Broadcom introduced a SoC with support for Wi-Fi 8 and a hybrid 5G platform of the new generation

Despite the fact that the Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) standard is still under development and its final approval is not expected until 2028, the industry is already actually starting to prepare the infrastructure for its implementation. At Computex 2026, Broadcom demonstrated a line of new systems on a chip (SoC), as well as a hybrid platform that combines 5G and Wi-Fi 8 into a single Internet access model.

Hybrid FWA platform: 5G as a replacement for wired infrastructure

One of the key areas of the presentation was the Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) platform developed by Broadcom together with Samsung. Its task is to provide access to the Internet without the need to lay fiber optic or copper lines, using 5G mobile networks as the main transport channel.

The technical basis of the solution includes a Wi-Fi 8 SoC BCM6776 with tri-band support (2.4/5/6 GHz) and a Samsung B1320 modem that complies with the 3GPP Release 17 standard. It is capable of providing download speeds of up to 3.43 Gbps.

In communication, these components form an architecture where 5G acts as an input communication channel and Wi-Fi 8 is a high-performance distribution layer inside the home or office. In addition, support for NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) is announced, which expands usage scenarios due to satellite communication channels.

Integrated SoC for routers and Mesh systems

In addition to the FWA platform, Broadcom introduced three new chips – BCM6772, BCM6774 and BCM6776, aimed at the mass segment of next-generation routers, access points and Mesh networks.

The key emphasis is on the maximum integration of components. A computing unit, a network processor, a Wi-Fi 8 radio part and multi-gigabit Ethernet interfaces are combined within one crystal. This approach allows manufacturers to significantly simplify the architecture of devices, reduce energy consumption and reduce the physical dimensions of the final solutions.

In fact, it is about the transition to more “monolithic” platforms, which should accelerate the release of affordable routers and Mesh systems designed to work with gigabit and multi-gigabit channels, including modern FTTH connections.

The strategic value of Wi-Fi 8 for the market

Broadcom is actually laying the groundwork for an early move to Wi-Fi 8 long before official approval. The company aims to bring the technology beyond the corporate and telecommunications segment, gradually forming a mass ecosystem – from operator solutions to home devices.

The bet on Wi-Fi 8 and 5G communication reflects the general trend of the industry: the transition to hybrid connection models, where the wired infrastructure ceases to be the only basic option, especially in regions with limited development of optics.

Entering the market and prospects for implementation

Broadcom has already started shipping the new chips to manufacturing partners. The first commercial devices based on the presented SoC and FWA platform are expected at the end of 2026 or at the beginning of 2027, which actually means the start of the formation of the early market of Wi-Fi 8 solutions even before the final approval of the standard.