While Wi-Fi equipment shipments jumped in the first half of 2025, the increase may be short-lived because tariff fears may have pulled forward shipments from the second half of the year, according to a new report from ABI research.

Despite sluggish shipments in the second half of last year, there had been a sense of optimism for the first half of 2025 because it seemed that the uncertainty facing the industry since the start of the decade had waned, ABI Research reported.

Additionally, a pickup in shipments was expected because of the periodic equipment refresh cycles of broadband service providers (BSPs) and the gradual acceleration of Wi-Fi 7, the report said.

These expectations were depressed by tariff threats and a breakdown of established trading relations.

However, those threats led to a significant surge — 38.5% on a quarter-over-quarter basis — in shipments as purchasers accelerated orders to get ahead of tariffs, particularly in North America. The report noted that the surge in North America shipments coincided with planned Wi-Fi 7 deployments by Tier 1 BSPs in the United States, including AT&T and Comcast.

“While many are delighted by the shipment spike in the first half of 2025, celebrations may be short-lived because much of the expansion was driven by pulled-forward demand rather than the creation of new demand,” Andrew Spivey, ABI Research principal analyst, said in a prepared statement about the Wi-Fi report.

“Furthermore, the potential for additional unanticipated tariffs or trade restrictions continues to loom ominously in the background, creating a sense of general economic uncertainty which will plague the market going forward.”

The report noted that, near the end of the decade, Wi-Fi equipment shipments should get another boost from the introduction of Wi-Fi 8. Early prototypes are anticipated in 2026, with annual shipments projected to rise from just over 0.4 million pre-standard units in 2027 to 81.4 million by 2030.