| 802.11bf
(Wi-Fi Sensing) | TGbf | 2024 (ratified) | 2.4/5/6 GHz
(+60 GHz option) | N/A (sensing, not data throughput) | • SENS PPDU format for explicit sensing
• CIR (Channel Impulse Response) measurements
• Sensing initiator/responder protocol
• Privacy protections (consent mechanism)
• Passive sensing (no dedicated PPDU) also defined
• Sub-7 GHz + 60 GHz DMG variants | Gesture recognition, breathing/heartbeat detection, presence detection, fall detection, smart home automation. Contactless vital signs monitoring. | IEEE 802.11bf-2024
Wi-Fi Alliance Sensing SIG (forming) |
| 802.11az
(Next-Gen Positioning) | TGaz | 2022 (ratified) | 2.4/5/6 GHz
+60 GHz | < 10 cm ranging accuracy | • NDP-based ranging (fine timing measurement)
• Trigger-based (TB) ranging for MU scheduling
• Non-TB ranging for SU devices
• AoA (Angle of Arrival) using LTF phase difference
• Sub-nanosecond TOA (Time of Arrival)
• Secure ranging (anti-spoofing via PASN) | Indoor navigation (sub-meter), asset tracking, parking lot navigation, RTLS (Real-Time Location Systems), proximity services, automotive UWB replacement for PKE. | IEEE 802.11az-2022
FiRa Consortium compliance testing |
| 802.11ba
(Wake-Up Radio) | TGba | 2021 (ratified) | 2.4/5 GHz
(control channel) | ~250 kbps (WUR only) | • WUR (Wake-Up Radio) receiver: ~1 µW always-on
• OOK modulation (On-Off Keying), 62.5/250 kbps
• WUR beacon for synchronization
• Main radio wakes only on WUR trigger
• Backward compatible with 802.11n/ac/ax
• WUR frame: SYNC + WUR-ID + optional payload | IoT devices requiring years of battery life: smart meters, agriculture sensors, industrial monitoring, medical wearables. Eliminates periodic beacon wakeup power drain. | IEEE 802.11ba-2021
Wi-Fi Alliance WUR certification planned |
| 802.11bd
(Next-Gen V2X) | TGbd | 2022 (ratified) | 5.9 GHz (ITS)
+60 GHz (short range) | ~4× 802.11p throughput | • Backward compatible with 802.11p (OCB mode)
• LDPC (adds ~2 dB coding gain over 802.11p BCC)
• STBC (diversity gain)
• Midamble for Doppler tracking at high speed
• Higher MCS support (up to 64-QAM)
• 10/20 MHz channel (vs 10 MHz only in 802.11p)
• Dual-mode: NGV + legacy 802.11p coexistence | Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) safety messages. Competing with 3GPP C-V2X (PC5 mode 4). Key: backward compat ensures existing 802.11p RSUs remain functional. | IEEE 802.11bd-2022
5GAA (5G Automotive Association) evaluation |
| 802.11bn
(Ultra-High Reliability / Wi-Fi 8) | TGbn | ~2028 (target) | 2.4/5/6 GHz
(all bands) | ~100 Gbps aggregate | • Coordinated AP operation: C-OFDMA, C-SR, C-TDMA
• Multi-AP joint transmission (coherent beamforming across APs)
• Enhanced MLO with NSTR improvements
• Restricted TWT v2 (guaranteed latency slots)
• AI/ML-based CSI feedback compression
• HARQ enhancements
• EHT-compatible backward compat
• Frequency-domain duplexing (FD) studies | Deterministic latency for XR (Extended Reality) / AR/VR, industrial automation (< 1 ms), dense IoT, high-reliability enterprise, 6G complementary technology. | IEEE 802.11bn PAR approved 2022
TGbn task group active
No draft published yet (as of 2024) |
| 802.11bb
(Light Communication / LiCOM) | TGbb | 2023 (ratified) | IR: 850-1000 nm
Visible: 380-750 nm | ~9.6 Gbps | • LC (Light Communication) PHY
• OOK and OFDM on light carrier
• Downlink: LED/laser; Uplink: IR LED
• LOS required (≤30 m typical)
• Immunity to RF interference
• No radio frequency → usable in EMI-sensitive environments
• Integrates with 802.11 MAC (same CSMA/CA) | Aircraft cabins, hospitals (EMI-free zones), classified environments (no RF leakage), industrial clean rooms, data center rack interconnect, secure comms. | IEEE 802.11bb-2023
LiFi Alliance promoting |
| 802.11bh
(Randomized / Changing MAC) | TGbh | 2024 (target) | All bands | N/A (protocol layer) | • Standardized framework for MAC address randomization
• Per-network identifier for network continuity
• Reduce tracking while maintaining SSID-specific stability
• Addresses KARMA attack and probe privacy issues
• PASN (Pre-Association Security Negotiation) integration | Privacy in public Wi-Fi, GDPR compliance, anti-tracking in retail/transportation, seamless roaming with random MACs. | IEEE 802.11bh PAR approved 2020
TGbh active |
| Wi-Fi 8 Alliance Program | Wi-Fi Alliance | ~2028-2029 | All bands | 100 Gbps target | Expected mandatory: multi-AP coordination, enhanced MLO, WPA3 (of course), AI-assisted radio management, sub-1ms latency guarantee option | XR/AR/VR enterprise, Industry 4.0, smart factory, telemedicine, high-density stadiums | Wi-Fi Alliance technical roadmap 2024 |