In a major tech development, the wireless connectivity is poise to undergo one more transformation as WiFi 7, the successor to WiFi 6E, makes its debut. This announcement comes about 4 years after the introduction of WiFi 6 and two years after the introduction of WiFi 6E, making a important advancement in wireless technology.
WiFi 7 to bring a substantial speed boost, building upon the groundwork laid by its predecessors.
A key contributor to this enhancement is the utilization of the 6GHz band, unlock by WiFi 6E, which offers wide-open spaces for data transmission.
Also, WiFi 7 is set to employ innovative techniques aim at accelerating data transfer speeds while reducing interference and minimizing network latency.
Which emphasis on interference reduction and speed enhancement mirrors the hallmark features of both WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E, particularly the latter’s increase speed for compatible devices.
So, one main difference with WiFi 7 is its compatibility with older devices, alleviating concerns about having to replace existing equipment.
As users gradually transition to new WiFi 7-compatible devices, the benefits of this latest standard will become increasingly apparent.
WiFi 7 is expect to deliver faster speeds.
As per Intel, a typical WiFi 7 laptop could potentially achieve a maximum speed of nearly 5.8Gbps, albeit under theoretical conditions.
Even half of this theoretical speed would be a substantial improvement for most users.
The primary driver of this speed boost is the channel bandwidth, which determines the capacity for data transmission.
WiFi 7 doubles the maximum channel bandwidth to 320MHz, a significant upgrade compared to the 160MHz available on WiFi 5, 6, and 6E routers.
The wider channel allows for more efficient data transmission, although it is exclusively support on the 6GHz band.
WiFi 7 introduces Multi-Link Operation (MLO), enabling the combination of bands into a single connection.
Means that if you have one connection offering 1Gbps on the 6GHz band and another at 700Mbps on the 5GHz band, combining them could yield speeds of up to 1.7Gbps.
The effectiveness of this feature in practice will require further testing with WiFi 7 routers and compatible devices.
While in case of Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) spatial streams, WiFi 7 raises the bar to 16 x 16, a significant improvement over the 8 x 8 support in WiFi 6.
So, it’s essential to note that consumer-grade WiFi 6E routers, even high-end models, typically offer only 4 x 4 MU-MIMO support.
Also, finding devices that exceed 2 x 2 MU-MIMO remains a challenge.
Smart home users will welcome WiFi 7 for its potential to enhance the reliability of interconnected devices.
WiFi 7 addresses the issue of airtime congestion by employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA).
This update maximizes the use of carrier waves, even in the presence of interference, ensuring smoother data transmission.
So, it’s important to note that OFDMA is not backwards-compatible with older devices.
Hence, a complete transition to WiFi 7-compatible devices is necessary to fully realize the benefits of improve smart home connectivity.
WiFi 7 presents many advantages other than faster speeds and smart home improvements.
As it offers the potential for more stable mesh systems by allowing seamless switching between bands, reducing connection interruptions.
So, the implementation of MLO and OFDMA in WiFi 7 may result in reduce network lag, as devices can connect to multiple bands concurrently.
Which could lead to smoother and more responsive network experiences.
As WiFi 7 routers are already available for purchase, it might not be the right time to rush out and invest in this new technology.
Because only a limited number of devices can currently support this standard, and it has not even officially finalize yet.
Some chips supporting WiFi 7 are already in use.
For example, Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7800 mobile wireless chipset, launch in 2022, can be found in select phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
So, it’s important to note that the full functionality of WiFi 7 in these phones may only be realize if Samsung enables WiFi 7 on them.
WiFi 7 compatibility is also making its way into laptops and network cards.
As 16-inch Acer Swift Edge laptop offers WiFi 7 support, and Intel plans to release its BE200 WiFi 7 network card before the end of 2023.
Also other major computer manufacturers are expect to introduce devices that support the WiFi 7 standard coming year.
