Wi-Fi 7 Technology Evolution and Global Market Analysis

The advent of Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) marks a significant leap forward in global home and enterprise networking, delivering unprecedented performance and transforming user experiences across connected environments. With theoretical bandwidth reaching up to 23 Gbps, ultra-low latency enabled by multi-link operation (MLO), and sophisticated multi-band coordination capabilities, Wi-Fi 7 addresses the growing demand for high-speed, reliable, and low-latency wireless connectivity. Since the certification process officially opened in January 2024, commercial adoption has been accelerating rapidly. According to Omdia, by Q1 2025, approximately 23% of global telecom operators have launched Wi-Fi 7-related products and services to consumers, signaling strong momentum for industry uptake.

On the hardware front, Wi-Fi 7 chipsets from leading international semiconductor companies—including Qualcomm, Broadcom, and MediaTek—now cover a full range of throughput requirements, from 3 Gbps to 10 Gbps. This versatility enables manufacturers to cater to diverse market segments, spanning high-end consumer devices, enterprise-grade access points, and IoT ecosystems, while ensuring robust performance and interoperability across the wireless network stack.

To capitalize on Wi-Fi 7 adoption, strategic decisions must address key areas, including commercial deployment trends, chipset supply chain resilience, the impact on the domestic Chinese market, and global market growth forecasts. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of these critical areas, equipping decision-makers with actionable insights to navigate the Wi-Fi 7 landscape. By leveraging these insights, ZTE can strengthen its competitive position and accelerate innovation and adoption of next-generation wireless networking solutions, ultimately shaping the future of connected homes and enterprises worldwide.

Wi-Fi 7 has Entered Large-Scale Commercial Deployment: Evolving Product Specifications

Product Specification Trends: Transition from Premium to Cost-Optimized Solutions

Between 2022 and 2024, the early phase of Wi-Fi 7 commercialization was primarily driven by demand from mature markets such as Western Europe, Japan, and Singapore. During this period, tri-band MIMO configurations (3x3/4x4 for 2.4 GHz, and 4x4 for 5 GHz and 6 GHz) and dual-band 4x4 MIMO configurations dominated home gateway products, delivering ultra-high bandwidth and stable performance. For home Wi-Fi extenders, the dual-band 2x2 + 4x4 MIMO specification became the common choice, meeting mainstream household coverage requirements.

Starting in 2025, market dynamics and cost control pressures are reshaping the product landscape. Manufacturers are gradually shifting both home gateways and extenders to dual-band 2x2 MIMO solutions. This change reflects a stronger emphasis on affordability while maintaining sufficient performance for most residential use cases. At the same time, Ethernet port specifications are undergoing a notable adjustment: instead of pursuing peak performance with 10 GE, many devices are now reverting to 2.5 GE or GE, achieving a more sustainable balance between capability and cost efficiency.

Differentiated Global Market Strategies: Premium Experience vs. Value Orientation

In high-end markets such as North America, Northern Europe, Japan, and Singapore, consumer spending power and expectations for top-tier connectivity continue to drive demand for tri-band 4x4 MIMO (BE19000) solutions combined with 10 GE ports. These premium configurations are tailored for enterprise-grade applications, advanced gaming, and 8K video streaming, where high bandwidth and ultra-low latency are critical.

Mid-tier Western European markets—including Spain and Italy—favor dual-band 4x4 MIMO (BE7200) devices with 2.5 GE ports, striking an optimal compromise between reliable performance and cost management.

Meanwhile, emerging markets such as China, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia are increasingly focused on cost-effective solutions. Here, dual-band 2x2 MIMO (BE3600) products paired with GE or 2.5 GE interfaces are becoming the mainstream choice, enabling rapid network equipment penetration and driving continuous technology upgrades at competitive price points. This tiered approach highlights how Wi-Fi 7 specifications evolve in sync with regional economic conditions and consumer needs.

Reshaping of Wi-Fi 7 Chip Supplier Landscape Among Major Operators and the Role of Prpl/RDK-B Open-Source Ecosystems

Under the combined influence of cost pressures and external factors, Tier-1 telecom operators have significantly adjusted their procurement strategies, actively pursuing diversified supply chains to mitigate risks and improve flexibility. Deutsche Telekom took the lead in breaking Broadcom’s long-standing dominance in Wi-Fi chip supply by introducing Airoha and MediaTek (MTK) chips into its Orion 6/7 projects. Qualcomm chips also secured wins in the Gemini AP program. Simultaneously, Deutsche Telekom has been promoting the RDK-B open-source operating system across its headquarters and subsidiaries to strengthen technical independence and reduce reliance on a single vendor ecosystem.

Orange (France Télécom) has adopted a differentiated strategy. In its home market, Orange continues to use Broadcom chips to ensure network stability and performance. However, for its overseas branches, Orange has introduced a joint ZTE–MTK solution to diversify its supply chain and reduce costs. At the same time, Orange has actively supported the prpl operating system, exploring new technology ecosystems that could provide greater control and innovation opportunities.

The Vodafone Group has positioned RDK-B as the core of its software ecosystem. Its chip selections tend to favor experienced vendors such as Broadcom, Airoha, and MTK, which already have extensive adaptation experience with RDK-B. However, in regions or subsidiaries where RDK-B deployment is not required, Vodafone allows greater flexibility in chip choices, further enriching supply chain diversity.

