Wi-Fi Alliance & prpl Unite to Boost Service Provider Wi-Fi Adoption

Wi-Fi Alliance and prpl Foundation have joined forces to accelerate service provider Wi-Fi. This collaboration aims to improve how new Wi-Fi generations are implemented, validated, and deployed in broadband customer premises equipment (CPE). The goal is to shorten deployment cycles for Wi-Fi 7 and ultimately Wi-Fi 8 by bridging the gap between certification and open-source CPE software stacks.

Cisco's recent financial reporting revealed that over half of its current bookings are for Wi-Fi 7 equipment. This represents a significant milestone, as Wi-Fi 7 has transitioned from early adoption to becoming a central part of Cisco's enterprise wireless business. The company's wireless bookings grew by an impressive 25% year-over-year.

VIAVI introduced the Vertex 6.0, a channel emulator designed specifically for next-generation 6G and Wi-Fi 7/8 testing. This platform offers real-world RF propagation conditions in the laboratory, allowing for more accurate validation of Wi-Fi performance. Wi-Fi 8 prioritizes reliability, coordination, and consistent performance over peak speed.

Google's new Pixel Tag uses both Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Channel Sounding to provide precision finding capabilities. The combination of these technologies enables visual distance and directional guidance, with the added benefit of determining device locations that do not support UWB.

Sercomm reported a remarkable 69% surge in Q2 revenue growth. While the exact drivers behind this boom are unclear, management expects second-half operations to be stronger than the first half. Sercomm Chairman Wang Wei anticipates Wi-Fi 7 to account for up to 70% of new shipments in the second half of the year.