Wi-Fi 7 is here! The Wi-Fi Alliance launched its “Wi-Fi Certified 7” program on January 8, 2024, meaning it is now available officially to the masses. If you want faster data connections and more data capacity, you should be excited about this new offering. Should you upgrade? Check out the benefits of the new protocol outlined in this article, and you’ll likely conclude that this is an upgrade packed with many benefits.
The Benefits Of Migrating To Wi-Fi 7
Faster Connections
Here’s an easy question: do you want your Internet connection to be faster or slower? Of course, you want it to be faster! Slow connections are frustrating and productivity-robbing. Because of this, many will be drawn to purchasing a new router to realize faster connection speeds provided by the new standard.
So, just how fast is the newest version of Wi-Fi? Those who upgrade can take advantage of up to 46 Gbps speeds! That speed is 479% faster than Wi-Fi 6 and 657% faster than Wi-Fi 5. So, if you’re into fast connection speeds, installing an updated router should be one of your priorities.
Multi-Link Operation
Another new feature associated is Multi-Link Operation (MLO). This technology means the router can send and receive data simultaneously across different channels and frequencies. Because of this, MLO reduces congestion and latency, resulting in improved performance across the board.
Deterministic Latency
At the risk of becoming too “geeky,” another benefit of Wi-Fi 7 is deterministic latency. Although MLO should reduce latency, it will not eliminate it. Latency will likely always be a factor affecting wireless connectivity and degrading performance. However, deterministic latency allows devices to know when latency will occur. Thus, your devices can adjust “on the fly” to minimize the negative impact of latency in your connection.
A Bigger Data Pipeline
In addition to your connection being faster, the new protocol offers a bigger “pipe.” Therefore, routers using the standard can transmit approximately 20% more data than Wi-Fi 6. The obvious benefit here is, again, improved performance.
Backward Compatibility
Finally, upgrading your router doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to upgrade your other devices because the protocol is backward compatible. Therefore, your existing desktops, laptops, smartphones, and other devices should have no issues connecting to a Wi-Fi 7 router.
What Are My Router Options
Because Wi-Fi 7 is relatively new, the number of compatible routers currently available is relatively small. Nonetheless, if you’re interested in upgrading, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a router to suit your needs. Following are some examples of routers available today, and more should be arriving soon.
Summary
Connectivity options continue to increase and improve. And for good reason! We have a seemingly insatiable appetite for wireless bandwidth. Because of this, we must periodically upgrade various pieces of technology to ensure our tools allow us to work as efficiently as possible. Wi-Fi 7-based routers are an example of such an upgrade. This is particularly true if you want to optimize your internet connection’s speed and overall performance while maintaining compatibility with existing end-user devices.
You can learn more about Wi-Fi 7 and other emerging technologies by participating in a K2 Enterprises Technology Conference.
