Latvian networking equipment maker MikroTik has announced Audience 8, a Wi-Fi 8 router with AI-driven traffic optimisation, powered by Qualcomm’s Dragonwing platform. The company unveiled the device at MWC Barcelona on 2 March 2026.
MikroTik is one of the first manufacturers to adopt Qualcomm Technologies’ Wi-Fi 8 chipset. The two companies are working together to bring Wi-Fi 8 products to market from 2027, with early prototypes of Audience 8 expected later this year.
A familiar brand across Africa
MikroTik routers are ubiquitous across African networks. Internet service providers from Lagos to Nairobi rely on MikroTik’s RouterOS-based hardware to run wireless backhauls, hotspot systems, and last-mile broadband networks. The brand’s combination of low cost, flexibility, and enterprise-grade features has made it the default choice for thousands of ISPs and WISPs on the continent, particularly in markets where Cisco and Juniper pricing is prohibitive.
That footprint suggests Wi-Fi 8 adoption in Africa could closely follow MikroTik’s product cycle, as operators upgrade equipment over the next few years.
AI for network stability
Audience 8 will include an AI system that monitors congestion, classifies traffic types, and adjusts network behaviour to reduce latency. The focus is on real-world performance rather than peak throughput numbers.
“Wi-Fi is no longer an arms race of pure speed. What matters now is stability, predictable performance, security, and flexibility to adapt networks to specific needs,” John Tully, CEO of MikroTik, said. “With Audience 8, we are bringing capabilities once reserved for enterprise environments into homes and growing businesses.”
Hardware specifications
The device supports tri-band Wi-Fi 8 with 6 GHz, multi-gigabit Ethernet ports up to 10G, DDR5 memory, and high-speed flash storage. It will also support container workloads through RouterOS, allowing users to run services directly on the router, a feature popular with network operators who deploy MikroTik hardware at scale.
Ganesh Swaminathan, vice president and general manager of wireless infrastructure and networking at Qualcomm Technologies, said the Dragonwing platform delivers “the speed, intelligence, and reliability required for networks to adapt in real time”.
Leave a Reply