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On January 8, 2024, the Wi-Fi Alliance officially finalized the Wi-Fi 7 standard. This marks the beginning of the certification program for Wi-Fi 7 devices. As a result, manufacturers can now launch products that are formally certified for Wi-Fi 7 performance and compatibility.
In this context, our Wi-Fi 7 access point (AP) products supporting OpenWiFi are fully developed and officially launched. They are fully compliant with Wi-Fi 7 standards, support certification requirements, and deliver next-generation WLAN connectivity solutions for users.
To understand the advanced performance of Wi-Fi 7, it is essential to examine 802.11be, the technical specification that forms its core foundation.
What is IEEE 802.11be?
Wi-Fi 7 is the latest Wi-Fi generation, designed for high bandwidth, low latency, and dense device environments, with applications in smart homes, industrial IoT, and VR/AR. IEEE 802.11be is the IEEE technical specification underlying Wi-Fi 7, defining performance, protocols, and interfaces. In short, Wi-Fi 7 is the market-facing name, while 802.11be provides the technical foundation.
How Does 802.11be Work?
The performance improvements in 802.11be do not come from a single breakthrough, but from the combined effect of several key technologies. These technologies jointly enhance different dimensions of wireless networking, including data throughput, multi-device concurrency, transmission stability, and spectrum efficiency. Together, they form the technical foundation of 802.11be.
The following sections will outline these core technologies and explain their specific roles in achieving the performance targets of Wi-Fi 7.
4096-QAM Modulation Technology
4096-QAM is one of the core technologies used to enhance data throughput in 802.11be. By precisely adjusting the amplitude and phase of each RF signal, a single symbol can represent up to 12 bits of data. In comparison, Wi-Fi 6 uses 1024-QAM (2^10), where each symbol carries 10 bits. Under the same channel conditions and symbol rate, 802.11be can therefore transmit up to 20% more data per second. This improvement in modulation efficiency directly translates to higher peak throughput.
The constellation diagram is shown below:
320 MHz Channel Technology
802.11be expands the maximum channel width to 320 MHz, nearly doubling the 160 MHz limit used in Wi-Fi 6. A wider channel is essentially like widening a data “expressway,” enabling more information to be transmitted at the same time, which results in a significantly higher data rate.
A 320 MHz channel can be achieved either by bonding two adjacent 160 MHz channels or by using a single contiguous 320 MHz spectrum block, where allowed by local regulatory rules.
16-Stream MIMO Technology
A spatial stream refers to an independent data path between the access point and the client device. Increasing the number of spatial streams allows more data to be transmitted in parallel, which directly improves total throughput.
In 802.11be, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) has been further enhanced to support up to 16 spatial streams, whereas Wi-Fi 6 supports a maximum of 8. This doubling of spatial streams enables higher peak capacity and better performance in multi-user environments.
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) Technology
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is one of the most innovative features of 802.11be. It allows a device and an access point to use multiple frequency bands simultaneously—for example, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz—breaking the traditional limitation of a single-band connection.
It primarily supports three modes. In single-radio multi-link mode, a device with only one RF module can use one link at a time for transmission or reception. Enhanced single-radio multi-link mode allows a 2×2 spatial stream module to be split into two 1×1 chains, enabling simultaneous monitoring of two channels. In enhanced multi-radio multi-link mode, devices with multiple RF chains can dynamically combine or switch links based on channel congestion to optimize transmission efficiency.
Note: The terminal device itself must also support Wi-Fi 7 (e.g., a mobile phone), otherwise MLO cannot be activated.
Optimized OFDMA Technology
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) is a key technology for improving multi-user efficiency in wireless communication. It divides a channel into multiple non-overlapping subcarriers, which are grouped into resource units (RUs). The access point can dynamically assign different RUs to different user devices based on their data requirements. This allows multiple users to transmit data in parallel.
In Wi-Fi 7 (based on the 802.11be standard), OFDMA has been further optimized compared to Wi-Fi 6:
- Flexible RU configurations: Assign small RUs to low-data IoT devices and large RUs to high-bandwidth devices, improving allocation efficiency.
- Enhanced coordination: OFDMA can be coordinated with spatial streams and multi-AP mechanisms (CSR, JXT) to serve more users without lowering individual rates.
Technologies for Interference Suppression and Spectrum Efficiency
Preamble Puncturing is an important technology for efficient utilization of wide channels. Its principle is as follows: when an access point (AP) detects local interference within a channel, it “punctures” the preamble of the affected data frame—that is, it removes the portion of the preamble corresponding to the interference zone and marks this area using a puncturing mask in the U-SIG field of the frame.
Upon receiving the punctured frame, the terminal first parses the puncturing mask to identify the interference regions and then ignores signals in these areas during demodulation, processing only the data in the unaffected portions of the channel.
This mechanism allows the system to avoid local interference while maintaining the integrity and accuracy of data transmission. Importantly, it prevents the need to abandon the entire wide channel due to localized interference, significantly improving channel utilization and transmission stability.
In addition, when operating in the 6 GHz band, outdoor 802.11be access points are required to enable Automatic Frequency Coordination (AFC). Under this mechanism, the AFC system uses the location information of the access point to query relevant databases in real time, determining whether the selected frequency may interfere with incumbent users such as radar systems. This process ensures that 802.11be can safely and efficiently utilize the 6 GHz spectrum.
Together, these technologies work in synergy to form the high-performance framework of 802.11be.
How Fast Is the IEEE 802.11be Standard?
