802.11ai – the one that made Wi-Fi connect fast

IEEE Std 802.11ai-2016 (second printing), Amendment 1 to the 2016 revision, tackled a problem that drives everyone nuts: **slow Wi-Fi connection times**. no named “Task Group ai” in the sources, but whoever worked on this one clearly hated waiting for a handshake. the solution? **FILS – Fast Initial Link Setup**.

the goal was simple but critical: make Wi-Fi connect **way faster**, especially in **dense environments** (like stadiums, airports, or city centers), or when devices roam quickly between access points. with traditional 802.11, even a short connection setup could take hundreds of milliseconds – which adds up fast if you’re moving or the network is crowded.

802.11ai introduced a streamlined process for **authentication, association, and key confirmation**, all bundled into a **reduced number of frame exchanges**. instead of the usual long handshake parade, FILS got devices on the air **in under 100 ms** – and often much faster.

it brought new elements like **FILS Discovery frames**, which helped clients find APs quickly without triggering full scans, and also added containers for things like **Higher Layer Protocol (HLP)** info and **IP address provisioning** – so the device could get network-ready nearly instantly.

this was a big deal for **fast-roaming**, **high-mobility use cases**, and networks with a lot of clients coming and going. 802.11ai’s features were designed to slot into existing infrastructure without breaking compatibility, and it became part of **802.11-2020**, setting the tone for smarter, snappier Wi-Fi access moving forward.

802.11ai made Wi-Fi wake up and get to work faster. no more watching the spinner while your device figures out what to do.