ASUS launches first consumer WiFi 8 routers in Canada

ASUS has announced the immediate retail availability of the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 series in Canada, marking the launch of the world’s first consumer-grade WiFi 8 routers. The series includes two models: the GT-BN98 Pro (BN30000) and the GT-BN98 (BN25000).

The GT-BN98 Pro, designed for the North American market, features a quad-band architecture (6GHz + 6GHz + 5GHz + 2.4GHz) with a total wireless throughput of up to 30,000 Mbps. The standard GT-BN98 model targets Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific with a different frequency combination (6GHz + 5GHz + 5GHz + 2.4GHz) and a throughput of 25,000 Mbps. Both models are equipped with a 2.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, two 10Gbps ports, and four 2.5Gbps LAN ports.

ASUS also introduced the ZenWiFi BN12, a WiFi 8 Mesh ecosystem designed for high-capacity homes, which is scheduled for release in October. While the IEEE 802.11bn standard is still in the draft stage and not expected to be finalized until May 2028, ASUS engineers indicate that these routers can provide performance gains even when paired with existing WiFi 7 devices.