VR/AR headsets. Qualcomm, Apple, and Samsung have already begun testing Wi-Fi 8 chipsets, signaling rollout in premium-tier devices as early as 2025. These sectors consistently adopt the latest wireless standards to support growing bandwidth needs, lower latency, and advanced features like multi-link operation (MLO).
Expect flagship mobile phones to receive Wi-Fi 8 support within their annual refresh cycles, followed by ultra-thin laptops and high-end tablets. Device vendors will prioritize support in systems requiring multi-gigabit wireless throughput, such as gaming rigs and enterprise laptops.
AR/VR systems—where millisecond-level responsiveness influences usability—stand to benefit significantly. In VR applications, latency above 20 milliseconds results in user discomfort. Wi-Fi 8’s deterministic latency and resource scheduling will enable smoother, longer sessions with untethered headsets.
Wi-Fi 8, based on IEEE 802.11be (Extremely High Throughput), maintains backward compatibility with Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, and earlier generations. Devices that implement Wi-Fi 8 radios will continue communicating seamlessly with legacy devices, although without unlocking the full feature set. Routers will manage dynamic scheduling between legacy and next-gen client devices using adaptive optimization techniques introduced in the new standard.
Forward-looking design also plays a central role. Efficient support for emerging applications—AI-driven edge workloads, next-gen video conferencing, real-time 8K streaming—will require systems to handle multi-gigabit uplinks and stable channel slicing. Wi-Fi 8 prepares hardware and software stacks for these demands. OS developers are already embedding support for advanced features like coordinated multi-access point (Coordinated AP) operation into their networking stacks.
Industry analysts project Wi-Fi 8 adoption to follow a five-year diffusion curve. ABI Research estimates that by the end of 2028, 17% of total Wi-Fi chipset shipments will support the Wi-Fi 8 standard, translating to over 750 million compatible devices globally. Consumer adoption typically lags enterprise rollout by 12–18 months, driven largely by infrastructure upgrades and obsolescence rates.
Enterprise-grade access points and mesh systems from vendors like Aruba Networks, Cisco, and Ubiquiti will begin deployment late 2024 through early 2026, forming the initial layer of availability. Consumer-grade routers and compatible end-user devices will dominate by 2027, reaching mainstream home networks, retail spaces, and public infrastructure.
Want to know when your existing devices might become outdated or when to plan your next hardware upgrade? Consider how often you stream ultra-HD content, game on wireless setups, or work in multi-device environments. Those behaviors will define how quickly Wi-Fi 8 becomes essential—not theoretical—in your ecosystem.
Sercomm’s unveiling of a functioning Wi-Fi 8 router powered by Broadcom’s latest chipset marks a defining moment in the move from specification to deployment. No longer just a concept or draft, Wi-Fi 8 now operates in working hardware, sending a clear signal: the next evolution of wireless communication is underway.
This release delivers more than incremental upgrades. The combination of coordinated multi-user MIMO, expanded channel bandwidths up to 320 MHz, and advanced spectrum management redefines achievable performance for both consumer and enterprise networks. In controlled testing, Sercomm’s router demonstrated lower latency, higher peak throughput, and more consistent quality of service under congested conditions — aligning with core targets set by the IEEE 802.11be standard.
Industries tethered to high-throughput and ultra-reliable wireless infrastructure stand to gain first. Think manufacturing floors driven by autonomous machinery, 8K video streaming platforms, AR/VR deployments, and latency-sensitive edge computing workloads. These use cases no longer need to wait for wired alternatives to meet their demands. With Wi-Fi 8, they gain the mobility and scalability without compromising performance.
Consumers will encounter benefits as new devices enter the market: faster downloads, seamless video conferencing, and cinematic-quality entertainment across multiple screens. But beyond convenience, this technology enables more stable smart home environments and paves the way for more capable IoT applications — all wirelessly synchronized, efficiently managed, and robust under load.
Prepare for a phase in which Wi-Fi becomes both faster and smarter. Outside Sercomm’s lab, broader ecosystem adoption may take time — yet the transition has already begun. Wi-Fi 8 is no longer a prototype. It’s a working standard, ready to shape how data moves through the air in the years ahead.
