Broadcom Announces Industry’s First Enterprise Wi-Fi 8 Access Point and Switch Solution for the AI Era
Rhea-AI Summary
Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) announced the industry’s first enterprise-grade Wi‑Fi 8 access point and switch solution, featuring the new BCM49438 APU for edge AI acceleration and the Trident X3+ BCM56390 switch with multi-gigabit PHYs and PoE PSE chips. The unified architecture adds MACsec on all ports, advanced telemetry, wTSN/1588 PTP, and is sampling to early access customers.
Platforms pair Broadcom Wi‑Fi 8 radios (BCM43840/43844/43820) with integrated Edge AI, aiming to deliver low-latency, secure, AI-ready enterprise networking.
Positive
- Industry-first unified enterprise Wi‑Fi 8 AP and switch solution
- BCM49438 APU combines computing, networking, and integrated AI acceleration
- Trident X3+ supports up to 48 multi-gigabit front-panel ports with PQC-compliant MACsec across all ports
- Solution is sampling to early access customers, enabling partner evaluation
Negative
- Only sampling to early access customers; no general availability date provided
- Transition to Wi‑Fi 8 requires significant network upgrades and may increase OpEx for enterprises
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
AVGO was roughly flat (-0.06%) while key peers showed mixed moves: TSM +3.21%, AMD +4.45%, MU +6.21%, QCOM +1.10%, and NVDA -0.85%. This points to stock‑specific factors rather than a unified sector rotation.
Previous AI Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 06 | AI Wi‑Fi 8 home | Positive | +0.1% | Launch of unified Wi‑Fi 8 residential platform with on‑device AI acceleration. |
| Oct 14 | 800G AI NIC | Positive | -3.5% | Introduction of Thor Ultra 800G AI Ethernet NIC for large‑scale AI clusters. |
| Oct 14 | Wi‑Fi 8 ecosystem | Positive | -3.5% | First Wi‑Fi 8 silicon ecosystem spanning gateways, enterprise APs and clients. |
| Oct 08 | AI networking suite | Positive | +2.7% | Showcase of end‑to‑end AI networking solutions at OCP Global Summit. |
| Aug 26 | NVIDIA AI private cloud | Positive | +1.3% | Expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate AI into VMware Cloud Foundation. |
AI‑tagged product and platform announcements have produced mixed reactions, with both gains and sell‑offs despite generally positive technology narratives.
Recent AI‑tagged Broadcom news has centered on next‑generation infrastructure: an AI‑enabled residential Wi‑Fi 8 platform (Jan 6, 2026), an 800G AI Ethernet NIC and a Wi‑Fi 8 silicon ecosystem (Oct 14, 2025), end‑to‑end AI networking at the OCP Summit (Oct 8, 2025), and expanded AI collaboration with NVIDIA (Aug 26, 2025). Those events often involved sampling or ecosystem launches, similar in nature to today’s enterprise Wi‑Fi 8 AP and switch solution, with average moves around 2.22% but directionally inconsistent.
Historical Comparison
In the past year, Broadcom issued multiple AI‑focused platform launches and partnerships, averaging 2.22% moves that were directionally mixed, so today’s AI Wi‑Fi 8 enterprise update fits an ongoing, but not always price‑moving, AI narrative.
AI news has progressed from AI networking fabrics and NVIDIA‑enabled private clouds to Wi‑Fi 8 silicon, an 800G AI NIC, residential Wi‑Fi 8, and now an enterprise Wi‑Fi 8 AP and switch platform, extending the AI‑ready network story across environments.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement expands Broadcom’s AI networking portfolio with an enterprise Wi‑Fi 8 access point platform built on the BCM49438 APU and a Trident X3+ switch featuring MACsec, multi‑gigabit PHYs and PoE PSE. Together they target edge AI, AIOps, and deterministic low‑latency via 1588 Precision Time Protocol and wTSN. In context of prior AI‑tagged launches, investors may watch OEM adoption, sampling milestones, and how these platforms integrate with existing AI infrastructure offerings.
