Wi-Fi 7 is on track to become the dominant wireless standard, with adoption expected to exceed 90 per cent of the market, driven by unusually low pricing and strong enterprise demand, according to new research from Dell’Oro Group.
In its latest Wireless LAN 5-Year Forecast Report, Dell’Oro Group projects that Wi-Fi 7 adoption will peak in 2029, reaching levels not seen since the height of Wi-Fi 4 adoption in 2013. Enterprise uptake accelerated sharply from early 2025, as vendors rolled out full Wi-Fi 7 portfolios and pricing dropped to levels well below historical norms for a next-generation standard.
Dell’Oro Group research director Siân Morgan said the current pricing environment has been a major catalyst for adoption, but warned it may not last. She said component shortages linked to the global AI boom are beginning to create volatility in the WLAN supply chain, posing a potential risk to market stability.
Morgan noted that lead times for some wireless LAN products are already fluctuating, and if vendors struggle to secure critical components, the market could face rising prices and growing order backlogs. In a worst-case scenario, she said, the sector could see a repeat of the post-pandemic disruptions that affected WLAN availability and pricing.
Despite these risks, Dell’Oro Group expects Wi-Fi 7 revenue growth to continue for at least another three years. The report also shows increased expectations for Wi-Fi 8 revenue from 2028 onwards, signalling confidence in continued long-term innovation in wireless networking.
Other key findings include the likelihood of increased merger and acquisition activity among WLAN vendors, potentially leading to further market consolidation, and faster growth in software revenues compared with the overall hardware market.
For smart cities, the rapid adoption of Wi-Fi 7 is expected to support more demanding use cases, including high-density public connectivity, real-time sensor networks, intelligent transport systems and AI-enabled city services. However, Dell’Oro Group cautions that supply chain resilience will be critical to ensuring this next phase of wireless infrastructure deployment remains on track.
The Wireless LAN 5-Year Forecast Report provides detailed coverage of enterprise indoor and outdoor WLAN markets, including revenue, pricing and shipment data across current and emerging IEEE 802.11 standards, as well as forecasts by deployment model and global region.
