Any links to online stores should be assumed to be affiliates. The company or PR agency provides all or most review samples. They have no control over my content, and I provide my honest opinion.
AVM, the Berlin-based manufacturer behind the FRITZ! brand, is using MWC 2026 in Barcelona to showcase a broad refresh of its networking product lineup. Running from 2 to 5 March at Stand E35 in Hall 7, the company’s exhibition covers new routers for 5G fixed wireless access, compact fibre optic gateways supporting speeds up to 10 Gbit/s, and a quad-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh repeater. The company is also offering an early look at its preparations for Wi-Fi 8.
FRITZ! products are widely used across Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria and other parts of the continent where the brand has established a strong presence among both consumers and internet service providers. The MWC 2026 showing marks a notable expansion of the Wi-Fi 7 portfolio and introduces several products aimed at improving broadband resilience through mobile network failover.
Related Reviews
FRITZ!Box 6835 5G: fixed wireless access with Wi-Fi 7
The headline 5G product at the show is the FRITZ!Box 6835 5G, a compact router designed for fixed wireless access (FWA) that pairs 5G connectivity with Wi-Fi 7. The device supports download speeds of up to 2 Gbit/s and uploads of up to 900 Mbit/s over the mobile network, using 3GPP Release 16 with quintuple 5G carrier aggregation and 4×4 MIMO.
On the wireless side, the 6835 5G delivers dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (2×2 on both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz) with combined data rates of up to 3,568 Mbit/s. For wired connections, it includes a 2.5 Gbit/s LAN port and a 1 Gbit/s LAN port. The router supports both standalone and non-standalone 5G across a wide range of frequency bands, including n1, n3, n7, n28, n77 and n78, among others. It also falls back to LTE Advanced Pro Category 20 with sixfold carrier aggregation when 5G is unavailable.
A notable design choice is the USB-C power supply, which means the router can be powered from a portable power bank for mobile use. It supports both a physical nano-SIM slot and eSIM. AVM has also included an alignment aid to help users position the device for optimal signal reception from the nearest cell tower.
The FRITZ!Box 6835 5G can also function as a failover device. When connected to a FRITZ!Box running a fibre, DSL or cable broadband connection, it can automatically take over internet duties if the primary connection drops. AVM calls this feature FRITZ! Failsafe, and it is a recurring theme across several of the products shown at MWC 2026.
FRITZ!Box 6825 4G: a budget-friendly mobile router
Alongside the 5G model, AVM is showing the FRITZ!Box 6825 4G, a more affordable option for areas where 4G coverage is sufficient. This compact router offers download speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s and uploads of up to 50 Mbit/s via LTE Advanced Category 6 with dual carrier aggregation and 2×2 MIMO.
Wi-Fi is limited to Wi-Fi 6 on the 2.4 GHz band only, with speeds up to 600 Mbit/s, and there is a single gigabit LAN port. Like the 5G model, it uses USB-C for power and supports operation from a power bank. The 6825 4G is compatible with international mobile networks and can serve as a FRITZ! Failsafe backup device or connect to Wi-Fi hotspots as an alternative internet source. It includes FRITZ!OS with mesh support, parental controls and guest Wi-Fi access.
Fibre optic routers: FRITZ!Box 5630 XGS and FRITZ!Box 5630
AVM has a strong track record in the European fibre optic market, and MWC 2026 sees the addition of two new compact models to the lineup. The FRITZ!Box 5630 XGS supports the XGS-PON standard, enabling downstream and upstream speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s on a direct fibre connection. For wired distribution, it features a 10 Gbit/s WAN/LAN port alongside three gigabit LAN ports and a USB 3.0 port for storage or printers.
The standard FRITZ!Box 5630 supports GPON connections at up to 2.5 Gbit/s and AON connections at up to 1 Gbit/s. Its port configuration is similar, though it features a 2.5 Gbit/s WAN/LAN port rather than the 10 Gbit/s variant found on the XGS model. Both devices can also be deployed behind an existing fibre optic modem (ONT) using their WAN port.
