Author: Farih Ermiş | Senior Solution Consultant
In the rapidly developing world of technology, the quality and speed of our internet connections have started to affect every moment of our daily lives. Using the internet faster, more efficiently and more reliably has become one of the most important requirements of modern life. At this point, Wi-Fi 7 technology takes internet usage to the next level and offers significant advantages to our lives.
Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be), a network technology that builds on Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E technologies and offers much faster speeds, lower latency and support for more devices, will transform our internet experience in the coming years. So what advantages does Wi-Fi 7 bring to our lives?
- Ultra High Speeds
One of the most notable advantages of Wi-Fi 7 is that it offers high speeds. Wi-Fi 7, theoretically 46 GbpsThis is an incredible increase over previous Wi-Fi standards. Compared to Wi-Fi 6's 9.6 Gbps, Wi-Fi 7's speeds are about 5 times faster.
This is especially great for high-definition video streaming (e.g. 8K video), cloud-based gaming and data-intensive applications. Wi-Fi 7 will provide a seamless experience when making large file transfers at home or in the office, using the internet with multiple devices simultaneously, or interacting with next-generation technologies such as VR/AR (virtual and augmented reality).
- Support for More Devices:
Modern homes and offices are now filled with many smart devices. Smartphones, tablets, computers, smart home devices (lights, thermostats, security cameras). All these devices are constantly connected to the internet. However, a network with too many devices connected can experience connection speed drops and delays.
With 16×16 MU-MIMO (Multiple User - Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology, it will have the capacity to connect many more devices at the same time, so that even in networks where many devices are connected at the same time, there is no loss of speed and every device can benefit from the internet connection at maximum speed. Network capacity, especially in large networks, will increase significantly with Wi-Fi 7.
- Lower Latency :
Wi-Fi 7 offers lower latency, reducing instantaneous delays in internet connections. This is especially important for real-time applications such as online gaming and video conferencing. Wi-Fi 7 delivers a smoother experience with latencies below 2ms.
In particular, e-sports gamers, videoconferencing professionals and virtual reality (VR) users will experience less lag and a more seamless connection thanks to Wi-Fi 7. Minimizing latency leads to faster response and more natural interaction.
- 320 MHz Channel Width: Faster Data Transmission
Wi-Fi 7 has much wider channel widths than previous standards. While Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E offer channel widths of up to 320 MHz, Wi-Fi 7 can go up to 320 MHz. This makes the internet connection much faster and more efficient.
Wider channels mean that more data can be transmitted. This is a critical advantage, especially for business and entertainment applications that require high-speed internet connections. Especially operations such as high-definition video streaming or large file transfers become much faster and more stable with Wi-Fi 7.
- Improved OFDMA: More Efficient Channel Sharing
Introduced with Wi-Fi 6 OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) technology enabled multiple devices to transmit data more efficiently on one channel. one channel. Wi-Fi 7 further improves OFDMA, optimizing data sharing between devices on the network Decrypts the data between devices on the network. This allows the network to work more efficiently, especially in multi-device environments (for example, in a crowded office).wded office).
Wi-Fi 7 allows more devices to connect to the Internet at the same time, making it possible for each device to access the internet at maximum speed without creating congestion on the network.
- Less Interference and Better Spectrum Utilization
Another big advantage that Wi-Fi 7 offers is less interference and improved spectrum management. Wi-Fi 7 Jul using the 6 GHz band, it offers less density and a cleaner spectrum. Also, the channel management of Wi-Fi 7 is much more advanced. This in turn provides less signal interference and faster data transmission.
Especially in busy areas (such as shopping malls, concert halls, office buildings), Wi-Fi 7 offers a more stable connection. Because the 6 GHz band is less crowded than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, Wi-Fi 7 uses this band more efficiently, providing less interference and faster connections.
- Advanced Security Features
Wi-Fi 7 continues the WPA3 security protocol offered by Wi-Fi 6 and maximizes internet security. In this way, the devices connected to your network are protected by stronger encryption methods. In addition, Wi-Fi 7's network management technologies provide a more secure internet experience and better protect your network from possible threats.
To summarize;
Wi-Fi 7 not only offers faster speeds and lower latency, but also more efficient channel management will enter our lives with many important advantages, such as more device support and less interference. This technology will not only improve our individual Internet experience, but also help the spread of next-generation technologies such as smart homes, industry 4.0 applications, cloud-based games and virtual reality.
With Wi-Fi 7, a big step will be taken in terms of speed, efficiency and security in our lives. It comes across as a revolutionary innovation, especially for multi-device environments and applications that require high bandwidth. With the development of technology, thanks to these advantages offered by Wi-Fi 7, our commitment to the Internet will become faster, more efficient and more secure.