Key Terms
macsec technical
edge ai technical
ai/ml technical
precision time protocol technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Unified, wireless-first architecture addresses rising demand for hybrid work and delivers performance, efficiency and security needed for next-generation enterprise networking
PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), a global leader in semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions, today announced the industry’s first Wi-Fi 8 access point (AP) and switch solution purpose-built with a unified architecture for AI-ready enterprise networks.
Building on Broadcom’s first-to-market Wi-Fi 8 radios launched in October 2025, the new enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 8 AP platform is powered by a new accelerated processing unit (APU) chip, the BCM49438, designed to optimize wireless networking and AI acceleration at the enterprise edge. Additionally, Broadcom unveiled an enterprise-grade switch platform powered by a new Ethernet switch, the Trident X3+ BCM56390, with Broadcom’s industry-leading multi-gigabit PHY and PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE) chips. Together, these platforms form a unified architecture that maximizes the performance, efficiency and security for the Wi-Fi 8 wireless network in the enterprise.
“As enterprises increasingly rely on AI for critical operations and security, the demand for a robust, intelligent, and secure network infrastructure has never been greater,” said Mark Gonikberg, senior vice president and general manager of Broadcom’s Wireless and Broadband Communications Division. “Our new end-to-end solution for enterprise Wi-Fi and switching, incorporating Wi-Fi 8, multi-gigabit Ethernet, and edge AI capabilities, provides the essential foundation for organizations to navigate risk and thrive in the AI era.”
Next Era of Enterprise Networking
Wi-Fi 8 is set to usher in a new era of connectivity, placing unprecedented demands on network infrastructure. The anticipated increases in bandwidth, the need for ultra-low latency for real-time AI applications, and the explosion of telemetry data from a multitude of connected devices will necessitate a significant upgrade to existing networks. This enhanced infrastructure must extend beyond the access points, requiring advanced switches in the wiring closet capable of handling multi-gigabit speeds, advanced quality of service (QoS), and intelligent processing to support the robust, secure, and AI-driven networks of the future.
The transition to Wi-Fi 8 is occurring amidst significant shifts in enterprise technology and campus demands. Major drivers of network transformation include:
- Growing trend of hybrid work driving substantial increase in network bandwidth demands in both uplink and downlink communications.
- Mounting threats from adversarial AI attacks requiring robust, multi-layered defenses to effectively safeguard corporate and user data.
- Next-generation AI factories demanding ultra-high reliability and low latency connectivity to support real-time operations.
- Operating expense (OpEx) becoming a critical consideration for next-generation network upgrades.
Broadcom is pioneering enterprise network solutions with three major industry firsts to address this shifting landscape:
- Comprehensive, End-to-End Security -- Broadcom's portfolio is the first to implement MACsec across all switch ports and access points, delivering complete, end-to-end security.
- Extensive Analytics -- The Wi-Fi 8 solutions introduce advanced telemetry and analytics engines, covering the entire portfolio from the latest Wi-Fi 8 access points to the campus switching infrastructure.
- Integrated Edge AI -- Advanced AI model acceleration is delivered through an integrated Edge AI/ML engine on the Wi-Fi 8 AP, eliminating the need for the added cost of a separate NPU or coprocessor.
The Wi-Fi 8 Edge AI Access Point Platform
At the heart of the Wi-Fi 8 AP platform is the new BCM49438 APU that combines high-performance computing, networking, and AI acceleration in a single, tightly integrated silicon. Paired with Broadcom’s latest enterprise Wi-Fi 8 radio chips, the BCM43840, BCM43844 and BCM43820, enterprise OEMs can build a complete Wi-Fi 8 AP that enables edge AI processing, real-time optimization, and adaptive intelligence across all frequency bands.
The Trident X3+ Switch Platform
Complementing the AP is the new Trident X3+ Ethernet switch platform. The Trident X3+ is engineered with a security-first approach, doubling the front-panel bandwidth to up to 48 multi-gigabit ports to support high-density Wi-Fi 8 deployments. It is the first switch to integrate PQC-compliant MACsec across all ports and includes a Secure Boot engine with a Hardware Root-of-Trust, ensuring comprehensive, end-to-end security across the entire wired and wireless network. Further, the platform is equipped with Broadcom’s multi-gigabit PHYs, including the BCM84918, BCM54908 and BCM54908E, that provide seamless, high-speed AP connectivity and PoE PSE chips that deliver optimal power and efficiency.
