Since 2019, the IEEE standards organization has been researching Wi-Fi 7 (also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput), and the new standard is scheduled to be released in May 2024.
Every new Wi-Fi standard aims to achieve two goals:
- Provide faster Wi-Fi speeds for each connected device.
- Connect with as many devices smoothly as possible.
Even in home networks, an increasing number of devices rely on robust wireless networks—not only mobile devices like smartphones and laptops but also devices for smart homes, TVs, and audio systems.
All these devices require greater bandwidth to meet current and future application needs; for example: being able to use gigabit-speed or higher internet connections without interruptions, or having uninterrupted video calls in a home office and wireless connections for AR and VR glasses.
To accomplish all this, Wi-Fi 7 provides a comprehensive set of tools: wider wireless radio channels, more and faster MIMO streams, and numerous features to ensure many devices can transmit simultaneously without interfering with each other.
Next, let’s delve deeper into the new features of Wi-Fi 7.
01
More Space: 6 GHz, 320 MHz Channels
Similar to Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 allows devices to operate wirelessly on three different frequencies: in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, they also operate on the 6 GHz frequency. As only a few Wi-Fi products have been designed for this frequency so far, connections at 6 GHz typically run faster due to less interference.
Wi-Fi 7 speeds up the 6 GHz frequency by allowing 320 MHz radio channels, which is twice the width of the 160 MHz channels above 5 GHz, resulting in speeds that are twice as fast as this frequency.
The additional 6 GHz frequency provides ample space for wireless radio channels with 320 MHz bandwidth, which is twice that of Wi-Fi 6.
02
WiFi 7 Transmission Speeds Up to 46 GBit/s
The speed of a Wi-Fi connection largely depends on the number of data streams (MIMO streams) from the transmitter to the receiver. With Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, there were a maximum of 8 streams per frequency; Wi-Fi 7 offers double that amount. If a Wi-Fi 7 connection uses 16 MIMO streams and 320 MHz channels at 6 GHz, the theoretical transmission rate is approximately 46 GBit/s, nearly five times that of Wi-Fi 6.
However, don’t expect Wi-Fi 7 devices to consistently achieve these maximum throughput speeds. Similar to Wi-Fi 5 and 6, manufacturers haven’t developed routers with 8 streams per frequency. While some claim their top models support 8 or even 12 streams, the advertised Wi-Fi speed refers to the total streams across all frequencies—e.g., a tri-band router might have four streams each on the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz frequencies.
Consequently, like previous Wi-Fi standards, top-tier Wi-Fi 7 routers support a maximum of four MIMO streams per frequency, with most laptops and smartphones equipped with Wi-Fi modules using two MIMO streams.
Compared to similar Wi-Fi 6 devices, new Wi-Fi 7 products can achieve speeds of over double in ideal circumstances. On one hand, they can utilize 320 MHz channels at 6 GHz, and additionally, Wi-Fi 7 supports enhanced 4096-QAM modulation to boost transmission rates.
Top-tier Wi-Fi 7 routers manage a maximum data rate of 11.5 GBit/s through four MIMO streams (4×4) and 320 MHz channels, surpassing Wi-Fi 6 top-tier routers that manage 4.8 GBit/s through four MIMO streams (4×4) and 160 MHz channels by more than double.
Wi-Fi 7 clients in smartphones and laptops also benefit from similar speed advantages. They employ 2×2 MIMO streams and 320 MHz channels, achieving a maximum data rate of 5.8 GBit/s, which is more than double the 2.4 GBit/s of Wi-Fi 6 clients with 2×2 and 160 MHz channels.
03
Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is a brand-new feature introduced with Wi-Fi 7.
In previous Wi-Fi standards, data transmission between two devices occurred through a single connection (link), specifically on a particular wireless radio channel at a specific frequency.
For instance, if you had different names assigned for the Wi-Fi connections at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz on a dual-band router, a client device like a laptop could only select one, despite both wireless networks being established between the same devices (router and laptop). In this scenario, the router determined whether to connect to the client through 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
With MLO, two devices can establish multiple links simultaneously. For example, two tri-band devices can communicate concurrently on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequencies.
Subsequently, they can transmit data simultaneously across all links to enhance overall Wi-Fi speeds. MLO reduces latency and stabilizes Wi-Fi connections as devices can flexibly switch to the least interfered link. If the sender transmits the same data through each link, it reaches the receiver with higher reliability and without interference. In cases where routers and clients possess multiple radio units, they can also transmit and receive data simultaneously via MLO: for instance, a router sends data to a laptop through 5 GHz, while the laptop, in turn, transmits other data back to the router via a 6 GHz link.
04
Multi-RU: Making Wi-Fi More Efficient
When your Wi-Fi on a smartphone or PC seems slow, it’s often not because it can’t transmit faster but because it shouldn’t transmit faster. This is because Wi-Fi transmissions occur only when the wireless radio channel is idle: devices contend for access, and whoever doesn’t get it first has to wait. Since these wait times are just fractions of a second, they’re not particularly noticeable for heavy downloads, regular browsing, or sending emails.
Wi-Fi 6 addressed this issue through the OFDMA feature: it allowed routers to partition the wireless medium into small units—called Resource Units (RUs)—allocated to different clients. This enabled simultaneous data transmission to multiple clients, effectively utilizing the Wi-Fi connection.
Wi-Fi 7 improves upon OFDMA with Multi-RU: routers compliant with this new standard can allocate multiple RUs to a single client. This enhances the transmission rates for these clients and allows more efficient utilization of the wireless radio channel.
05
More Power-Efficient Client Devices
Devices equipped with batteries or rechargeable batteries can use wireless connections more power-efficiently through Wi-Fi 7. The new standard extends the functionalities of Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax introduced Target Wake Time (TWT), which routers use to negotiate fixed transmission times with mobile devices. They can only access the connection during these specified times; otherwise, they remain in power-saving sleep modes.
Wi-Fi 7 introduces Restricted Target Wake Time to ensure that the wireless radio channel remains available for transmissions that absolutely must occur at fixed times. It specifies that only designated clients can transmit during these times, requiring all other clients to vacate the wireless radio channel.
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