WiFi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), is a next-generation WiFi standard. The new standard provides the capability for multi-gigabit WiFi throughout the home with faster speeds, less interference, and better performance for high-bandwidth online activities.
WiFi 7 implements the following new technologies for higher performance:
320 MHz High-Capacity Channels
Older WiFi standards are limited to a maximum channel width of 160 MHz. WiFi 7 introduces new 320 MHz channels, effectively doubling the bandwidth available to WiFi devices. 320 MHz channels also enable more WiFi devices to operate in congested areas without interference.
4096 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is the process of converting data into WiFi radio waves. WiFi 7 introduces 4096 QAM, also known as 12-bit data modulation. WiFi 6 used 1024 QAM (10-bit data modulation). The increase from 10-bit to 12-bit data modulation enables up to 20% higher data transmission rates to your WiFi devices.
Multi-Link Operation
WiFi 7 uses all three WiFi bands simultaneously with a feature called multi-link operation (MLO). This enables WiFi 7 devices to dynamically switch between the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands to avoid network traffic and keep you connected if you move beyond the range of a higher frequency band. MLO ensures that your devices are always connected at the fastest possible speeds while maintaining a stable WiFi connection.
Preamble Puncturing
On older WiFi standards, any wireless channels with interference from other networks become unavailable. WiFi 7 introduces preamble puncturing, which provides the ability to section off portions of a WiFi channel to transmit your data when interference isn’t occupying the entire channel. This allows your devices to access the best possible channels for optimal WiFi performance even when interference is present.
For the latest news on the new WiFi standard, visit our WiFi 7 page or watch our What is WiFi 7? video on YouTube: