On November 28th, Shenzhen played host to a gathering of global WLAN industry leaders at the 2024 WLAN Industry Summit: “In Unity and Innovation Toward a New Era," alongside World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA) 2024 General Assembly. Honored to host the event, WAA received invaluable support from the Shenzhen Development Agency of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone and the Shenzhen Industry and Standards Innovation Consultancy Center. WAA is an international organization dedicated to promoting the development of the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) industry. It consists of nearly a hundred member units worldwide, covering multiple fields such as technology research and development, product manufacturing, testing and certification, and application services. WAA is committed to providing the best experience in wireless local area networks. It has made significant contributions to the development of WLAN by publishing industry reports, promoting standardization work, conducting testing and certification services, and strengthening international exchanges and cooperation.
The Summit gathered industry leaders and important partners in the WLAN ecosystem, whom collectively witnessed the achievements of the WLAN industry in 2024 and engaged in discussions on the outlook and development of the industry. Distinguished domestic and international attendees included Zhang Ping, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Counselor of the State Council, and Chair of WAA; Zhang Gang, former Counselor of the State Council and Co-Director of WAA's Strategic Advisory Committee; Lin Yi, Deputy Director-General of the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Yu Jie, Deputy Director-General, He Tao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone; Gan Bin, Vice President of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., WAA council member; Li Feng, General Manager of the Home Smart Connectivity Division at China Mobile (Hangzhou) Information Technology Co., Ltd.; Robert Stacey, Chair of IEEE 802.11 Working Group; and Dr.Mustafa Aykut, Director of Projects and Public Policy at the SAMENA Telecommunications Council along with other prominent domestic and international figure. These influential figures contributed to exploring new pathways for the industry's steady and long-term growth.
Notably, WAA has made significant strides in enhancing its certification framework, expanding its testing capabilities, and accelerating its internationalization process, all of which have provided a strong boost to the global WLAN industry's prosperous development.
Zhang Ping, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, counselor of the State Council, and Chair of WAA, delivered the opening speech. He introduced the notable achievements of WAA in 2024 within the WLAN industry including industry reports publication and technology standardizing. He also briefly outlined the development plan for WAA for 2025, emphasizing that the Alliance will continue to lead industrial progress and explore more global collaboration opportunities.
During the Summit, WAA proudly released the "WLAN Advanced User Experience Technologies White Paper", which offered an in-depth analysis of the latest advancements in technological innovation, standard development, and performance evaluation. The white paper highlighted particularly outstanding achievements in accelerating network transmission speeds, strengthening stability, and optimizing user experiences. This milestone initiative reflects the collective wisdom of WAA and its member companies and provides profound insights into the latest trends and future directions of WLAN technology.
In addition, WAA's certification services became one of the shining highlights of the Summit. The certification services, which underwent a comprehensive upgrade in 2024, were widely recognized by industry partners and global markets. This move marks WAA's leadership in technological innovation and standardization, underscoring its forward-thinking vision and industry leadership. Furthermore, it demonstrates WAA's unwavering commitment to advancing the WLAN industry toward higher quality and higher standards.
The Summit also showcased WAA's powerful testing capabilities, with the introduction of a new testing platform. This platform integrates cutting-edge technologies and equipment, offering efficient, accurate, and comprehensive testing services across the entire product lifecycle, from research and development to mass production. Additionally, WAA launched an all-encompassing experience and performance evaluation service for WiFi 7 devices, designed to provide consumers with precise and reliable purchasing advice.
Entering 2024, WAA has adopted an increasingly open approach to global cooperation, forging closer relationships with international industry organizations such as IEEE 802.11 and the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, and signing Memorandum of Understanding with international industrial organizations such as WBA and Wi-Fi NOW. WAA also actively promoted the establishment of the BRICS New Connectivity Committee within the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Base Industry Alliance, and as the secretariat of this committee, WAA will facilitate deeper cooperation among BRICS countries in the field of new connectivity industry in the future. Additionally, WAA successfully hosted multiple international industry forums, including the WAA and Informa Tech 2024 Barcelona Roundtable and the 2024 BRICS New Connectivity Innovation Forum, and participated in the 2024 Shanghai Mobile World Congress and the 2024 BRICS New Industrial Revolution Exhibition. These events effectively promoted the implementation of the Alliance's achievements and enhanced WAA's international brand recognition. Next, WAA plans to explore pathways for converting its alliance standards into international standards. The contributions of the IEEE 802.11 Working Group Chair and SAMENA Telecommunications Council's Director of Projects and Public Policy further elevated the Summit's international influence, injecting new energy into WAA's global expansion strategy.
With these key developments, WAA's testing system and certification standards are beginning to have a tangible impact on the industry, laying a solid foundation for improving the overall quality and performance of WLAN products globally. The "WAA Certification" standard is increasingly becoming synonymous with high-quality WLAN products, fully reflecting the Alliance's unwavering commitment to achieving excellence both domestically and internationally.