Unified Architecture Driving Next-Generation Networks
The unified architecture, integrating Wi-Fi 8 capabilities, APU, Trident X3+ switch and multi-gigabit PHY and PoE PSE, significantly elevates network telemetry capabilities, moving beyond simple logging to offer deep, real-time insights for effective AI-powered network operations (AIOps). Further, the solution includes Wireless Time-Sensitive Networking (wTSN), leveraging 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) to guarantee ultra-low latency and deterministic communication. This precision is foundational technology for next-generation industrial environments and sophisticated AI-driven manufacturing processes.
"Broadcom's new Wi-Fi 8 solution addresses many of the critical challenges facing modern enterprise networks,” said Siân Morgan, research director at Dell’Oro Group. “By taking an end-to-end approach, from the access point to the switch, Broadcom is delivering enhanced network performance and advanced analytics for AIOps. Broadcom’s focus on integrated edge AI, lower-cost MACsec security, and end-to-end telemetry will result in smarter, more secure, and more cost-efficient networks for enterprises.”
Availability
Broadcom is currently sampling the complete enterprise Wi-Fi 8 AP and switch solution, including the new BCM49438 APU with Wi-Fi 8 radio chips and Trident X3+ BCM56390 switch with multi-gigabit PHY and PoE PSE chips, to its early access customers and partners. Contact your local Broadcom sales representative for samples and pricing.
Kumar Srikantan, Vice President and General Manager, Campus, Arista Networks
“Arista’s Cognitive Campus platforms have been powered by multiple generations of Broadcom’s networking silicon products. We are excited to extend this portfolio by leveraging Broadcom's new enterprise platform with compelling features such as native encryption on all ports and efficient, high-bandwidth interfaces to connect to the latest generation of Enterprise Wi-Fi access points. Combined with Arista’s feature-rich EOS® software, we look forward to delivering another industry-leading solution for the wired enterprise market.”
Dan DeBacker, Chief Product Officer, Infrastructure at Extreme Networks
“AI is redefining enterprise Wi-Fi. By building our next-generation Wi-Fi 8 access points and switches on Broadcom’s industry-leading platform, we're delivering AI-driven networking at the edge with built-in intelligence, automation, and security. Our technology leadership translates into tangible customer value with 24/7 reliability, lower operational costs, faster AI-enabled applications, and consistently exceptional user experiences at scale. This innovation is powered by our long-standing partnership with Broadcom, enabling us to bring market-leading solutions to customers with speed and confidence.”
Sanjoy Dey, VP of Wireless Product Management, HPE
“HPE is proud to continue our collaboration with Broadcom on Wi-Fi 8 for our next generation of HPE Networking Self-Driving solutions. Together, we can enable enterprise wireless customers to unlock new levels of efficiency, reliability and performance, paving the way for the next era of secure, AI-native operations.”
Pramod Badjate, President & GM, NETGEAR Enterprise
“Netgear has leveraged Broadcom technology in generations of market leading networking products. We are excited to continue this long collaboration and develop exceptional new solutions for the AI-driven enterprise leveraging these new switch technologies and deliver sophisticated high-bandwidth, intelligent and secure solutions to our customers.”
About Broadcom
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductors and infrastructure software for global organizations’ complex, mission-critical needs. We combine long-term R&D investment with superb execution to deliver the best technology, at scale. Broadcom is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. For more information, visit www.broadcom.com.
Broadcom, the pulse logo, and Connecting everything are among the trademarks of Broadcom. The term "Broadcom" refers to Broadcom Inc., and/or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Press Contact:
Khanh Lam
Global Communications
press.relations@broadcom.com
Telephone: +1 408 433 8649
FAQ
What did Broadcom (AVGO) announce about its new Wi‑Fi 8 access point and switch on February 3, 2026?
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