Wi-Fi 8: Embracing the Millimeter-Wave Era

Abstract: With the increasing demands in communication, Wi-Fi technology is advancing towards its next generation. As high-need applications like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) emerge, the role of millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology becomes critical. This paper explores Wi-Fi 8's potential features, especially its integration of mmWave technology. We address the challenges of implementing mmWave under current protocols and examine the compatibility of new features with mmWave. Our study includes system-level simulations, upclocking the 802.11ac PPDU to 60 GHz, and considers hardware limitations. The results demonstrate significant performance improvements with mmWave in Wi-Fi 8, indicating its feasibility for high-demand wireless scenarios.