WiFi 7: Benefits and Advantages Explained | IEEE 802.11be

This page delves into the WiFi 7 standard, outlining its basics and key features. We’ll explore the benefits and advantages it offers, as defined by the IEEE 802.11be standard.

Introduction:

WiFi 7 represents the latest evolution in WLAN technology, succeeding WiFi 6 and 6E. Currently, the IEEE 802.11be EHT (Extremely High Throughput) working group is actively developing the Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) 7 standard.

IEEE aims to approve and publish the 802.11be (WiFi 7) standard by mid-2024. Once products are developed according to these standards, they will undergo certification by the WiFi Alliance. This certification ensures interoperability between WiFi devices (APs and STAs).

What is WiFi 7 (IEEE 802.11be)?

WiFi 7 is the 7th generation of the WiFi standard, built upon the specifications of the IEEE 802.11be standard. Its development focuses on achieving:

• Higher data rates
• Lower latency
• High spectrum efficiency
• High power efficiency
• Improved interference mitigation
• High capacity density
• Increased cost efficiency

To achieve these goals, both the PHY (Physical Layer) and MAC (Medium Access Control) layers have been modified to support EHT mode in the new WiFi 7 standard. It’s designed to deliver improved performance compared to existing WiFi 6/6E devices.

Key enhancements include enhanced OFDMA, 4096-QAM, MU-MIMO with 16 spatial streams, 320 MHz channel size, and other new features. These improvements aim to deliver a significant increase in data rates (around 46 Gbps).

WiFi 7 utilizes frequency bands from 1 to 7.25 GHz, encompassing the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands used by its predecessors.

Key Features of WiFi 7

The following features are planned for inclusion in WiFi 7 devices, as outlined in the IEEE 802.11be PAR (Project Authorization Request):

• 320 MHz maximum channel size: Supports 160 + 160 MHz, 240 + 180 MHz, and 160 + 80 MHz channels to combine non-adjacent spectrum blocks, potentially doubling throughput compared to WiFi 6.
• Higher order modulation: 4096 QAM: Increases throughput by 20%. Lower modulation schemes are also supported. Note that 4096QAM requires a higher SNR, so beamforming is crucial when using this modulation.
• Enhanced OFDMA: Allocates punctured RUs (Resource Units) to a single station using direct link transmission.
• 16 spatial streams MU-MIMO
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Enables devices to transmit and/or receive across different bands and channels simultaneously, using separate data and control planes.
• Multi-AP (Multiple Access Point) Coordination: Examples include coordinated and joint transmission.
• Deterministic low latency
• Multi-RU (Multiple Resource Units) i.e., Puncturing
• EHT Preamble and packet format
• Enhanced link adaptation and retransmission protocol using HARQ

Benefits and Advantages of WiFi 7

Here are the key benefits and advantages of adopting WiFi 7:

• Increased Throughput: The use of 320 MHz channels doubles throughput compared to WiFi 6.
• Higher Data Rates: 4096QAM increases throughput by 20%.
• Improved Efficiency: Enhanced OFDMA increases spectrum efficiency, reduces latency, and improves the overall user experience.
• Network Capacity: Doubling spatial streams helps in doubling network throughput compared to WiFi 6.
• Coordinated APs: Using Coordinated OFDMA, collaborative APs synchronize data transmissions and efficiently utilize orthogonal time/frequency and spatial resources.
• Flexibility with Puncturing: Eliminates transmission in parts of the channel to accommodate spectrum restrictions, enabling the use of wider channels even when contiguous spectrum is unavailable.
• Enhanced Security: Provides secure connections using the WPA3 protocol, offering superior security compared to WPA2, WEP, and WPA. WPA3 utilizes protected management frames and specialized hardware chips.
• Ideal for Demanding Applications: WiFi 7 is well-suited for various use cases, including AR/VR, 4K and 8K video streaming, cloud computing, video calling, video conferencing, remote office environments, and more.