How fast will be Wi-Fi 7?

Basically, we have to get used to the fact that once a new technology is launched, the new one is already waiting around the corner. Wi-Fi 6 has not been on the market for a long time, and routers capable of such speed have not been seen by many acquaintances.

But first, if we still remember it, let’s see what Wi-Fi 6 is! This is a Wi-Fi standard, also known as “Wi-Fi AX” or “Wi-Fi 802.11ax” and enhances the previous Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ac.

Wi-Fi 6 was originally created in response to the growing number of devices in the world. If you have a VR device, multiple smart devices, or simply have a large number of Wi-Fi devices connected in your home, then a Wi-Fi 6 router might be the best solution to meet your networking needs. in a fast and stable way.

Upgrading to a new Wi-Fi version sounds good, but how fast will the Wi-Fi 7 transfer speeds be? Especially since at the time of writing, the Wi-Fi 7 specifications remain in draft form only and are awaiting final approval from the authorities.

Despite the fact that some manufacturers already promise to deliver Wi-Fi 7 compatible products, the standard may change before approval can take effect.

Most likely, most of us already use routers capable of supporting Wi-Fi 5, technically known as 802.11ac. It can support a maximum transfer rate of 3.5 gigabits per second (Gbps).

However, this is the theoretical maximum speed, which can be achieved under optimal conditions, and the actual speed is influenced by factors such as the internet plan, the location and surroundings of the Wi-Fi router, and interference from nearby networks.

For example, because I live at home, and the construction was made of a certain type of brick that requires concrete iron in each well (for the curious, details can be found here), signal reception has always been problematic in the opposite corners of the router location. Therefore, I had to buy a mesh system, on which occasion I discovered that, in part, the interference in the bedroom was also due to the networks of the neighbors (I have several in that part of the house).

In optimal conditions, Wi-Fi 7 exceeds 5 with a maximum speed of 30 Gbps – an increase of over 750%! Not only that, but it’s also capable of using tapes that Wi-Fi 5 can’t access. which translates into less interference from nearby networks that broadcast on other channels.

If you’re passionate about technology, or need high speeds for work or personal use, you’re probably already using Wi-Fi 6 routers. It wouldn’t be as spectacular as the Wi-Fi 5 switch, but it would still be impressive. Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, in optimal conditions, can reach speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps, only a third of the capacity of 7.

Wi-Fi 6E already has access to the 6 GHz band that Wi-Fi 7 will have, thus avoiding congestion problems in the 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz bands. What 6E doesn’t have, though, is something called Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which further enhances Wi-Fi 7’s ability to avoid interference.

This means that 7 will handle the same channels as 6E, but more efficiently. Other advantages over 6 and 6E include higher quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and higher channel bandwidth.

At this point, a wired internet connection is almost always faster and more reliable than a Wi-Fi connection. A Wi-Fi 7 connection will be better than a wired one, it seems.

Only if we talk about Ethernet cables with a rating rating below Cat-8, which is a category of Ethernet cable that can be rated for speeds up to 40Gbps. That being said, Cat-8 is for data centers, not home networks. Most likely, the cable that came with the router – if it came with one – or the ones you have at home are either Cat-5 or Cat-6, rated at a maximum of 10Gbps.

As always, these comparisons are only valid if the network in question is configured in optimal conditions, which is difficult to achieve. Although Wi-Fi 7 will bring improvements in the fight against interference and latency, it remains to be seen how well it will work.

So will we be surfing the internet soon at 30 Gbps wireless? Probably not, if we are to be realistic. Apart from the other factors I mentioned earlier, the internet plan we subscribe to is probably nowhere near such a speed.