Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6 - Should you upgrade?

Wi-Fi 7 offers several key differences and advantages over Wi-Fi 6, making it a worthwhile upgrade for businesses looking to enhance their wireless network capabilities.

Key Differences:

Maximum Data Transfer Rate: Wi-Fi 7 can achieve speeds of up to 46 Gbps, while Wi-Fi 6 maxes out at 9.6 Gbps. This makes Wi-Fi 7 nearly five times faster than Wi-Fi 6. For the same Wi-Fi radio configuration, Wi-Fi 7 will be 2.4x faster than Wi-Fi 6.

Maximum Channel Bandwidth: Wi-Fi 7 doubles the channel width of Wi-Fi 6, expanding from 160 MHz to 320 MHz. This larger bandwidth allows Wi-Fi 7 to handle more data at once.

Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Wi-Fi 7 introduces MLO, enabling devices to connect across multiple bands simultaneously for faster and more reliable connections, a feature lacking in Wi-Fi 6. With Wi-Fi 7, devices can send and receive data across different bands and channels simultaneously, increasing throughput and reducing latency.

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM): Wi-Fi 7 utilises 4096-QAM, which permits more data per signal, whereas Wi-Fi 6 employs 1024-QAM, thus transmitting less information at once. Wi-Fi 7 has 20% higher transmission rates.

Latency: Wi-Fi 7 is designed to deliver lower latency than Wi-Fi 6, which is suitable for real-time applications like gaming and video conferencing. Features like Multi-RU Puncturing ensure the entire channel is used efficiently, quickening the response time.

Higher Density Support: Wi-Fi 7 enables better performance in environments with many connected devices, making it ideal for high-traffic settings like offices or conference venues.

Advantages for Businesses:

Increased Speed and Efficiency: Wi-Fi 7 brings faster speeds, improved efficiency, and enhanced capacity, making it well-suited to meet the demands of modern offices that depend on cloud applications, video conferencing, and IoT devices.

Reduced Latency: Wi-Fi 7 is designed to deliver even lower latency than Wi-Fi 6, making it ideal for real-time applications like video conferencing.

Future-Proof Technology: Wi-Fi 7 ensures that businesses are prepared for the future of wireless technology with support for new devices and technologies.

Support for High-Bandwidth Applications: Wi-Fi 7 is suited for high-bandwidth applications such as 8K video streaming, virtual reality, and massive IoT deployments.

Improved Reliability: Wi-Fi 7's Multi-Link Operation (MLO) enables the use of multiple channels on one endpoint. If one frequency range malfunctions, the device remains connected by switching to another available channel.

Preamble Puncturing: Wi-Fi 7 requires preamble puncturing, which allows Wi-Fi to work around interference within a bonded channel, so the entire channel doesn’t have to be stopped.

By upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 or 6E, businesses can handle significantly more traffic with minimal latency and buffering, resulting in improved user experiences and the ability to support more connected devices without compromising performance.

Upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 can offer even greater improvements, especially for businesses that require top-tier performance and support for demanding applications.

Upgrading made easy

First Aurora are Asia's leading Workplace Technology, AV and IT Networking specialists, offering Wi-Fi 7 upgrade, installation and support services across Asia, and in Australia.

To understand how First Aurora can help you and your teams benefit from the superior performance of Wi-Fi 7, contact us at [email protected].