What are the differences between Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7?
Feature | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
Year of Release | 2019 | 2020 | 2024 |
Frequency Bands | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz | 2.4GHz, 5 GHz, 6GHz (Wider 6 GHz band) |
New Band (6 GHz) | No | Yes, the 6 GHz band has been added | Yes, the 6 GHz band has a wider usage capacity and more channels |
Maximum Speed (Theoretical) | 9.6 Gbps | 9.6Gbps (more capacity with 6 GHz band) | 46 Gbps (with 320 MHz channel width) |
Channel Width | 160 MHz (maximum) | 160 MHz (maximum) | 320 MHz (maximum channel width) |
Channels (Number of Channels) | Limited in the 2.4GHz and 5 GHz bands | More channels in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands | Much more channels and wider spectrum in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands |
Multi-User Support (MU-MIMO) | 8×8 MU-MIMO (multi-user support, data transmission) | 8×8 MU-MIMO, more device support thanks to the 6 GHz band | 16×16 MU-MIMO (much higher capacity and efficiency) |
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) | Yes, it provides more efficient channel sharing and low density | Yes, it provides less interference and more efficient channel sharing with the 6 GHz band | Improved OFDMA is optimized for efficient connection of many more devices |
Low Latency (Delay Time) | Lower latency, improvement for video conferencing and games | It offers lower latency, ultra-low latency, especially with the 6 GHz band | Much lower latency (<2ms), ultra-low latency and perfect for real-time applications |
Maximum Number of Users (Network Capacity) | supports 1000+ device connections | supports 1000+ device connections | 1000+ device connections are supported with much higher capacity |
Frequency Channel Management (Traffic Management) | Advanced channel management, more efficient channel use | More channels, less interference and better traffic management with the 6 GHz band | Much more efficient channel management, high capacity with the 6 GHz band and optimized for a large number of devices |
High-Speed Video Streaming | Optimized for high-definition video streaming (4K, 8K) | Better video streaming quality is achieved with the 6 GHz band | Perfect for ultra-high definition (8K+) video streams and faster internet |
Compatibility with Wi-Fi 5 | Yes, it is backward compatible with Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Yes, compatible with Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 | Yes, compatible with previous Wi-Fi standards |
Frequency December (Spectrum) | It operates in the 2.4GHz and 5 GHz in the range | It works in the 2.4GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz in the range | 2.4GHz, 5 GHz, 6GHz (wider spectrum support) |
Support for More Ports | Yes, it allows the network to work efficiently with more devices | With the 6 GHz band, more devices can be connected and work more efficiently. | 16×16 MU-MIMO and multiple streams allow more devices to connect |
Less Interference | The 5GHz band has less interference, but can be congested in busy areas | The 6 GHz band is less congested, so interference is lower | Interference is further reduced with the wider 6 GHz band and 320 MHz channel width |
Network Performance | High network performance but limited bandwidth | Much wider bandwidth and higher network performance with the 6 GHz band | Extremely high network performance, 320 MHz channel width and exceptional capacity with advanced network management |
Coverage Area | Provides good coverage, but the 6 GHz band has a shorter range | The 6 GHz band has shorter range but performs better in dense areas | The 6 GHz band offers shorter range but much stronger and faster networks |
Energy Efficiency (Target Wake Time - TWT) | Yes, optimization for lower power consumption | Yes, energy efficiency is also increased with TWT support. | Improved TWT support and more efficient power management |
The main differences in summary:
- Wi-Fi 6: It was developed primarily to provide high speeds and efficient data transmission in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It offers improvements in multi-device connections with technologies such as OFDMA and MU-MIMO.
- Wi-Fi 6E: It includes all the benefits of Wi-Fi 6, but adds support for the 6GHz band, offering more channels, less interference, and wider bandwidth. This means better performance, especially in busy network environments.
- Wi-Fi 7: Wi-Fi 7 adds significant improvements over Wi-Fi 6E. It delivers 320MHz channel width, 16x16 MU-MIMO, much lower latency (<2ms), and improved network management, enabling data transmission over much larger networks at much higher speeds. Additionally, Wi-Fi 7 supports more devices simultaneously and delivers ultra-fast speeds (up to 46Gbps).
User Type and Application Scenarios:
- Wi-Fi 6: Sufficient for home use, small offices, 4K video streaming, and heavy device connections.
- Wi-Fi 6E:Suitable for busy offices, crowded cafes, high-resolution video streaming, and network-intensive areas.
- Wi-Fi 7:Data centers are ideal for applications that require ultra-fast speeds (e.g., 8K video streaming, virtual reality), gaming, and large, multi-device networks.
Wi-Fi 7 offers up to 5 times more efficient technology, especially for applications that require speed, capacity and low latency.
