[MWC2026 special] From fridge to factory: Can Wi-Fi handle 1,000 routers?

How Rohde & Schwarz test & measurement helps test and validate next-gen Wi-Fi 8, from chipset manufacturer to access point vendor.
This episode drops just before Mobile World Congress 2026, where Rohde & Schwarz will showcase cutting-edge solutions for 5G-Advanced, AI-driven networks, and satellite-enabled connectivity. Tune in early to stay ahead of the curve – and join the conversation in Barcelona.

From home routers to factory floors, Wi-Fi is the invisible thread stitching our digital lives together. But with more than 20 billion IoT devices now online, can Wi-Fi keep up? In this episode of Innovations Unplugged, we explore Wi-Fi 8, dive into the technical challenges of unlicensed spectrum, interference chaos, and the race to future-proof critical applications like industrial automation and smart cities.

Explore with us

• Wi-Fi 8’s Reliability Revolution: How the standard addresses real-world challenges in dense environments

• Interference Solutions: Clever tricks like coordinated access points and dynamic channel management

• Distributed Resource Units: The technical magic boosting signal reach without breaking regulations

• Backward Compatibility: Why your 10-year-old fridge still works with your new router

• Rohde & Schwarz: Inside the lab – how to stress-test Wi-Fi 8’s future

Our guest

Meet Günter Pfeifer, Rohde & Schwarz product manager for wireless LAN signaling with over 20 years of deep expertise in wireless tech. Günter deciphers Wi-Fi’s evolution from 10 Mbps to gigabit speeds, explains why reliability – not just speed – is Wi-Fi 8’s game-changer, and reveals how Rohde & Schwarz’s test equipment ensures seamless interoperability for tomorrow’s devices.

Our hosts

• Markus Haller, Rohde & Schwarz, blends his expertise as a physicist, former tech journalist, and corporate communications professional to make scientific insights and technological innovations accessible.

• Inga Müller-Siedentopp, Rohde & Schwarz, combines a background in economics and political science with experiences in journalism and a passion for corporate storytelling to translate complex technology into stories that stick.

Our topics

Wi-Fi 8, unlicensed spectrum, reliability, interference mitigation, distributed resource units, IoT connectivity, backward compatibility, Rohde & Schwarz testing, industrial automation, wireless LAN evolution

Join the conversation

Do you have suggestions? What topics are you interested in? We look forward to your email at podcast@rohde-schwarz.com

Deep dive

Find out everything about WiFi 8 testing (rohde-schwarz.com/solutions/wireless-communica…)

Read the news about Rohde & Schwarz at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026 (rohde-schwarz.com/solutions/events/mwc_258525.…)

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About us

Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its leading-edge solutions. Committed to innovation for more than 90 years, the independent technology group acts long-term and sustainably, making it a reliable partner to its industry and government customers worldwide.

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