Wireless Broadband Alliance sets out 6G & Wi-Fi roadmap

The Wireless Broadband Alliance has published a set of requirements for closer integration between Wi-Fi and 6G networks. The framework sets out the business and technical conditions needed for more seamless connectivity across future wireless systems.

It argues that Wi-Fi should be built into 6G design from the outset rather than treated as a secondary layer, particularly because indoor coverage and a consistent user experience will depend on Wi-Fi and cellular networks working together.

The report, titled 6G & Wi-Fi Requirements - Enabling Seamless Connectivity Across 6G and Wi-Fi, outlines requirements intended to guide future architecture and standards work. It also reviews earlier attempts to converge Wi-Fi and mobile networks, which were held back by cost, complexity and divided operational responsibilities.

Those barriers have shaped a more flexible approach in the latest framework. Rather than assume a single cellular-led architecture, the alliance argues that future models must reflect different network ownership structures and deployment methods, including arrangements in which Wi-Fi traffic is managed either inside or outside the cellular core.

Business aims

The document links technical design choices to commercial and operational outcomes. These include lower network costs through simplification and greater use of existing infrastructure, better customer experience through improved mobility and indoor coverage, and lower operating complexity through automation and broader visibility across networks.

It also points to potential new revenue models tied to traffic offload, federated access, commercial partnerships and service-level agreements spanning mobile, fixed and Wi-Fi networks. Additional use cases include industrial automation, smart cities, connected vehicles, transport systems, emergency communications and sensing.

For telecoms operators, convergence could support better use of existing Wi-Fi and cellular assets while simplifying management and infrastructure. Device manufacturers could benefit from more consistent approaches to authentication, mobility and network selection, while enterprises could reduce costs and simplify network operations.

Consumers, in turn, may see fewer disruptions as devices move between Wi-Fi and cellular connections. The alliance argues that a more consistent experience across access technologies will be necessary if 6G is to meet wider industry goals for ubiquitous connectivity.

Technical areas

The requirements cover several technical areas, including multi-vendor interoperability, authentication and authorisation, simpler signalling, security, AI-based network recommendations, quality-of-service-aware traffic steering, user-focused mobility, energy efficiency and sensing. The emphasis is on making networks work together without forcing every deployment into the same structure.

That approach reflects a broader debate in the telecoms sector over how 6G should be defined. While standards work is still developing, the alliance is pressing the case for Wi-Fi to be treated as a core part of the connectivity model rather than an adjunct to licensed mobile networks.

Tiago Rodrigues, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said: "6G must deliver ubiquitous connectivity across technologies, not simply a new cellular generation, and Wi-Fi will be fundamental to achieving that, particularly indoors. These requirements turn WBA's vision into a practical framework that can reduce cost and complexity, improve customer experience and coverage, and enable new commercial opportunities as the industry shapes future 6G architectures."

That view was backed by telecoms and networking companies involved in the work. BT said seamless service across different access technologies would be central to customer experience, while Cisco said the framework reflected lessons from efforts to integrate Wi-Fi more deeply into 4G and 5G systems.

Reza Rehman, Managing Director of Mobile Networks at BT, said: "BT welcomes the WBA's work in identifying requirements for the effective interworking of future Wi-Fi and 6G networks. We believe the best customer experiences will come from enabling seamless connectivity across different access technologies, building on the complementary strengths of mobile and Wi-Fi networks. The WBA's continued focus on customer experience and network simplification is an important contribution to that objective."

Mark Grayson, Cisco Fellow at Cisco, said: "By learning from previous efforts to integrate Wi-Fi into 4G and 5G that have historically encountered challenges with achieving broader market adoption, this latest WBA framework helps provide a modular, access-agnostic roadmap for 6G convergence. This approach leverages Wi-Fi's strength as the de facto in-building wireless standard alongside cellular infrastructure to deliver the seamless, high-performance connectivity essential for the 6G era."

Turk Telekom, which led the 6G and Wi-Fi requirements work, framed the project as part of a broader push to define the next connectivity model.

Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Özdem, Network Architecture and Service Management Director and Head of R&D Centres at Turk Telekom, said: "Through our role on the WBA Board and our leadership of the 6G & Wi-Fi Requirements and Convergence work, we are proud to contribute to defining the requirements that will shape the convergence of Wi-Fi and 6G and the future connectivity ecosystem. As Turk Telekom, a pioneer in R&D and digital transformation delivering integrated fixed and mobile connectivity services, we see seamless Wi-Fi and 6G convergence, together with the identification of emerging use cases and connectivity requirements, as a critical foundation for the future of connectivity. As we stand at the threshold of the 6G era, we believe that combining the unique strengths of Wi-Fi and 6G will pave the way for ubiquitous connectivity, enabling seamless, flexible and intelligent experiences across networks, making this work a critical step towards shaping the next generation of connectivity."