It seems like WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E arrived just yesterday, but early adopters have already started upgrading to WiFi 7. And it’s no wonder. WiFi 7 promises speeds up to eight times faster than WiFi 6, supporting more devices and better coverage. Let’s take a closer look at how WiFi 7 improves on WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E, so you can decide if it’s time to upgrade.
WiFi 7 vs. WiFi 6 vs. WiFi 6E: Blazing-fast speeds
WiFi 6 was a game changer. Released in 2019, the sixth generation of WiFi standards raised theoretical maximum speeds from 6.9 gigabits per second (Gbps) to 9.6 Gbps. WiFi 6E improved on WiFi 6 by adding an additional channel on the 6 Ghz band after the FCC voted to open this band for public use in 2020.
The Gpbs rate refers to what gets passed along to individual devices on your WiFi network, impacting how fast you can download data, stream movies, and play games. The maximum speeds are theoretical because they’re based on processing data in an optimal setting with exceptionally fast internet service. Currently, fiber-optic internet is the fastest available internet service. As an example, Quantum Fiber offers up to 8 Gbps fiber internet in some areas, which hits close to the max that WiFi 6 is capable of.
WiFi 7 is set to revolutionize the speeds at which our devices operate, with rates up to 8 times faster than WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E. Theoretically, WiFi 7 can process more than 40 Gbps. With multi-gig internet service, having a network that can channel tons of data, efficiently, to tons of devices is essential.
How WiFi 7 reaches max speeds
WiFi 7 can deliver such blazing speeds due to key technical improvements that increase throughput (how much data can be transmitted on your network simultaneously), bandwidth, and decrease latency. We’ll spare you the in-depth technical discussion with a layman’s explanation of how WiFi 7 improves on WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E.
Higher data density
Modulation is how data packets are manipulated and sent to your devices. WiFi 7 uses 4K QAM—4096 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation—to stuff more bits of data into its transmission . With this new protocol, WiFi 7 improves on WiFi 6’s data transmission by 20%, resulting in more data being delivered to your devices at once.
Wider channels
WiFi 7 increases bandwidth to 320 MHz, using an unprecedented three channels on the 6 GHz frequency band. WiFi 7 can also simultaneously use channels on 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz to deliver data. Access to multiple channels combined with higher data density results in better throughput for WiFi 7.
Low latency
Latency is the speed at which data is transmitted within your network. If you’ve ever experienced lagging, jittering, and buffering, you’ve dealt with latency issues. With increased bandwidth, WiFi 7 is able to reduce latency by more efficiently managing how data is transmitted via its channels. It also uses multiple channels simultaneously to ensure data reaches devices quickly. WiFi 6E can only use one channel per device at a time.
The future of WiFi
With its fast speeds, efficient handling of data, and ability to serve more devices at once, WiFi 7 is an exciting advancement in wireless technology. But widespread adoption won’t be instantaneous. It will take time for laptops, phones, and other devices to catch up and take advantage of its blazing fast potential. Fortunately, Fortunately, the WiFi 7 solution from Quantum Fiber will support backwards compatibility for devices connected to the router that may operate on a prior WiFi standard such as WiFi5 or WiFi6. Users will experience improvement in coverage, as well as improvements in throughput. Quantum Fiber customers are already benefitting from WiFi 7 with multi-gig fiber internet and 360 WiFiTM, which allows up to 100 devices to connect with 25% more coverage area.
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