Qualcomm Unveils AI-Native Wi‑Fi 8 Portfolio for Unified Connectivity

At Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026, Qualcomm Technologies announced its AI‑native Wi‑Fi 8 portfolio, according to a press release. The lineup includes the Qualcomm FastConnect 8800 mobile connectivity system and five Qualcomm Dragonwing networking platforms aimed at unifying client and network connectivity for AI‑era performance.

The FastConnect 8800 is the first mobile system to feature a 4x4 Wi‑Fi radio configuration, delivering peak speeds above 10 Gbps and tripling the gigabit range of previous generations. It integrates Wi‑Fi 8, Bluetooth 7.0, Ultra Wideband 802.15.4ab, and Thread 1.5 in a single chip, supporting Proximity AI for centimeter‑level tracking accuracy.

The Dragonwing Networking Platforms introduce AI‑powered infrastructure for routers, gateways, and access points. The Dragonwing NPro A8 Elite features a 5x5 Wi‑Fi 8 radio system that boosts throughput by up to 40% and reduces latency by 2.5 times compared to earlier models, while incorporating a next‑generation penta‑core CPU and integrated Hexagon NPU for on‑device AI processing.

Qualcomm stated that all Wi‑Fi 8 solutions are currently sampling to customers, with commercial products expected by late 2026.