Even though many people have only recently switched to Wi-Fi 6, and some may be considering switching to Wi-Fi 6E, their replacement is already in the works.
So, is faster wireless connectivity heading our way? Yes!
The major development is Wi-Fi 7, which, like its predecessors, promises quicker connections, lower latency, and the powerful capacity to seamlessly manage more connections than before.
Is Wi-Fi 7 Going to Replace Ethernet?
It’s important to note that Wi-Fi 7 will not and is not meant to replace Ethernet.
Wi-Fi 7 will reinforce the importance of multi-Gigabit wired connections widely available via the Multi-Gig wiring standard.
What is Wi-Fi 7 and What Can You Expect from Wi-Fi 7?
Also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), Wi-Fi 7 works across all three bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) to optimally utilise spectrum resources.
So, what will Wi-Fi 7 do?
While Wi-Fi 6 was built in response to the growing number of devices in the world, Wi-Fi 7 is all set to deliver astounding speeds for every device with a higher amount of efficiency.
Wi-Fi 7 speed deserves a special mention, as it will be more than four times faster than Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, which can hit maximum data rates of 9.6Gbps, and almost six times faster than Wi-Fi 5, with the maximum data rate of 6.9Gbps.
A Wi-Fi 7 router is touted to be the perfect solution to constant buffering, lag, or congestion.
It can deliver massive throughput gains thanks to a wider channel and capacity gains from the 6GHz spectrum. Wi-Fi 7 can deliver peak rates of over 40 Gbps, a 4X increase over Wi-Fi 6E.
Along with vast improvements to speed and bandwidth, there will be a host of underlying technological improvements meticulously designed to make your Wi-Fi work smarter and more efficiently.
Wi-Fi 7 promises a host of new features and enhanced performance, but you will need to upgrade your devices to leverage those benefits. That means buying new routers and access points, new smartphones, laptops, TVs, and so on.
Also Read: The role of Wi-Fi routers in smart homes of today
A Quick Update on Wi-Fi 7 Release Date (estimate)
The earliest date Wi-Fi 7 could apparently be launched is December 2024.
Realistically, it will probably be at the beginning of 2025. Suffice to say, a true Wi-Fi experience must wait for a while until year-end 2023 or for that matter, even early 2024.
What is Different from the Previous Wi-Fi Versions like Wi-Fi 6?
Although Wi-Fi 6 provided 37% faster speeds, it was not as powerful as the 10X rate increase that Wi-Fi 5 brought.
While Wi-Fi 6 aimed to improve efficiency rather than data rates. Wi-Fi 7 is designed for a generation of higher throughput, while offering a staggering 480% more than previous generations. Thanks to backward compatibility, a Wi-Fi 7 router opens up several possibilities to the latest online experiences.
Applications of Wi-Fi 7
- High Definition – HD multimedia applications for home entertainment like HD television, HD audio devices
- Gigabit Wireless connectivity for PC for gaming, work environment
- Broadband connectivity for smart devices, gadgets, and gaming consoles
- Smart home application
- Medicine and healthcare applications
- HD live camera feeds for security and monitoring applications
- Internet of Things and smart sensor networks
- Industrial applications
- Logistics and shipping management
- Virtual reality VR and Augmented Reality – AR applications
Also Read: 5.1 or 7.1, Dolby Atmos and Much More - Which Home Theatre to go for?
How does Wi-Fi 7 Work to Help you Enjoy Eye-Opening Experiences?
- It offers Up to 320 MHz on 6 GHz enabling several simultaneous transmissions at the fastest possible speeds
- Wi-Fi 7 increases the number of spatial streams from 8 to 16, so every device has enough bandwidth to run smoothly and meet the growing traffic demands
- Wi-Fi 7 adopts a higher-order modulation scheme: 4096-QAM. With that, each symbol can carry 12 bits rather than 10 bits, which means 20% higher theoretical transmission rates than Wi-Fi 6’s 1024-QAM. Which results in higher transmission efficiency, so you can watch flawless 4K/8K videos, play massive online games without lag, or live stream from your home computer
- With the Preamble Puncturing feature, the interference can be blocked, opening up more channels to use, resulting in zero wastage of bandwidth.
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Wi-Fi 7 enables devices to simultaneously send and receive data across different frequency bands and channels to increase throughput, reduce latency, and improve reliability for online gaming, remote offices, and cloud computing
Now that you have insights into Wi-Fi 7 and what all it has to offer, you’ll be all set for exploring the exciting enhancements and major lifestyle changes made possible by Wi-Fi 7's innovative technologies.
