Wi-Fi 7 - The new standard for Wi-fi
Created 2024-11-08
Wi-Fi 7 is the most powerful Wi-Fi ever, offering extremely fast speeds. When discussing Wi-Fi 7, you will often encounter the term “IEEE 802.11be,” which is the official name for this new Wi-Fi standard.
What is Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 7 is referred to as Extremely High Throughput (EHT) and is an advancement on Wi-Fi 6, where you’ll find various improvements in speed, capacity, and stability.
Wi-Fi 7's predecessor, Wi-Fi 6, had a maximum data transfer rate of 9.6 Gbps, while with Wi-Fi 7, you can achieve up to 46 Gbps.
In short, here are the key features of Wi-Fi 7:
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Higher transfer speed (up to 46,000 Mbps)
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Up to 320 MHz bandwidth
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Multi-Link Operation – enabling the use of different high-speed bands, which reduces interference (can even eliminate it completely) and fluctuation risk.
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QAM – a method to modulate the connection, doubling the bandwidth’s efficiency.
Does my internet subscription matter?
Yes, although the theoretical speed of Wi-Fi 7 is 46 Gbps, it's not possible to achieve this speed. This is because the maximum speed available on the Danish market is only 1000/1000 Mbps, which equals just 1 Gbps.
However, Wi-Fi 7 provides the advantage of supporting multiple users simultaneously with the same speed, without one device being “bumped” by others, as often happened with older Wi-Fi generations.
Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 7
There are significant differences between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7. See the table below to compare the key specifications:
| Feature | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Maximum Speed | Up to 9.6 Gbit/s | Up to 46 Gbit/s |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E) | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz |
| Channel Width | Up to 160 MHz | Up to 320 MHz |
| Modulation | 1024-QAM | 4096-QAM |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Not supported | Supported (multiple bands simultaneously) |
| Latency | Improved but depends on network load | Significantly lower with MLO |
| Efficiency | OFDMA (better traffic management) | OFDMA with higher capacity |
| MIMO | Up to 8x8 MU-MIMO | Improved MU-MIMO |
| Backward Compatibility | Supports older Wi-Fi standards | Supports older Wi-Fi standards |
| Main Advantages | Higher capacity and stability | Extremely high bandwidth and low latency |
| Ideal Use Case | Homes with multiple devices, streaming, gaming | Demanding applications such as VR, cloud gaming, and large file transfers |
| Availability | Widely available | Gradually entering the market |
Who should upgrade to a Wi-Fi 7 router?
Not everyone needs the extreme speed, stability, and channel width that Wi-Fi 7 offers. Most families can still manage well with older generations, but if you want to future-proof, it might be a good choice.
It may be worth considering a Wi-Fi 7 router if you:
1. Stream in 4K where interference from multiple users can cause fluctuations in streaming quality.
2. Have a large home with many devices and often experience overload due to device interference. This can also be beneficial in workplaces with many devices running on the same routers.
3. Have significant gaming needs and play large games, such as VR games, or if you have multiple devices for, for example, a LAN party, then Wi-Fi 7 could be worthwhile.
The Difference Between 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz Bands
The bandwidth affects how quickly data can be sent and received between the router and the device. One way to visualize it is to think of a country road, an expressway, and a motorway.
2.4 GHz bandwidth is about 70 MHz and typically has three 20 MHz channels. This would be like a small country road with only one lane, where all data has to go through.
5 GHz bandwidth is a larger road, such as an expressway, with multiple lanes and faster speeds. You can send and receive twice as much data at the same time. This bandwidth is around 500 MHz and can provide 80 MHz for up to six devices.
6 GHz is the "widest" bandwidth and works like a motorway, where vehicles travel in multiple lanes at high speed. You can achieve a bandwidth of 1200 MHz, offering up to seven large 160 MHz channels. This type of bandwidth is only available on the latest routers and gives the user gigabit-speed internet without any interference.
With Wi-Fi 7, you can double this bandwidth, reaching up to 320 MHz for up to three devices.
At Compumail, you will find a wide selection of Wi-Fi & LTE routers
At Compumail, we keep up with the latest technology and offer many Wi-Fi 7 routers in stock so you can upgrade your home or business network. We carry Wi-Fi 7 routers from well-known brands such as Ubiquiti, TP-Link, and Xiaomi. If you need mobile data as an internet source, you should check out our selection of LTE routers.
How to Choose the Right Wi-Fi 7 Router for Your Needs
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Consider the Size of Your Home
The size of your home is crucial when choosing a router. Some routers have a longer range than others, which can be challenging in a large home if the range is too low.
You could alternatively consider a MESH system, which allows you to have multiple routers in your home on the same network, significantly increasing coverage.
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Consider the Number of Users
Although most Wi-Fi 7 routers allow you to support many users, some are better than others. It’s wise to consider the number of devices you need to connect and select a router accordingly. In this case, you should choose a router with high capacity.
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Extra Protection Against Cyber Threats
A router with WPA3 encryption and similar security protocols enables you to maintain a high level of security. This can be particularly important if you have sensitive data on your PC or another device that you wish to protect from hacking attempts.
Should you upgrade now, or can you wait?
Most people don’t actually need to upgrade to a Wi-Fi 7 router, as it may not make a significant difference for the majority. The theoretical capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 are certainly advantageous, but the internet connections available in Denmark aren’t fast enough to make it necessary. Many can continue with a Wi-Fi 6 router for several years unless they want to future-proof or have very high demands.