Current Work Areas

Wi-Fi Alliance is leading the development of specifications and test plans that can help ensure that standard power Wi-Fi devices operate in 6 GHz spectrum under favorable conditions, avoiding interference with incumbent devices as part of an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) system.

Wi-Fi Alliance members from across the automotive ecosystem work together to identify and define automotive segment needs and use cases for current and future Wi-Fi technology. The group examines new standards and technologies, and acts as the focal point for developing best practices for Wi-Fi implementation in the automotive market.

The growth in converged mobile devices that include both cellular and Wi-Fi technology created a need to characterize the RF behavior of devices. Building on benchmarking tests introduced in 2007, Wi-Fi Alliance members are exploring further benchmarking of the Wi-Fi RF properties of a device when the device is operating solely on a Wi-Fi network, or operating simultaneously on Wi-Fi and cellular networks, with the goal of providing practices to help both vendors and operators create an optimal user experience. This task group operates jointly with CTIA.

Wi-Fi Alliance members are identifying best practices, guidelines and test plans for performance testing and measurement of device operation in real world consumer and managed network use. Focus is on time-sensitive, real-time applications performance and demand for low latency, high resiliency and consistent performance.

Wi-Fi is a widely adopted wireless access technology in both the home and hospital healthcare segments, as well as an ever-expanding footprint in the growing healthcare and wearable wireless market segments. The healthcare segment group focuses on improving Wi-Fi Alliance visibility into healthcare industry activities in both the clinical and personal segments.

Wi-Fi Alliance members focus on gathering Wi-Fi market needs and use cases for the burgeoning Internet of Things connected marketplace and provide IoT-focused certification guidance. This forum provides an opportunity for IoT solution providers to input suggestions, insights and end-user feedback to the Wi-Fi industry.

A group of Wi-Fi Alliance members interested in operator Wi-Fi networks meets to outline the specific needs for Wi-Fi in the service provider marketplace. This group defines requirements that align with operators’ needs and provides operator perspective to other task groups and across the Wi-Fi Alliance collaboration forum. Wi-Fi Vantage certification available

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint is an industry-wide solution to streamline Wi-Fi network access while mobile and eliminate the need for users to find and authenticate a network each time they connect. In Wi-Fi networks that do not support Passpoint, users must search for and choose a network, request the connection to the access point (AP) each time, and in many cases, must re-enter their authentication credentials. Passpoint automates that entire process, enabling a seamless connection between hotspot networks and mobile devices, all while delivering the highest WPA2™ and WPA3™ security. Passpoint enables a more cellular-like experience when connecting to Wi-Fi networks.

Enhanced features available in Passpoint make deployment easier and add support to deliver venue specific information and terms and conditions to client devices. Certification available

Wi-Fi Alliance members are advocating for favorable regulatory policy to support the growing Wi-Fi ecosystem by contributing to regulatory proceedings and consultations worldwide.

With the overarching importance of the need for secure computing environments, Wi-Fi Alliance members are addressing how to ensure Wi-Fi CERTIFIED security mechanisms maintain effective security controls within the Wi-Fi protocol suite. Wi-Fi Alliance constantly works to address known security weaknesses and meet emerging needs in security-sensitive markets with support of additional cryptographic algorithms and policies. Certification available

Wi-Fi Alliance members are working on a new technology for wireless sensing. Based on the IEEE 802.11bf protocol, this new technology uses the PHY and MAC features of 802.11 stations to obtain measurements that can estimate features such as range, velocity, and motion of objects in an area of interest. Sensing enables use cases such as presence and proximity detection, gesture recognition, and vital sign monitoring.

Based on IEEE 802.11be technology, Wi-Fi 7 enhances Wi-Fi performance in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands with cutting-edge capabilities that enable innovations that rely on high throughput, deterministic latency, and greater reliability. Wi-Fi 7 supports growing user demands for immersive, interactive technology, including AR/VR/XR, ultra-high definition video streaming, automotive, cloud computing, immersive gaming and entertainment, as well as mission-critical and industrial applications. Certification available

Wi-Fi Aware enables quick discovery and connection to nearby information and services. Wi-Fi Aware makes it easy to find and use services available in the area that match preferences set by the user and is optimized to work well in crowded environments. Wi-Fi Aware is a key enabler of a personalized social, local, and mobile experience, enabling users to find video gaming opponents, share media content, and access localized information without requiring network infrastructure. Certification available

The IEEE 802.11ah standard augments Wi-Fi for device categories and applications with very constrained power requirements and need for long range connectivity. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED HaLow provides an interoperability certification program based on this standard, which uses unlicensed spectrum below 1 GHz. Wi-Fi HaLow technology complements Wi-Fi technologies with longer range, the capability to connect more devices to an access point, and lower power requirements, while maintaining the IP connectivity and high-level security inherent in Wi-Fi today. Certification available

Wi-Fi Alliance members have defined a standardized data model that encompasses the key performance indicators for Wi-Fi networks, resulting in better visibility into and troubleshooting for Wi-Fi networks. The focus is the rapid collection of data necessary to respond to the dynamic nature of Wi-Fi in residential, small and midsize business, and operator-managed enterprise deployments. Certification available

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct™ was introduced in 2010, and more than 33,000 devices have been certified to date, providing Wi-Fi Direct technology to millions of consumers. With the fast-growing market for wireless display, device share & collaboration, and emerging XR technology, there is a strong demand to update Wi-Fi Direct to leverage new Wi-Fi technologies, such as Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3, to improve the user experience, robustness, and security of the Wi-Fi Direct certification. Certification available

With the increase in Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices available, end users have the ability to add a more diverse set of devices to their Wi-Fi networks, including a growing range of devices that do not have a rich user interface. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Easy Connect™ enhances the user experience with a simple, secure, and consistent method for onboarding any type of device on a Wi-Fi network. Certification available

Wi-Fi Alliance members are working to enhance residential and small office Wi-Fi coverage with technologies that enable easy to deploy networks consisting of multiple access points (APs). Wi-Fi EasyMesh networks dynamically self-adjust and reconfigure to meet changing demand and conditions, providing expanded, uniform Wi-Fi coverage, constant network monitoring, and autonomous network adjustment. Certification available

Installing Wi-Fi in homes can be challenging, sometimes resulting in a mismatch between actual coverage and homeowner expectations. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Home Design enables builders and Wi-Fi installers to ensure whole home coverage, with professionally designed and installed Wi-Fi networks integrated into floor plans to deliver a great user experience in new residential installations. Certification available

Wi-Fi Location provides private, high-accuracy location determination when in the vicinity of Wi-Fi Location-enabled networks. Wi-Fi Location allows location-enabled applications to deliver the same great experience indoors as they do outdoors. Certification available

Wi-Fi Optimized Connectivity helps service providers and IT managers deliver a better mobile user experience in managed Wi-Fi network environments in high density environments. Managed networks using Wi-Fi Optimized Connectivity equipment offer shorter connection setup times, reduced airtime overhead, and streamlined mobility when roaming within and across networks. Certification available

Wi-Fi QoS Management delivers a consistent, end-to-end approach to Quality of Service (QoS) treatment in Wi-Fi networks by enabling devices, applications, and network managers to prioritize traffic flows and provide robust service delivery and quality experiences with real-time applications. Residential, enterprise, and public networks benefit from Wi-Fi QoS Management, as it provides standardized mechanisms for client applications to request QoS treatment and for network managers to implement QoS policies. Certification available

Wi-Fi Alliance members are working with the XR ecosystem to outline best practices and identify the features needed to best support augmented reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality applications in Wi-Fi networks.