What is Wi-Fi 7? Everything You Need to Know

Jun. 20, 2022

In this article, we have explained Wi-Fi 7 in easy terms, including the new technologies and what improvements Wi-Fi 7 brings over Wi-Fi 6 and 6E. You can expand the table below and learn about them in detail.

Just like its predecessor, Wi-Fi 7 supports three frequency bands, including2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. However, the difference here is that 6GHz is being used extensively to create an aggregated data pipeline in comparison to 6E.

Wi-Fi 7 willuse two simultaneous 5GHz + 6GHz (320MHz) channelsto maximize the throughput, offering much faster speeds. As I have explained in the new features section below, the 6GHz band is much closer to 5GHz so it’s easier to create a single wider channel that can offer optimal performance without much latency. This feature is called Multi-Link Operation (MLO) in Wi-Fi 7.

As for regions where the 6GHz band is not available due to regulatory restrictions, two 5GHz + 5GHz (240MHz) channels will be offered to deliver faster speeds.

The major changes employed in Wi-Fi 7 are Multi-Link Operation (MLO), 4K QAM, and Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC). These features help achieve a multi-fold increase in speed, reduce latency, and support the ability to handle more devices even in congested areas. It has also enhanced the existing technologies such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and TWT that were previously available in Wi-Fi 6E. Below, we will discuss all the new technologies in Wi-Fi 7.

Here, we will discuss the new technologies employed in Wi-Fi 7 to deliver quadruple improvement in throughput compared to Wi-Fi 6. We have explained the best new Wi-Fi 7 features, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), 4K Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), and Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC), in this section.

The introduction of Multi-Link Operation (MLO) in Wi-Fi 7 is being touted as one of the main reasons behind extremely high throughput. It will allow devices to transmit data over several channels, including 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, to make an aggregated data pipeline. This will significantly increase the throughput and reduce the latency. While this sort of technology was available before, what’s new here is that MLO lets youoperate between 5GHz and 6GHz spectrumsquickly and freely.

The frequency width between 2.4GHz and 5GHz is relatively larger than 5GHz and 6GHz. That means 5GHz and 6GHz channels are much closer andcan operate quicklywithout waitingfor other channels to catch up, as was the case with 2.4GHz. And now that a new band in the 6GHz frequency spectrum has been tapped in Wi-Fi 7 (more on this in the AFC section below), large volumes of data can be split into many packets and transferred using high-bandwidth frequency delivering great speeds.

Not to mention, when you use high-frequency channels like 5GHz and 6GHz to transfer and receive data, it willwork even in congested environments with multiple devicesconnected at once. Simply put, Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is a great new technology in Wi-Fi 7 and can be a game-changer.

QAM or Quadrature Amplitude Modulation technology has been available on older Wi-Fi standards. It’s basically a way to send multiple data packets by superimposing signals of multiple amplitudes and phases.

AFC will collect data from antenna patterns and directions from where the signals are coming to create a cloud-based database. It will run a bunch of calculations and will avoid interference in such areas. Where there are no interferences, it will enable Wi-Fi 7 to broadcast 6GHz channels at much higher power.

To give you a number, Wi-Fi 7 can operate at63 times more powerif there are no interferences. That’s a huge jump, right? So with AFC on Wi-Fi 7, we will see the usage and availability of 6GHz channels even more.

Not to mention, the maximum channel bandwidth has again doubled in Wi-Fi 7, and itsupports up to 320MHz across the 5GHz and 6GHz channels. Wi-Fi 6 could only go up to 160MHz. We have also seen some enhancements in Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), where channels are divided into multiple resource units (MRU). It’s being done more effectively in the Wi-Fi 7 standard, bringing down the interference and latency.

Finally, Target Wake Time (TWT) has been improved to consume less power by putting the device to sleep when no network access is called for. It has received a new feature calledRestricted Target Wake Time(RTWT) that can put aside some bandwidth for a particular kind of data transmission.

To recap everything, here’s a quick comparison between the key specifications and features of Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 6E:

Excited for Wi-Fi 7 Routers and Devices

So that was our in-depth explainer about the upcoming Wi-Fi 7 wireless standard. As you can notice from the specs, Wi-Fi 7 is going to be a monumental upgrade over Wi-Fi 6/ 6E. It brings 4x more throughput than Wi-Fi 6, adds another band in the 6GHz channel, and MLO can aggregate both 5GHz and 6GHz channels. We are excited about the upcoming Wi-Fi standard, but what about you? Tell us in the comment section below. Besides that, if you are interested, you can learn more about5G bands including the sub-6GHz and mmWave bandsvia our linked article.

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