Get ready to experience the future of wireless networking because Wi-Fi 7 is almost here! Brace yourself for lightning-fast internet speeds that are like nothing we’ve ever seen before. The development of Wi-Fi 7 is underway, and we can expect to see the first devices hit the market this year. Here, we’ll take a look at the developments in more detail, and consider how you can ensure you’re ready to stay connected.
What Is Wi-Fi 7?
If you thought Wi-Fi 6 was impressive, you're in for a treat with Wi-Fi 7. This new wireless standard, also known as "802.11be," is set to revolutionise the way we connect to the internet. With peak speeds that are four times faster than its predecessor, Wi-Fi 7 is designed to handle more connected devices, lower latency, and dramatically improve responsiveness and reliability for future usages that demand extreme consistency and precision.
Top Wi-Fi 7 Features
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology will allow devices to simultaneously send and receive data over multiple radio bands, while a Restricted Target Wake Time feature will allow routers to reserve bandwidth for certain types of data transmissions, conserving client battery life while optimising network resources.
Another crucial step in Wi-Fi 7's quest to increase data rates is its ability to provide more channel bandwidth than ever before, resulting in faster data transfer rates with minimal interference. Wi-Fi 7 is set to double the maximum channel bandwidth available in Wi-Fi 6, offering an impressive 320MHz across the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz frequency bands. The wider channels will enable faster throughput, making it ideal for applications that demand high data rates such as gaming, streaming, and video conferencing.
Wi-Fi 7 will also introduce a new feature called “puncturing". This technology allows for more efficient use of available bandwidth by transmitting only the necessary parts of a data packet, rather than sending the entire packet. By puncturing packets, Wi-Fi 7 can reduce latency and increase overall network capacity, leading to even faster and more reliable wireless connectivity.
Another exciting improvement that Wi-Fi 7 brings is the support of 4096 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), compared to 1024 QAM in Wi-Fi 6. QAM is a modulation technique used to transmit signals over radio waves, and increasing the number of QAM symbols allows for more data to be encoded in each signal. This improvement in signal modulation can deliver a whopping 20% increase in throughput over Wi-Fi 6, making Wi-Fi 7 even faster and more efficient for data transmission.
How Does Wi-Fi 7 Compare to Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 7 is reported to be the latest and greatest in wireless connectivity technology, but how does it compare to its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6? The short answer is that Wi-Fi 7 blows Wi-Fi 6 out of the water.
For the end-user, Wi-Fi 7 promises an even faster and more reliable wireless experience than Wi-Fi 6. With speeds 4 times faster than WiFi 6, wider bandwidth, and increased signal modulation, downloading and streaming large files, gaming, and video conferencing should all be smoother and more seamless. Users can expect faster loading times, fewer buffering interruptions, and improved overall performance for their connected devices. Wi-Fi 7 also has the potential to handle more simultaneous connections without sacrificing speed or stability, making it ideal for large households or busy office environments.
When Is The Wi-Fi 7 Release Date?
So, when can we expect to see Wi-Fi 7 devices hitting the market? The short answer is soon! We’ve already seen the announcement of several Wi-Fi 7 routers, with imminent release dates.
Future Proof Wi-Fi Solutions With Glide
It's worth noting that while Wi-Fi 7 is the next big thing in wireless networking, it is still in the development phase. Therefore, it is essential to choose a future-proof Wi-Fi solution that can keep up with the latest technological advancements.
Glide offers managed Wi-Fi solutions that provide operational efficiency and a route to Wi-Fi 7. These solutions are customer-focused and designed to deliver a seamless user experience. If you're looking to upgrade your network, be sure to choose a future-proof Wi-Fi solution like Glide’s, to keep up with the latest technological advancements.