The Wireless Broadband Association (WBA) released its top ten predictions for 2026 and beyond.

The organization expects Wi-Fi 7 deployments to accelerate as corporate entities and private users look to use the 6 GHz spectrum and the standard’s new features. The WBA predicts 117.98 million Wi-Fi access points to ship this year.

The second prediction is that standard power 6 GHz (SP 6 GHz) will shake off what the WBA says was a “rocky start” and gain traction in 2026. There is now “greater clarity on the regulatory landscape” of the technology. WBA says it will find a home in the large public venues, education, and industrial manufacturing verticals.

The third 2026 prediction is that early versions of Wi-Fi 8 chipsets, which were first evident at the end of last year, will accelerate. The WBA expects a “broad array of Wi-Fi 8 chipset announcements,” including prototype Wi-Fi 8 APs.

The rest of the WBA’s top ten predictions for 2026:

• Wi-Fi offload will gain in prominence with OpenRoaming
• Wi-Fi HaLow momentum will accelerate
• There will be greater clarity on how Wi-Fi and 6G will converge
• Wi-Fi on airplanes will see major advancements
• Advances in broadband access will improve and expand connectivity
• Mesh adoption will continue to rise
• There will be important progress on integrated millimeter wave (mmWave) Wi-Fi (802.11bq)

“It is clear that Wi-Fi is becoming fundamental as the digital backbone of modern business,” WBA President and CEO Tiago Rodrigues said in a press release about the association’s 2026 predictions.

“From Wi-Fi 7 and 6 GHz to Wi-Fi HaLow and OpenRoaming, we’re seeing rapid innovation turn into real deployments that improve user experience, unlock new services, revenues and reduce costs for operators and enterprises. As 5G and, in future, 6G increasingly converge with Wi-Fi, organizations can design connectivity to achieve the outcomes they need, whether that’s smarter factories, more resilient cities, or new ways to engage customers.”