Qualcomm unveils FastConnect 8800 chip as first Wi-Fi 8 solution
Qualcomm announced its first Wi-Fi 8 chip, the FastConnect 8800, and outlined a 2029 target for commercial 6G networks.
The announcements position the company to lead the next cycle of wireless infrastructure, serving both device connectivity and emerging AI agent traffic. The FastConnect 8800 integrates Wi-Fi 8, Bluetooth 7.0, Ultra-Wideband, and Thread 1.5. It uses a 4×4 Wi-Fi radio configuration designed for mobile devices.
The chip delivers peak download speeds of 11.6 Gbps. Qualcomm stated this figure doubles the throughput of its Wi-Fi 7 platform and triples its gigabit range. Bluetooth data speeds reach 7.5 Mbps via a new High Data Throughput mode.
Devices equipped with the FastConnect 8800 are expected to reach consumers in the second half of 2026. The company announced the chip at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
CEO Cristiano Amon positioned 6G as foundational infrastructure for an AI future. “6G transcends being merely the next phase in wireless evolution. It serves as the bedrock for an AI future,” Amon said in a company statement. He projected that AI will account for 30% of all cellular traffic by 2034.
Qualcomm is designing 6G around connectivity, wide-area sensing, and high-performance compute. The company expects to finalize 6G standards and specifications by 2028. Pre-commercial demonstrations are planned for that year, with commercial systems targeted for 2029.
Qualcomm formed a coalition of more than 50 companies to support the roadmap. Partners include Amazon, Cisco, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nokia, and Samsung. The coalition committed to a milestone-driven roadmap covering standards development, early system validation, and a coordinated global rollout starting in 2029.
Amon stated that success will depend on strong partnerships and joint innovation. The coalition’s roadmap aligns with the 2029 commercial launch target.
Mobile World Congress is an annual trade show dedicated to the mobile communications industry. Qualcomm is a semiconductor and wireless technology provider.