Technology

The 2026 Global WLAN Industry Forum, hosted by the World WLAN Application Alliance, was convened on March 2 in Barcelona, bringing together more than 100 global industry stakeholders to explore the future of AI-powered wireless networks.

Held under the theme “AI-WLAN: Envisioning a New Premium Intelligent WLAN Ecosystem,” the forum gathered technical experts, telecom operators, equipment manufacturers, and representatives from international organizations to discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with wireless local area networks (WLAN).

As the world’s first international organization focused on WLAN application experience, the WAA outlined its vision of becoming a “global hub for AI-WLAN technical exchange and standardization.” During the event, the alliance unveiled the International Cooperation Initiatives on AI-WLAN Standardization, aimed at accelerating global collaboration and aligning industry standards.

In a significant step toward strengthening international cooperation, the WAA signed memorandums of understanding with the World Broadband Association and the Global Intelligent Internet of Things Consortium. These agreements are expected to help break down standardization barriers and promote deeper technical collaboration across the global WLAN ecosystem.

Zhang Ping, President of the WAA, emphasized that building an intelligent ecosystem powered by AI-WLAN is a shared vision across the industry. Meanwhile, Gan Bin, Vice President of Huawei, highlighted how AI is transforming WLAN from a system of “passive response” to “active prediction,” enabling more efficient and customized network performance.

The forum also featured keynote sessions and panel discussions with representatives from leading global standards bodies and companies, including IEEE, ITU-T, ISO/IEC, SAMENA Telecommunications Council, Wireless Broadband Alliance, China Mobile, H3C, and Qualcomm.

Key discussions centered on technological evolution, standard harmonization, and real-world AI-WLAN applications, with industry leaders reaching a growing consensus on the importance of unified standards and innovation-driven deployment.

As a globally significant industry event, the forum reinforced international alignment on the integration of AI and WLAN technologies while establishing a collaborative platform for future innovation. The WAA stated it will continue to promote global cooperation, deepen technical exchanges, and advance standardization efforts to deliver high-quality, intelligent WLAN experiences worldwide.

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