By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO & Chairman
ASUS launches the world’s first 802.11bn (Wi-Fi 8) consumer router & mesh, company says
Gaming networking kit maker ASUS – or rather ASUS’ Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand – has been known to push the envelope when it comes to the latest Wi-Fi standards, and this past week it happened again: ASUS says it has launched the world’s first 802.11bn (future Wi-Fi 8) router in the form of the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 gaming router as well as the ASUS ZenWiFi BN12 mesh system, which ASUS also says is Wi-Fi 8 capable. ASUS says the ROG Rapture is the ‘world’s first gaming Wi-Fi 8 router’ while the new mesh system is the world’s first Wi-Fi 8 mesh – and although we haven’t checked, they’re likely right.
The announcements came at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany. The releases are indeed a milestone in that they mark the start of Wi-Fi 8 commercialisation – although in all honesty, there is no way of knowing what standards the routers support in that there are (as far as we know) no client devices available. It is possible that certain Wi-Fi 8 benefits can be achieved with the Wi-Fi 8 mesh system given Wi-Fi 8’s multi-AP coordination features, but that would need to be independently verified, of course. ASUS explicitly says its Smart AiMesh uses Wi-Fi 8 Multi-AP Coordination and claims this improves backhaul reliability and spectrum utilisation. Congratulations to ASUS for the first 802.11bn launch (formally these products can only be called Wi-Fi 8 once the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi 8 certification program is in place).
Vodafone Germany adds its first tri-band 6 GHz Wi-Fi 7 cable router
Vodafone Germany has announced that it is expanding its cable home router portfolio with a new premium device from German router manufacturer AVM. The new FRITZ!Box 6690 Pro will be available starting August 27th, the company says. Although this is not the first Wi-Fi 7 device launched by Vodafone Germany, this is the company’s first tri-band (meaning 6 GHz-capable) home gateway.
“This ensures significantly higher data throughput rates, lower latency, and a particularly stable connection, even when many devices are active on the home network at the same time. The additional 6 GHz band creates new Wi-Fi capacity and relieves the previously used frequency bands,” Vodafone Germany says. Read more here.
Vodafone Portugal launches optimised Wi-Fi 7 home gateway solution
This week Vodafone Portugal launched the Ultra Hub Wi-Fi 7 – a new home connectivity solution that Vodafone says combines Wi-Fi 7 technology and smart features to deliver a faster, more stable, and more efficient connection throughout the home. The new gateway can be combined with a new Wi-Fi extender to improve home coverage. The launch also included an app that allows subscribers to optimise and manage home networks, Vodafone says.
Vodafone says the Ultra Hub Wi-Fi 7 “proactively and automatically optimizes network performance, helps identify and resolve problems, and adapts the user experience to the needs of each moment. The Vodafone Home App gives subscribers access to “a self-diagnostic tool that identifies potential problems and provides step-by-step guidance for their resolution,” Vodafone says. No word so far on who has provided the technology for the new solution.
South Carolina’s Truvista Fiber launches eero Outdoor 7-based managed Wi-Fi service
Truvista Fiber – a fibre-based broadband service provider based out of South Carolina – has launched what we believe is a first: A service provider managed Wi-Fi service for the outdoors based on the eero Outdoor 7 access point. The service is “helping customers extend reliable Wi-Fi beyond the walls of their homes and businesses,” Truvista says in a press release available here.
The company also says that “for restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and other small businesses, strong outdoor connectivity supports guest Wi-Fi, mobile point-of-sale systems, digital ordering, handheld payment devices and day-to-day operations,” and that the Outdoor 7-based service supports plans of up to 2.5 Gbps and 15,000 square feet of coverage (about 1400 square meters). Truvista offers the full suite of eero router products to its subscribers, spanning from eero 6+ and eero Pro 6E to the eero Max 7 and Outdoor 7 (read more here).
/Claus.
