Exploring Wi-Fi 7: Key Features and Differences from Wi-Fi 6

What is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 represents the next generation of Wi-Fi technology, built on the new 802.11be standard. It incorporates several innovative features, such as 320 MHz bandwidth, 4096-QAM modulation, 16 x 16 MU-MIMO, Multi-RU (Multiple Resource Unit), and a multi-link mechanism.

These advancements significantly enhance Wi-Fi 7's performance in terms of data transmission speed and latency. When compared to Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7 not only offers improved performance but also a broader range of applications.

Why do we need Wi-Fi 7?

As mobile devices become more popular and the demand for high-speed wireless connections grows, people are increasingly seeking higher bandwidth, lower latency, and greater capacity. While Wi-Fi 6 has significantly improved speed and efficiency, the rise of emerging applications such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), online gaming, and video conferencing has further heightened the need for faster networks with lower latency. Existing Wi-Fi technology is gradually proving inadequate for these new applications. In response, the IEEE 802.11 standards organization has released the latest revised standard, IEEE 802.11be EHT, commonly referred to as Wi-Fi 7.

Technical advantages of Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7 introduces several advanced technologies building on the foundation of Wi-Fi 6, offering the following key advantages:

• Higher Data Rates: Wi-Fi 7 boasts a theoretical peak rate of over 46.1 Gbps, which is approximately four times faster than Wi-Fi 6. This allows users to transmit and receive large amounts of data more quickly, effectively meeting the growing demand for high-speed connections.
• Lower Latency: Wi-Fi 7 reduces latency to mere milliseconds, an improvement over Wi-Fi 6. This reduction results in enhanced real-time performance, enabling users to enjoy smoother gaming experiences, video calls, and online applications.
• Greater Network Capacity: Wi-Fi 7 incorporates an advanced level of Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology, allowing for simultaneous data transmission across multiple devices. This enhancement provides increased network capacity, enabling several devices to connect at once and maintain high-speed connections without concerns about network congestion or performance degradation.
• Wider Coverage: Wi-Fi 7 utilizes a broader channel range and improved antenna technology to enhance wireless coverage. This development ensures that users experience more reliable and stable connections over a larger area without the worry of weak or unstable signals.
• Higher Spectrum Efficiency: Wi-Fi 7 employs more efficient spectrum utilization technologies, such as Preamble Puncturing and Multi-RU (MRU). These innovations optimize spectrum usage and enhance overall performance.

In summary, Wi-Fi 7 offers significant technical advantages, including higher data rates, lower latency, greater network capacity, wider coverage, and improved spectrum efficiency. These benefits translate into a faster, more stable, and reliable wireless connection experience, effectively meeting users' demands for high-speed wireless connectivity.

Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 7 introduces many new technologies based on the Wi-Fi 6 standard, including the following:

Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6