Broadcom claims to have developed the “industry’s first” Wi-Fi 8-ready silicon solutions – even though the standard isn’t set to be finalized until at least 2028.

The chip giant unveiled a trio of hardware it claimed is capable of supporting AI workloads for edge networks.

Among its family of apparent Wi-Fi 8 solutions are the BCM6718, which is designed for residential and operator access applications, and the edge wireless-focused BCM43109.

Also revealed were the BCM43840 and BCM43820, which Broadcom said are tailored for enterprise access applications.

“The transition to the ‘AI era’ demands networks that are fast, smart, adaptive, and deeply reliable,” Mark Gonikberg, SVP and GM of Broadcom’s wireless communications and connectivity division, explained. “Broadcom’s Wi-Fi 8 products are meticulously engineered to provide the AI-ready, high-performance, low-latency, and predictability that the modern AI edge demands.”

Each of the silicon offerings features a hardware-accelerated telemetry engine. This addition collects real-time data on network performance and device behavior to provide operators with telemetry to train AI models for use cases like network security and anomaly detection

They also include features that help to manage and avoid congestion; range enhancements to expand coverage for uses in multilevel buildings and outdoor IoT deployments; and support for seamless roaming, so devices housing the chips can still function accurately when moving between access points

Broadcom’s Wi-Fi 8 silicon offerings are currently sampling to select partners, with its related IP now available for licensing.

Making sense of standards

Broadcom said its new silicon is “standards-based” – but how can the chips be Wi-Fi 8 ready?

IEEE 802.11bn, or "ultra-high reliability (UHR)," is the forthcoming networking standard, more commonly known as Wi-Fi 8.

IEEE contributors began the process for developing the standard back in 2023, with a status page suggesting final approval for the designation won’t take place until 2028.

Vendors saying something is standard-compliant is not uncommon – Broadcom itself debuted Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity chips in 2023, a whole year before IEEE released its initial certification in January 2024, with a second slated for this December.

To support its claim that its chips are Wi-Fi 8 compliant, Broadcom said its silicon “reflects decades of architectural enhancements that result in [a] smaller footprint and better battery efficiency as compared to benchmark Wi-Fi 7 solutions in the market today.”

“Wi-Fi 8 will usher in the next era of high-performance connectivity, enabling more advanced applications, immersive experiences, and ultra-reliable, multigigabit connectivity for users worldwide,” Kevin Robinson, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, noted. “Broadcom’s early innovation helps accelerate the ecosystem and ensures that Wi-Fi continues to be a strong, reliable foundation for connectivity.”