By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO Chairman
What does 2026 have in store for Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi and AI are conjoined at the hip and promise to achieve great things together – while the adoption of Wi-Fi 7 is proceeding nicely, Wi-Fi Alliance says. Wi-Fi for IoT is another growth opportunity that is evolving fast. Meanwhile, the battle for unlicensed spectrum in Europe is heating up as the future of European productivity and competitiveness for the next decade or more hangs in the balance. Here’s our New Year’s interview with Kevin Robinson, President & CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance.
What can AI do for Wi-Fi, and vice versa? The two are strongly interdependent and 2026 will see AI and Wi-Fi draw closer to each other as new use cases solidify while existing applications expand. Meanwhile, the work on creating a comprehensive framework for how data – the lifeblood of AI – is structured and applied within Wi-Fi networks continues and will expand in 2026, says Wi-Fi Alliance.
“There are two ways in which AI and Wi-Fi support each other: AI-based network optimisations make Wi-Fi experiences better – and we’re already seeing that, of course – while conversely, Wi-Fi is critical for enabling AI applications. In 2026 we will see both develop further, as AI decisions increasingly will take place within Wi-Fi chips on routers and devices. This shift has already begun,” says Kevin Robinson.
He says that data models will be essential to delivering the next AI-powered step up in connectivity quality of experience. “Wi-Fi 7 is in a sense already AI-ready in that industry-standard data models already exist and will be integral to future development, for example optimising roaming behaviour, use of specific features, Wi-Fi sensing, various quality of service metrics, even AI-based beamforming, and more. Data models are the structural foundations that will allow AI to boost connectivity quality in a multitude of ways,” he says.
Another significant 2026 growth opportunity is Wi-Fi for IoT. “Wi-Fi has always been important for IoT, but we’re seeing increasing proliferation, in particular for industry applications such as robotics, automotive, and predictive maintenance. For consumer IoT devices, the critical role of Wi-Fi within the Matter standard is certainly a driver, as is renewed industry focus on ultra-low-power Wi-Fi chipsets enabling devices to run for years on the same coin battery,” Kevin Robinson says.
But not everything is rosy in the world of Wi-Fi. A recent recommendation by Europe’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) portends excluding Wi-Fi operations from the top half of the 6 GHz band in Europe. Thankfully, the recommendation is not binding, which means the battle is far from lost. Wi-Fi Alliance issued this statement in November. Kevin Robinson does not mince words when it comes to what’s at stake for European businesses and consumers.
“Wi-Fi is foundational to economic competitiveness. There can be no doubt that if Europe continues on this policy path, then Europe’s ability to compete in the global market will recede and business productivity will suffer. However, regulators have a pragmatic alternative available. They can allow controlled Wi-Fi access to the upper 6 GHz band now – bringing immediate benefits for citizens and enterprises – while establishing clear, evidence-based criteria for any future cellular deployments,” Kevin Robinson says.
Meanwhile, Wi-Fi Alliance says adoption of the Wi-Fi 7 standard is proceeding nicely. The latest forecast suggests that 1.1 billion Wi-Fi 7-capable devices will be shipped in 2026. “We’re pleased with Wi-Fi 7 momentum, even as work begins on defining Wi-Fi 8. Wi-Fi Alliance is where the future of Wi-Fi is determined – and that future is being shaped now,” he says.
/Claus.
