MUNICH – On Thursday, March 5, Rohde & Schwarz announced that it has successfully enabled the rapid validation of next-generation Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) networking platforms in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Utilizing the CMP180 radio communication tester, Qualcomm has verified its advanced 5×5 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology across the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands. This milestone allows Rohde & Schwarz to offer pre-built test routines, accelerating the time-to-market for device manufacturers.
Evolving the Connectivity Backbone
Wi-Fi 8, the successor to Wi-Fi 7, introduces the Ultra-High Reliability (UHR) designation. While previous generations focused primarily on peak throughput, the 802.11bn standard targets consistent, high-quality connectivity in dense and contested environments. The implementation of 5×5 MIMO architectures is critical to this goal, providing enhanced spatial efficiency and link robustness for applications requiring deterministic performance, such as industrial automation, AI-assisted operations, and extended reality (XR).
The collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership between Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm, which previously focused on validating satellite-to-cell capabilities for the Snapdragon® Satellite platform.
CMP180 Platform Specifications
The CMP180 is a non-signaling wireless manufacturing test set designed to handle the increased complexity of Wi-Fi 8 and 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN). Key features validated during the Qualcomm testing include:
- Higher-Order MIMO: Support for 5×5 configurations to improve maximum data throughput per link.
- Distributed-Tone Resource Units (dRU): Essential for improving uplink performance while adhering to strict regulatory power spectral density (PSD) limits.
- Advanced Modulation: Testing of sophisticated coding schemes that allow for real-time adaptation to radio conditions.
- Broadband Support: Coverage up to 8 GHz with bandwidths up to 500 MHz, ensuring compatibility with evolving unlicensed spectrum allocations.
Executive Perspectives
“We are excited to strengthen our long-time collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies to provide a unique testing solution for the next area of Wi-Fi innovations,” said Goce Talaganov, Vice President of Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz. “The CMP180’s advanced features will empower device manufacturers to bring innovative Wi-Fi 8 products to market quickly and confidently.”
“Our collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz highlights the progress of these capabilities as the Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem builds momentum,” added Ganesh Swaminathan, Vice President and General Manager of Wireless Infrastructure and Networking at Qualcomm.
Market Outlook and Roadmap
Rohde & Schwarz, which reported a net revenue of €3.16 billion for its 2024/2025 fiscal year, is positioning its test and measurement division to capture the overlap between terrestrial Wi-Fi 8 and satellite-integrated communications. While the first commercial Wi-Fi 8 products are expected to reach the market by late 2027, the availability of validated test routines for the CMP180 ensures that the infrastructure and chipset layers are ready for early-stage prototyping and certification.
Future developments are expected to focus on Multi-AP Coordination (MAPC), which will further refine spatial reuse and deterministic performance in enterprise environments.
