Wi-Fi 7 is the latest generations of wireless network standard which will be revolutionizing the way we use data for various applications. Apart from the ultra high speed network, what are the specifications and features of Wi-Fi 7 technology?
IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput Standard
Wi-Fi 6/6E technology has a maximum data rate of 9.6 Gbps with 8 spatial streams. Wi-Fi 7 can provide 46.1 Gbps which is four times higher data rate than sixth generation wireless network.
Wi-Fi 7 will use higher bandwidth spectrum to achieve extremely faster data rate.
What the major trends in Wi-Fi
We have seen significant improvements in data rate and low latency with the introduction of Wi-Fi 6. It can support data rate close to 10 Gbps and latency of less than 10 milliseconds. Next generation Wi-Fi standard can offer three times higher data rate, much higher capacity and even lower latency network.
Specifications of Wi-Fi – 7
Wi-Fi 7 uses advance technologies to maximize its capacity to support huge number of devices with low latency and high reliability.
Multi-link technology offers low latency service
In the current wireless system, access points supports three channels, one lower band 2.4GHz and two high bands in 5GHz and 6GHz. In Wi-Fi 7 technology, multichannel option will be utilized efficiently to increase data rate. Depending on the availably, links can be switched to achieve maximum throughput.
For example: a device can utilize high band support in one 5GHz band or one in each 5GH and 6GHz bands simultaneously. This will significantly increase the data rate and efficiency.
Multi-linking option is one of the effective ways to increase efficiency especially in congested environments like airport terminals, sports venues and hospitals etc.…
Multiple Access Point Coordination
If there are multiple access points, the device will choose one access point to connect and ignore other access points. Once the device is under connectivity of an access point, it informs nearby access points to reduce transmission power (if the devices are closer to that access points) to reduce interference.
Joint transmission – multiple access points can transmit information to devices simultaneously to improve the signal.
Wide Channel Bandwidths 6 GHz spectrum
With the introduction of Wi-Fi 6, channel bandwidth has been increased significantly from earlier generations. Currently, it offers multiple channels of 160MHz spectrum in 6GHz (only in the regions support 6GHz) band. Wi-Fi 7 will be capable of 320MHz channel bandwidth for data transfer (two times higher than 6th generation).
Multi-link allows creating a 320MHz effective channel by aggregating two 160MHz channels in high band. Higher throughputs can be achieved even without 6GHz spectrum in some regions where 6GHz has not been allocated.
Smart Interference avoidance
If a user occupies a portion of a spectrum in conventional Wi-Fi system, the access point will prevent using that spectrum. In Wi-Fi 7, a smart solution called Preamble Puncturing is used to avoid interference in the spectrum. It basically avoids the portion of the spectrum and allocates contiguous channels within that spectrum.
Automated Frequency Coordination
Due to higher bandwidth(1200 MHz – 5.925–7.125 GHz), 6GHz band is one of the popular band for licensed and unlicensed spectrum utilization. 6GHz band is perfect fit for high data rate and low latency applications like autonomous driving and on-demand multimedia streaming applications. Wi-Fi6 has designed to handle high data rate up to GHz per second speeds, it is achieved by use of 6GHz spectrum (earlier generations used 2.4 and 5GHz).
Since there are some existing users of the 6GHz band, Wi-Fi6 system could interfere with existing spectrum users. Some of the early adopters of 6GHz spectrum are fixed satellite internet providers and private cable operators.
Although FCC has given permission for the usage of unlicensed Wi-Fi operation at 6GHz band, there are some strict guidelines for spectrum utilization. According to FFCs power classification, there are two type of access points (APs) such as low power APs for indoor Wi-Fi usage and standard power APs for outdoor Wi-Fi transmission.
Low power indoor access points does not cause interference due to lower power levels. The signals will not penetrate through walls or concreate blocks thus harmless for co-existence. Standard power outdoor access points could contribute potential interference to existing services at 6GHz band. To solve this issue, a simple yet effective frequency coordination is used for co-existence in the wireless ecosystem.
What is Automated Frequency Coordination?
In a wireless ecosystem, all existing technologies and their spectrum usage will be registered and kept in a database in each area. A new wireless access point will have to consult with the database and make sure it does not interfere with existing systems. Simply, if a wireless device (AP) want to use a particular bandwidth within 6GHz range, it has to check if anyone else is already using that spectrum. If required bandwidth is not occupied, AP can initiate to setup wireless node.
In standard power access point AP scenarios, AFC is an effective way to avoid interference with already occupied users 6GHz band.
4K QAM schemes
Wi-Fi 7 supports 4K QAM modulation schemes which increases data rate for users close to the access points and allocates capacity efficiently for other users/devices.
Features of Wi-Fi 7
Ultra Fast Data
Wi-Fi 7 is expected to be able to handle data rate up to 46.1 Gbps, the highest speed ever possible on wireless mode. Wi-Fi 7 uses the technology advancements like multi-link, MIMO, higher order modulation schemes and higher spectrum to achieve extreme speed.
With extremely fast data for applications like AR, VR and HD multimedia gamming, Wi-Fi 7 ensures excellent user experience.
Ultra Low Latency
Conventional broadcast uses single access points in earlier generation Wi-Fi system which affects the latency. Ultra lower latency can be achieved in Wi-Fi 7 due to access to multiple links in parallel.
Wi-Fi 6 technology has already achieved single digit millisecond latency. Multi-link operation support in Wi-Fi 7 will offer reduced latency less than 5 milliseconds.
High Reliability
Due to packet duplication over multiple links, chance of data loss significantly reduced and thus offers highly reliable connection.
Spectrum and network energy efficiency
Efficient utilization of spectrum and overall network is possible with Wi-Fi 7 architecture. Even in a crowded atmosphere (like airport terminals or a sports venue), access points will be able to handle the device load efficiently with sophisticated algorithms and techniques like MIMO and beam forming.
Network energy efficiency is one of the smart features of Wi-Fi 7. Access points will calculate transmission power required for each device under its circle. This will reduce interference in the network and improve energy efficiency of the whole system.
Connection Density – More Devices
Wi-Fi 7 can handle higher number of devices under each access points compared to earlier generations (Wi-Fi 6/ 6E). Increase in number of devices will not impact the resource limit like speed or latency.
Applications of Wi-Fi – 7
Gigabit Wireless connectivity for PC for gamming, work environment
Broadband connectivity for smart devices, gadgets and gamming consoles
Virtual reality VR and Augmented Reality – AR applications
High Definition – HD multimedia applications for home entertainment like HD television, HD audio devices
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
Wi-Fi 7 timeline
Wi-Fi 7 is still under development and testing phase, expected to be available by mid of 2024.
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