2023-08-25 19:40:00
O Wi-Fi 7 it is an improved version of Wi-Fi 6E that has a few more features, in addition to greater data transmission capacity. In short, the newest wireless Internet transmission standard is capable of transmitting a higher density of information with lower latency, in addition to providing a more efficient distribution of data packets.
Is it worth migrating to Wi-Fi 6E for Wi-Fi 7?
Wi-Fi 6E, known as the “extended” version (hence the E) of Wi-Fi 6, has as its main advantage the use of the 6 GHz band. 6 GHz channels come to the fore.
While Wi-Fi 7 has retained some features of Wi-Fi 6E such as OFDMA and TWT, as well as tri-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz), the features and enhancements offered by this new transmission standard will raise the performance of the internet network to a new level. Through Multi-Resource Units (RU), puncture, MLO (Multi-link Operation) technologies and the addition of 320 MHz channels with 4K QAM modulation, Wi-Fi 7 will be able to transmit (theoretically) up to 36 Gbps while Wi-Fi 6E only supports 9.6 GHz.
What do the new features and improvements in Wi-Fi 7 represent?
Through its new features and enhancements, Wi-Fi 7 is able to provide more data transmission in less time and with better data distribution among the available channels. See below what are the resources that allow this and how they work.
320 MHz channels and 4K QAM
Although Wi-Fi 6E has a greater number of 160 MHz channels, allowing the transmission of larger data packets, Wi-Fi 7 also has 320 MHz channels. than that supported by 160 MHz channels.
In addition to 320 MHz channels, Wi-Fi 7 allows for even more advanced modulation called 4K QAM. This enables higher data density to be achieved, providing better throughput and capacity compared to previous Wi-Fi standards using 1K QAM modulation. In case you didn’t know, QAM stands for “quadrature amplitude modulation” and is a technology used in systems that need a high information transfer rate.
Operation of 320 MHz channels and 4K QAM modulation in Wi-Fi 7. Source: Intel
MLO (Multi-link Operation)
The MLO (Multi-Link Operation) technology allows the simultaneous connection of two bands at the same time, allowing the user to reach higher speeds. At the same time, this feature provides greater transmission reliability, in addition to considerably lower latency.
How MLO (Multi-Link Operation) technology works on Wi-Fi 7. Source: Intel
Multi-RU and puncture
The Multi-RU feature or Multi-Resource Units in conjunction with the “puncturing” functionality allows the use of the large channel such as 160 MHz as several small channels. In this way, you can use a single 160 MHz channel as multiple 40 MHz and 80 MHz channels, for example.
With the use of the “punctur” functionality, it is possible to take advantage of the use of channels more efficiently, even in the case of 20 MHz ones.
Functionality of the Multi-RU or Multi-Units feature and the “punctur” functionality in Wi-Fi 7. Source: Intel
Launch and availability
The Wi-Fi 7 internet standard is expected to be present in compatible devices in the year 2024, according to Intel. At the moment, we already have companies like TP-Link, Qualcomm, Intel and MediaTek working on chips to use in chipsets and motherboards of various devices such as notebooks, desktops, smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi routers, among others.
It is likely that it will take a year longer than stipulated for Wi-Fi 7 to be popularized both in terms of transmission (routers and Access Points) and in terms of reception (client devices such as cell phones and notebooks).
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