As Wi-Fi 7 commercialization accelerates, open-source operating systems like RDK-B and prpl are becoming critical components for operators to build robust network ecosystems. Broadcom, with its strong technical advantages and industry reputation, continues to be a leading player in the Wi-Fi 7 space. However, its relatively higher commercial costs have created opportunities for competition. To consolidate its position, Broadcom is collaborating closely with Tier-1 operators to develop a “chip + open-source” ecosystem, ensuring tight integration with RDK-B and prpl platforms.

MediaTek is also at the forefront of Wi-Fi 7 innovation, leveraging proactive market strategies and competitive pricing to expand its market presence. Its partnership with Deutsche Telekom has allowed MTK to accumulate valuable RDK-B adaptation experience, while collaborations with Orange enable it to explore prpl-based development.

Leveraging its mature AP product portfolio and an initial deployment of XGS-PON ONTs, Qualcomm is using Wi-Fi 7 to expand into the operator CPE market.

Overall, the Wi-Fi 7 chip market is undergoing significant reshaping. Open-source ecosystems such as RDK-B and prpl are no longer peripheral tools but central elements in operators’ strategic planning. By encouraging multi-vendor participation and lowering barriers to integration, these platforms are redefining competitive dynamics, challenging legacy monopolies, and accelerating innovation cycles. As operators continue to balance performance, cost, and independence, the coming years will see a more pluralistic and dynamic Wi-Fi 7 chip supplier landscape.

China’s Role in Global Wi-Fi 7 Adoption

The Chinese Wi-Fi 7 market is poised to drive global Wi-Fi 7 adoption, but at a more measured pace. The commercial rollout of Wi-Fi 7 in China is expected to become a major driving force for technology adoption across the Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. However, unlike the rapid penetration seen during the Wi-Fi 6 era, China will prioritize the promotion of lower-spec AP routers. By leveraging a high cost-performance strategy, Chinese manufacturers aim to open these regional markets first, laying the groundwork for a broader international rollout.

As a result, the global diffusion of Wi-Fi 7 technology will likely proceed more gradually compared to Wi-Fi 6. Large-scale adoption is not anticipated until around 2026, when ecosystem maturity and cost optimization align to support wider deployment.

Moreover, China’s explosive growth in Wi-Fi 7 will be closely tied to the widespread rollout of 2000 Mbps broadband packages by local operators. This backbone infrastructure is essential to fully unleash Wi-Fi 7’s capabilities and ensure a seamless user experience. In summary, China will once again serve as a key engine for global Wi-Fi advancement, with its Wi-Fi 7 strategy emphasizing sustainable development, affordability, and phased international expansion—setting the stage for steady but powerful momentum in global Wi-Fi 7 commercialization.

Will Home AI Accelerate Wi-Fi 7 Commercialization?

Short-Term Status

While home AI applications—such as smart home automation and on-device large language models—are on the rise, their impact on accelerating Wi-Fi 7 commercialization remains limited. At present, Wi-Fi 7’s core value propositions continue to be its higher data rates and lower latency, rather than AI-specific features. Telecom operators are still in the exploratory stage when it comes to AI-driven use cases, testing business models and deployment scenarios. Furthermore, current Wi-Fi 7 chipsets have not yet integrated neural processing units (NPUs), meaning AI computation power still relies on external modules or companion processors.

Long-Term Outlook

Looking ahead, Qualcomm’s plan to integrate NPUs into Wi-Fi 8 chipsets is expected to fundamentally reshape the home networking ecosystem. By combining advanced AI processing with next-generation wireless standards, future solutions will enable more seamless deployment of edge AI models—such as DeepSeek and other on-device large models—directly within home networks. This integration will not only improve the feasibility of running complex AI workloads locally but will also unlock new possibilities for latency-sensitive applications like real-time video analytics, adaptive network optimization, and personalized smart-home services.

In summary, while AI is not yet a decisive factor in driving Wi-Fi 7 adoption, its eventual convergence with Wi-Fi 8 suggests that early planning for AI-network integration will be critical. Operators and vendors who invest now to align AI capabilities with next-generation wireless technologies will be well positioned to capture future opportunities as home AI becomes a central pillar of network innovation.

Conclusion

Amid the wave of Wi-Fi 7 technological innovation and market transformation, the global networking ecosystem is undergoing a profound reshaping. From fierce technological competition among chip manufacturers to strategic adjustments in operator procurement policies, every aspect of the industry is intertwined with both opportunities and challenges. Companies like Broadcom, MediaTek, and Qualcomm are leveraging their strengths to secure strategic positions, while equipment vendors such as ZTE are adopting flexible and adaptive approaches to break into competitive markets. Meanwhile, the rise of open-source operating systems like RDK-B and prpl is introducing new dynamics to the competitive landscape, reshaping industry alliances and accelerating innovation.

Although the commercialization of Wi-Fi 7 is progressing at a steadier pace compared with Wi-Fi 6, its enormous potential is already evident. ZTE’s fixed-network Wi-Fi 7 CPE shipments are expected to enter a breakthrough growth trajectory, with international sales projected to reach 11.28 million units by 2028. Wi-Fi 7 adoption is set to expand across both home and enterprise scenarios worldwide, ushering in a new era of high-speed, low-latency connectivity.

This evolution represents not only a technical upgrade, but also a coordinated transformation of the broader networking ecosystem—where hardware innovation, open-source platforms, and strategic market planning collectively shape the future of global connectivity.  In this context, Wi-Fi 7 stands as a pivotal force, bridging today’s networks with tomorrow’s intelligent, AI-driven digital experiences.