Both models share the same Wi-Fi 7 specification: dual-band 2×2 on 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz, delivering combined wireless speeds of up to 3,568 Mbit/s. They also include DECT telephony support, an analogue phone port, smart home features via DECT ULE, and the full FRITZ!OS feature set including VPN, parental controls, media server, NAS functionality and guest Wi-Fi access.
These two models sit alongside the existing FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro, 5690 XGS and 5690 in AVM’s fibre optic portfolio, giving ISPs and consumers a range of options across different price points and performance tiers.
FRITZ!Repeater 6700 Pro: quad-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh
Perhaps the most technically impressive product on show is the FRITZ!Repeater 6700 Pro, a quad-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh extender. This device operates across four frequency bands: 6 GHz, two separate 5 GHz radios and 2.4 GHz. The combined throughput reaches up to 18 Gbit/s, broken down as 5,760 Mbit/s on 6 GHz, 5,760 Mbit/s on each of the two 5 GHz radios, and 688 Mbit/s on 2.4 GHz.
The repeater features a 10 Gbit/s LAN port and a 2.5 Gbit/s LAN port, making it suitable for connecting high-bandwidth wired devices such as NAS units or media servers. It supports mesh Wi-Fi and can be set up with any wireless router that supports WPS, automatically adopting the existing network name and password. AVM’s FRITZ!App Wi-Fi is available to help users find the best placement within the home.
The inclusion of 6 GHz support is worth noting, as this band is increasingly important for reducing congestion in dense wireless environments. Having two separate 5 GHz radios also means the repeater can dedicate one for backhaul communication with the router while using the other to serve client devices, which should help maintain performance across a mesh network.
FRITZ!WLAN Stick 6700
AVM is also showing the FRITZ!WLAN Stick 6700, a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 USB adapter for Windows PCs and laptops. The stick supports 6 GHz, 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands with 2×2 antenna configuration, delivering wireless speeds of up to 2,880 Mbit/s on the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. It works with any wireless router and supports WPS for quick setup. This could be a straightforward upgrade path for users with older laptops that lack Wi-Fi 7 support.
Looking ahead: Wi-Fi 8 preparations
AVM is also using MWC 2026 to discuss its preparations for Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn), which is expected to be finalised within the next two years. The upcoming standard promises performance improvements across all three frequency bands, with a particular focus on better coverage at the edges of a Wi-Fi network, improved coordination between access points and client devices, lower latency and reduced energy consumption. Wi-Fi 8 will also bring improvements for upload-heavy tasks such as video conferencing and better support for energy-efficient IoT devices.
AVM says it is beginning development work on the next Wi-Fi generation with its upcoming major FRITZ!OS release, and experts will be available at the stand to discuss the advantages of Wi-Fi 8.
Wi-Fi management and failsafe features for ISPs
A significant portion of AVM’s MWC presence is targeted at network providers and ISPs. The company is demonstrating live Wi-Fi management capabilities based on the User Services Platform (USP/TR-369). Through the MyFRITZ!Net service or direct TR-369 integration, ISPs can remotely help customers optimise their home Wi-Fi networks, which AVM positions as a customer retention tool.
The FRITZ! Failsafe feature is also being shown in more detail. Starting with FRITZ!OS 8.20, users will be able to deploy a second FRITZ!Box with mobile internet access as an automatic backup for their primary broadband connection. Additionally, any FRITZ!Box with mobile network capabilities can be placed behind a fibre optic modem to provide automatic mobile failover if the fibre connection is disrupted.
Sustainability and European manufacturing
AVM is highlighting its commitment to sustainability and European manufacturing at the show. The company develops both hardware and software in-house at its Berlin headquarters and manufactures in Europe. It has received a silver medal from EcoVadis for its environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, placing it in the top 15 per cent of all assessed companies and the top 5 per cent within the hardware and telecommunications sectors.
The company emphasises that its European manufacturing base, combined with in-house software development, allows it to maintain high security standards and deliver regular free firmware updates to extend product lifespans. This approach to long-term software support is a meaningful differentiator in a market where many consumer networking products receive limited post-purchase updates.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
