TECHNICAL
Wi-Fi in 2025 when is Wi-Fi 7 the answer?
INTRODUCTION Wi-Fi is a universally accepted, highly- familiar and cost-effective technology for connecting devices of all types wirelessly. The familiarity originates from users’ adoption of the technology for PC, tablet and mobile device connectivity and Wi-Fi connectivity is ubiquitous in homes and workplaces across the globe. The ability to establish a network without service provider input and enable local connectivity at very low cost in comparison to cellular connectivity is a compelling attraction. The technology’s appeal has widened as Wi-Fi networks have become ubiquitous across city centres, industrial and enterprise campuses and sites such as hospitals, ports and entertainment venues. Innovations such as Wi-Fi 6 and 6E Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi HaLow are expanding the applicability of Wi-Fi to use cases that need higher speeds,
wider coverage and lower latency and positioning Wi-Fi as a compelling alternative to cellular connections. Each of these new variants presents different incentives for the market to move beyond Wi-Fi 5. The transition to Wi-Fi 6/6E has been primarily driven by the need for higher efficiency, better performance in dense environments, and improved power management. Wi- Fi 6 and 6E promise better coverage, improved node density and lower power consumption. Wi-Fi 7 also includes these benefits and adds better interference resiliency and, most importantly, low latency for applications such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), industrial automation and cloud gaming. Wi-Fi 7 also introduces multi-link operation (MLO) and lower latency, a game-changing feature that allows devices to transmit and receive data across multiple
frequency bands simultaneously. This significantly reduces network congestion and improves reliability, especially in environments with high interference. In addition, enhancements in WPA3 security across Wi-Fi 6 and 7 ensure stronger encryption and protection against cyber threats, making these technologies a secure choice for enterprise and industrial applications. The advances introduced across Wi-Fi 6 and 7 ensure that Wi-Fi continues to meet the growing demand for seamless, high-speed connectivity in an increasingly digital world. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi technologies, Wi-Fi HaLow adds a further dimension to the applicability of Wi-Fi. HaLow operates in the sub-1GHz spectrum band, offering extended range and better penetration through walls and obstacles. This makes it particularly suitable for IoT applications such as smart agriculture, industrial
84
MARCH 2026 Volume 48 No.1
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker