The Wireless Broadband Alliance has released its Wi-Fi predictions for 2026 and beyond, and the message is blunt. Wi-Fi is no longer a sidekick to cellular networks. It is becoming the connective tissue that holds digital infrastructure together.

Outlined in the “WBA Industry Report 2026,” the forecast maps out how new standards, wider spectrum access, and deeper carrier integration are reshaping how people, devices, and systems stay connected. The tone is less speculative and more matter-of-fact. Much of this shift is already underway.

Wi-Fi 7 Moves From Curiosity to Default Choice

Wi-Fi 7 adoption gathered real speed during 2025. Enterprises wanted the 6 GHz band. Consumers wanted lower latency and higher throughput. Hardware vendors responded.

Shipments of Wi-Fi 7 access points climbed from 26.3 million units in 2024 to an estimated 66.5 million in 2025. Projections for 2026 reach 117.9 million units, according to ABI Research. That curve tells its own story. Wi-Fi 7 is no longer a future feature. It is becoming the baseline.

Standard Power 6 GHz Finally Finds Its Footing

Standard Power 6 GHz had an awkward debut. Regulatory delays slowed rollouts. Equipment choices stayed thin. That friction is easing.

Clearer regulatory guidance and broader vendor support set the stage for stronger adoption in 2026. Large venues, universities, and industrial facilities are expected to lead. More regulators are also expected to authorize Standard Power use, which removes one more barrier.

Early Signs of Wi-Fi 8 Begin to Surface

Wi-Fi 8 remains years from formal standardization. That has not stopped early movement. Initial chipset announcements appeared late in 2025.

2026 is expected to bring more chipset disclosures and early prototype access points. A small number of these prototypes are likely to appear at Mobile World Congress 2026. The pattern is familiar. Vendors prepare long before standards are finalized.

Wi-Fi Offload Gains Strategic Weight

Traffic growth on cellular networks keeps pressing upward. Operators need relief valves that preserve user experience. Wi-Fi offload continues to fill that role.

Smart cities are also leaning into offload strategies. Free public connectivity supports tourism, transportation systems, and emergency services. OpenRoaming plays a growing role here by removing login friction and improving continuity across networks.

Wi-Fi HaLow Steps Into Practical Use

Wi-Fi HaLow moved beyond lab trials in 2025. Commercial deployments began to scale. Chipset availability improved. Infrastructure options widened.

Momentum continues into 2026 with new products and real-world use cases. Industrial IoT, agriculture, and sensor networks benefit from HaLow’s range and efficiency. The technology is finding its natural audience.

Wi-Fi and 6G Begin to Share the Same Blueprint

The WBA’s 6G vision places Wi-Fi alongside future cellular standards rather than beneath them. Collaboration sits at the center of that plan.

As the cellular industry prepares for early 6G work, clearer definitions around Wi-Fi integration are expected to emerge. Cost efficiency and operational alignment sit at the core of this approach.

In-Flight Wi-Fi Takes a Noticeable Leap

Airplane Wi-Fi has long carried a reputation problem. That changes as Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations enter service.

Faster speeds and lower latency arrive with LEO-based systems. Airlines such as British Airways and United plan to adopt these services in 2026. Free Wi-Fi access across all cabin classes becomes more common, turning connectivity into a standard expectation rather than a paid perk.

Fiber and Satellite Extend the Reach

Fiber broadband subscriptions continue their steady rise. Global totals are projected to reach 808.7 million by the end of 2026.

Satellite broadband also expands its footprint. Subscriptions are expected to nearly double between 2024 and 2026, bringing service to regions long left offline. Coverage gaps shrink as a result.

Mesh Networking Keeps Filling the Gaps

Consumers adopted Wi-Fi mesh systems to eliminate dead zones at home. Service providers now scale mesh deployments to improve service quality and lift average revenue per user.

Annual shipments of mesh equipment are projected to rise from 41.7 million units in 2024 to 63.6 million in 2026. Mesh is no longer optional in dense residential environments.

Millimeter Wave Wi-Fi Edges Forward

Work continues on Integrated mmWave Wi-Fi under the 802.11bq effort. The focus sits on the 60 GHz band.

Completion remains several years away, though 2026 should offer clearer signals about intended use cases and performance goals. High-gigabit, low-latency wireless transfer sits at the center of that discussion.

Where This Leaves the Industry

The Wireless Broadband Alliance frames Wi-Fi as the digital backbone of modern connectivity. The prediction list supports that view. Wi-Fi supports factories, cities, aircraft, homes, and enterprise campuses.

This is less about hype and more about alignment. Standards mature. Coverage expands. Integration tightens. Wi-Fi becomes less visible and more relied upon. That may be the clearest signal of success.