Wi-Fi 7 Trends Will Be Governed by AI and IoT in 2025
Advanced Wi-Fi is continuing to grow, with key updates influenced by the impact of AI and future evolution of 6G technologies.
The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), the global industry body dedicated to driving the seamless and interoperable service experience of Wi-Fi across the global wireless ecosystem, has shared its 2025 predictions.
Set out by organisation President and CEO, Tiago Rodrigues, these trends reflect how Wi-Fi is evolving to meet the demands of increased connectivity, higher speeds, better security, the growing number of devices connected to the internet and a greater focus on energy efficiency.
“The Wi-Fi industry has reached a pivotal moment. As demand for improved Wi-Fi user experience with seamless, secure, and high-performance connectivity continues to surge across homes, enterprises and cities, collaboration within our ecosystem is more critical than ever,” comments Tiago Rodrigues, President and CEO of the WBA.
Advancing the journey towards Wi-Fi 7
Early adopters of Wi-Fi 7 will include industries that are driven by technology, according to the WBA, including businesses that require high-density and high-speed connectivity. The organisation suggests large technology companies will implement Wi-Fi 7 to support high demand for remote collaboration tools and IoT sensors.
Outside of the business world, attitudes are changing too. The WBA explains that public venues like stadiums and airports will adopt Wi-Fi 7 early to manage the connectivity needs of thousands of simultaneous users to offer fans seamless streaming and data access.
The organisation adds. “Within the consumer sector, tech-savvy users will upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 routers to maximise the performance of their growing array of connected devices, such as smart appliances, security systems and entertainment systems for 8K streaming and gaming.”
Likewise, automated frequency coordination (AFC) systems will see phased rollouts across multiple regions, particularly across the US, Canada and the European Union (EU) and parts of Asia. The WBA states this comes as regulators are increasingly approving 6 GHz use for unlicensed Wi-Fi under AFC management.
In the United States, the FCC will lead AFC implementation for standard-power Wi-Fi operations in the 6 GHz band, with licensed database administrators managing these AFC systems. Following the US model, the WBA expects other countries to adopt similar AFC frameworks, accelerating deployment in enterprise and public spaces by ensuring devices can operate at standard power levels in outdoor or high-traffic areas without compromising incumbent communications.
Optimising network service
Wi-Fi and 5G Convergence will ensure seamless and high-quality connectivity by dynamically switching between the best available networks. According to the WBA, a person moving from a Wi-Fi-rich office to a 5G-powered urban area will experience uninterrupted service, thanks to technologies like OpenRoaming and Passpoint, which enable secure, automatic connections to trusted Wi-Fi networks.
Additionally, 5G’s network slicing further enhances this by dedicating specific network resources to applications like augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) and real-time gaming, which can integrate smoothly with Wi-Fi.
As enterprises and industries drive this convergence, the WBA suggests that 6G will add features like terahertz frequencies for nearly instant communication over wide and local areas.
In this way, edge computing will leverage both Wi-Fi and 5G/6G to offload tasks to the best network and optimise real-time performance. Wi-Fi will also dominate high-density areas like offices, while 5G/6G will enable broad IoT deployments, paving the way for innovations like smart cities and autonomous vehicles reliant on robust, ubiquitous connectivity.
2025 will also continue to see an acceleration of OpenRoaming as global adoption continues to grow.
“Moving forward on the vision to transform public and guest Wi-Fi user experience, and changing the way we connect to Wi-Fi, from remote communities, to universities, stadiums, retail chains, large city deployments and more,” the WBA says. “OpenRoaming capabilities are extending into the IoT space, with zero touch provisioning of IoT devices, emergency calling and response and private cellular networks.”
At same time, OpenRoaming is also expanding opportunities for MNOs and MVNOs to incorporate Wi-Fi as part of their wireless solutions to expand capacity and coverage. In fact, 81% of respondents to the WBA are planning OpenRoaming deployments by 2026, suggesting confidence in Wi-Fi investments are on the rise.
Increasing industry connectivity
As the number of IoT devices continues to grow, Wi-Fi networks will be optimised to handle large-scale device connections. The WBA suggests that the ability of Wi-Fi 7 to manage more simultaneous devices will be crucial in supporting smart homes, IoT and smart cities.
“Municipalities and governments will continue to expand public Wi-Fi networks,” the organisation says. “Public Wi-Fi networks will be driven by smart city initiatives, offering free or low-cost connectivity in urban areas. These networks will support everything from smart transportation systems to energy management and public safety.
“OpenRoaming is also set to play a pivotal role in the expansion of public and Smart City Wi-Fi networks. Municipalities and public Wi-Fi providers will likely prioritise OpenRoaming to enhance user experience, simplify network management, and foster more data-rich urban environments.”
Tiago adds: “At the WBA, we are committed to driving innovation, interoperability, and standards that empower the Wi-Fi and broadband connectivity industry to meet the needs of today while laying the foundation for tomorrow’s connected world.”
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