Badalona, Barcelona, March 10, 2026 – On March 2, 2026, the World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA) hosted the “2026 Global WLAN Industry Forum” in Barcelona, Spain. Centered on the theme “AI-WLAN: Envisioning a New Premium Intelligent WLAN Ecosystem,” the event gathered more than 100 technical experts, operators, equipment manufacturers, and international organization delegates to explore the convergence of AI and WLAN technologies.

The integration of AI and WLAN has emerged as a primary global trend within the short-range communications sector. As the premier international industry body focused on WLAN user experience, the WAA has set an objective to establish a “Global Hub for AI-WLAN Technical Exchange and Standardization.” At the forum, the WAA collaborated with international organizations, operators, and major equipment firms to launch the “International Cooperation Initiatives on AI-WLAN Standardization.” Additionally, the WAA signed memorandums of understanding with the World Broadband Association (WBBA) and the Global Intelligent Internet of Things Consortium (GIIC), establishing a framework to overcome standardization hurdles and foster technical synergy.

WAA President ZHANG Ping noted that creating an intelligent AI-WLAN ecosystem is a collective industry goal. GAN Bin, Vice President of Huawei, highlighted that AI shifts wireless local area networks from “passive response” to “active prediction,” enabling better support for the diverse requirements of various sectors.

Keynote sessions featured representatives from global standards bodies and industry leaders—including IEEE, ITU-T, ISO/IEC, SAMENA, WBA, China Mobile, Huawei, H3C, and Qualcomm—who conducted detailed discussions on technological progress, the harmonization of standards, and practical implementation. Panel discussions centered on AI-WLAN standardization and application innovation, helping to solidify industry consensus.

As a significant, internationally focused industry gathering, the 2026 Global WLAN Industry Forum served as a vital platform for global cooperation, strengthening the consensus on AI-WLAN integration and reinforcing the basis for worldwide industry partnership. The WAA intends to use this forum as a catalyst to further integrate AI and WLAN, enhance international collaboration, and continue its role as a “coordinator” and “promoter.” The organization remains committed to building bridges for global cooperation, deepening technical and standards-based exchanges, and delivering high-quality WLAN experiences to users globally, thereby advancing the development of the AI-WLAN intelligent network ecosystem.