The era of ultrafast Wi-Fi 7 has arrived - certification of devices has begun

The Wi-Fi Alliance* has, as expected, officially certified the new Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) wireless standard and published its specifications. Wi-Fi 7 supports Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology, which allows devices to send and receive data simultaneously in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands, increasing throughput, reducing latency and improving reliability. In addition, the channel width is double that of Wi-Fi 6 at 320 MHz (where the 6 GHz band is available).

*Wi-Fi Alliance ® - is a global network of companies that bring you Wi-Fi ® , one of the world's most valuable communications technologies.

In 2021, we wrote about the new Wi-Fi 7 standard ( Wi-Fi 7 a new bump in internet speeds? ) and in 2023 we added new information about it ( What is Wi-Fi7 ? Everything you need to know about the new 802.11be standard ). Now we are witnessing the certification of this standard. Since the technology has been in development for a long time, chip and processor manufacturers (such as Qualcomm, Intel, MediaTek and others) have prepared the base for the production of devices with the new technology. On the day the certification was announced, manufacturers around the world massively unveiled their new devices running on Wi-Fi 7 technology. So why did so many try to be the first with devices of the new technology? Is the new technology really worth looking at and replacing current equipment? We take a look at the features and capabilities of devices released with the new Wi-Fi 7 technology.

Ubiquiti is one of the first companies to launch the new U7 Pro access point. The Ubiquiti U7 Pro is a ceiling/wall-mounted access point with 6 spatial streams and 6 GHz support, enabling interference-free WiFi organization in complex and scalable environments. The U7 Pro is slightly larger than the U6 Pro access point, and its specifications are obviously different. The main differences are operation at 6 GHz and significantly increased channel width, now at 320 MHz. Thanks to these changes, data transfer speeds at this frequency are up to 5765 Mbps. To enable data transfer to servers and other wired devices, the U7 Pro replaces the Ethernet port with a faster one, now supporting 2.5 GbE throughput.

Detailed device specifications and instructions can be found on the official Ubiquiti Networks U7 Pro website. Interestingly, on the manufacturer's website you can already order the U7 Pro access point without any problems.

Zyxel hasn't been left behind either, and has unveiled the new Zyxel WBE660S enterprise-level access point, which can deliver lightning-fast data transfer speeds of up to 22 Gbps. To transfer information at this speed, the WBE660S has a 10 Gbps Ethernet port.

The Zyxel WBE660S access point uses the latest enterprise-level technology to deliver fiber-optic cable-level transmission speeds. In order for the powerful quad-core processor from Qualcomm to operate at maximum efficiency, and for the wireless network to operate reliably and without jamming, the access point is equipped with an RJ45 Ethernet port with PoE (IEEE 802.3bt) support to ensure maximum and stable power supply.

The device supports the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz frequency bands. The channel speed of data transmission is 1376, 8646 and 11530 Mbps, respectively. An advanced RF filter eliminates interference between the 5 and 6 GHz bands, and a built-in 4G/5G filter ensures seamless coexistence with cellular networks, the company reports.
The access point is designed with smart antenna technology. It is responsible for effectively suppressing intra-channel interference by constantly monitoring connections and dynamically adjusting directional diagrams. This achieves optimal performance for each connection.

At CES (Consumer Technology Association), which is currently taking place (January 9 - 12, 2024) in Las Vegas, TP-Link unveiled its new products with the new Wi-Fi 7 technology. The range of products with the new wireless technology includes Deco Series Mesh WI-Fi systems, Archer Series home routers, including high-end gaming routers, and the world's first Wi-Fi 7 network adapter. TP-Link presented products such as the Deco BE95, Deco BE63, Deco BE65-5G, Deco BE65-PoE and Deco BE25-Outdoor.

With flexible connection options(fiber, Ethernet cable, 4G/5G and xDSL), users are free to choose their Internet provider according to their preferences. TP-Link didn't skimp on the specifications, and writes that the flagship Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Deco BE95 will provide a total speed of up to 33 Gbps over 16 streams and 4 bands, making it the fastest Mesh system in the world today. The model is equipped with interchangeable 10G Ethernet WAN/LAN ports, allowing users to connect network attached storage (NAS) and gaming servers for high-speed file sharing, opening up new levels of network performance.

Also on display at CES were six Archer Series Wi-Fi 7 routers, combining advanced technology and aesthetics. Most interesting among them are the Archer BE900, an innovative four-stream router with up to 24.4 Gbps, and the Archer GE800, the first TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 router aimed at gamers, offering Wi-Fi data speeds of up to 19 Gbps.
Also unveiled were three other Wi-Fi 7 routers - the Archer BE800, Archer BE550 and Archer BE230. All of these models are EasyMesh compatible and feature HomeShield network protection. The Archer BE800 is a three-band Wi-Fi 7 router with speeds up to 19 Gbps, featuring an LED screen, two 10G ports and four 2.5G ports. The Archer BE550 is another three-band Wi-Fi 7 router, but with speeds up to 9214 Mbps and five 2.5G ports. The Archer BE230 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router with speeds up to 3.6Gbps.

Another device worth noting is the world's first Wi-Fi 7 network card, the Archer TBE550E. It is a three-band network card that allows you to equip computers with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, providing incredible speed, low latency and increased reliability in dense network environments. A touch panel and bright LED lighting effects enhance functionality and aesthetics.

We are always following the development of technology, and we are certainly very pleased that the Wi-Fi 7 certification has finally happened. Also great is that most companies were already prepared for this certification and had devices ready to offer to the network technology market. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi 7 will spread rapidly: more than 233 million devices supporting the new standard are expected to hit the market in 2024, and by 2028 the number will have already grown to 2.1 billion. The organization notes that the latest version of Wi-Fi will soon be used not only by smartphones, tablets, laptops and wireless routers, but also by virtual reality devices, cars and industrial devices supporting the Internet of Things.
However, it is worth considering that it will be a long time before all the regulations are adopted in the European Union, before user devices (laptops, phones and other devices) supporting Wi-Fi 7 technology enter the market. And only after a certain period of time, after all the formalities have been settled, will we be able to feel these cosmic speeds and new capabilities on ourselves.

Author:
Aliaksandr Roslikau