Prospective Evaluation of Next Generation Wireless Broadband Technologies: 6G versus Wi-Fi 7/8

Abstract

Currently, 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are now being deployed in tandem across the globe. Consequently, major research and development activities have already begun for the next generation of wireless broadband technologies, ranging from the sixth cellular generation (‘6G’) to the seventh IEEE 802.11be standard (‘Wi-Fi 7’) and eighth IEEE 802.11bn Wi-Fi standards (‘Wi-Fi 8'). Whereas 6G is due to be standardized around the mid-2020s, with deployment expected from circa-2028 onwards, Wi-Fi 7 is currently being standardized, with finalization due by 2023, and deployment via unlicensed spectrum bands expected shortly after. By the time 6G is released, the wireless industry will have moved onto Wi-Fi 8. Given this dynamic context, it is imperative that decision makers have a thorough understanding of these prospective technologies, particularly regarding future demand, deployment scenarios, and how these two groups of technologies compare. Therefore, this article reviews the emerging issues we see pertinent to these two groups of technologies, with the aim of emphasizing the engineering, economics, and policy issues for decision makers across the wireless broadband industry.