1. Theoretical Peak Throughput
Under ideal conditions, 802.11be can reach a theoretical peak throughput of 2.88 Gbps per spatial stream (320 MHz + 4096-QAM), or 46 Gbps with 16 streams—over four times Wi-Fi 6 and far above Wi-Fi 5—supporting applications like real-time robotics and large dataset transfers.
2. Practical Industrial Throughput
In real industrial deployments, throughput is lower due to hardware, regulatory, and environmental factors:
- Hardware: Industrial devices prioritize durability; few support all 16 streams.
- Spectrum: 320 MHz channels require 6 GHz access, subject to local regulations.
- Environment: EM interference, signal attenuation through walls/metal, and high device density can reduce per-device throughput.
Typical industrial networks achieve 10–30 Gbps, sufficient for high-density IoT, real-time monitoring, and other demanding applications.
What are the differences between 802.11be（WiFi7） and 802.11ax（WiFi6）
| IEEE Standard Number | 802.11ax | 802.11be | – |
| Maximum Theoretical Data Rate | Approximately 9.6 Gbps | Approximately 46.1 Gbps | The rate increase stems from the synergy of multiple technologies, such as 320MHz channels and 4096-QAM. |
| Supported Frequency Bands | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz (Wi-Fi 6E version) | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz | – (Wi-Fi 6E already supports 6GHz; Wi-Fi 7 further optimizes the utilization of this band) |
| Maximum Channel Bandwidth | 160MHz (supports 80+80MHz non-contiguous bandwidth) | 320MHz (supports 160+80MHz, 160+160MHz, etc., non-contiguous bandwidth) | 320MHz channel bandwidth: Doubles the maximum bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6, widening the data transmission channel. |
| Highest Modulation Order | 1024-QAM (carries 10 bits of data per symbol) | 4096-QAM (carries 12 bits of data per symbol) | 4096-QAM modulation: Increases data density by 20%, enhancing the foundation of single-stream rate. |
| Maximum Number of Spatial Streams | 8×8 UL/DL (8 spatial streams) | 16×16 UL/DL (16 spatial streams) | 16×16 MIMO: Doubles the number of spatial streams, significantly improving parallel transmission capability. |
| Multi-User Coordination & Link Technologies | Supports OFDMA, MU-MIMO, etc. | Supports OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and adds Coordinated Spatial Reuse (CSR), etc. | Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Aggregates bandwidth across frequency bands to improve transmission stability. |
| Anti-Interference & Spectrum Efficiency Technologies | Basic anti-interference mechanisms | Adds Precoders Puncturing, Joint Transmission (JXT), etc. | Precoders Puncturing technology: Precisely avoids local interference to ensure wide channel utilization. |
Benefits of WiFi 7
- Ultra-High Speed: Wi-Fi 7 achieves up to 46 Gbps using 320 MHz channels, 4096-QAM, and multi-link aggregation of 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands.
- Ultra-Low Latency: Latency is reduced by over 50% compared to Wi-Fi 6, thanks to MLO and enhanced OFDMA, enabling cloud gaming, VR/AR, and industrial automation.
- Higher Network Capacity: 16×16 MU-MIMO and enhanced OFDMA allow more devices to connect simultaneously with efficient resource allocation and reduced interference.
- Stable and Intelligent Interference Management: Preamble puncturing, adaptive MLO connections, and 6 GHz operation ensure stable, high-throughput performance despite interference.
- Future-Proof Expansion: Wi-Fi 7 supports smart homes, enterprise and industrial networks, and lays the groundwork for seamless integration with 6G technologies.
WiFi 7 Application Scenarios
Wi-Fi 7 hardware is expected to appear in the next generation of laptops, smartphones, tablets, and VR/AR headsets. Key application scenarios include:
- 8K Video Streaming and Metaverse (VR/AR): Immersive experiences requiring ultra-high bandwidth and low latency
- Smart Homes (100+ IoT Devices): Networks demanding higher device capacity
- Industrial IoT: Applications requiring stable, low-latency connections
- Enterprise Wi-Fi as a Wired Alternative: Scenarios needing reliability comparable to wired networks
WiFi 7 Limitations and Challenges
While Wi-Fi 7 brings significant performance improvements, certain technical and practical challenges remain.
- Regulatory restrictions: 6 GHz band availability varies by region, limiting features like 320 MHz channels and requiring compliance with local spectrum rules.
- Higher hardware costs: Early Wi-Fi 7 chips and devices are expensive, potentially raising product prices and slowing adoption.
- Backward compatibility and feature coordination: While supporting legacy standards, new features such as MLO require coordination between old and new devices, which may prevent peak performance in mixed networks.
- Deployment sensitivity: Wide 320 MHz channels are more prone to electromagnetic interference, necessitating optimized coverage and interference mitigation in industrial or dense environments.
- Real-world performance constraints: Full feature benefits require end-to-end support; single-device speeds may fall short of theoretical limits, and multi-device usage can affect overall experience.
How WiFi 7 Handles High-Bandwidth Conflicts
High bandwidth can increase the likelihood of interference and contention. WiFi 7 addresses these challenges across the PHY, MAC, and protocol layers:
1. Physical Layer (PHY) Innovations
- Preamble Puncturing: Dynamically masks sub-channels affected by interference (e.g., an 80 MHz portion of a 320 MHz channel), allowing transmission over the remaining usable spectrum and preventing the entire wide channel from failing.
- Enhanced OFDMA: Divides 320 MHz channels into more Resource Units (RUs), improving efficiency for small-packet transmissions and reducing competition between devices.
2. MAC Layer Design
- Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Uses 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands simultaneously, physically separating conflict domains and reducing congestion on a single band.
- 16×16 MU-MIMO Enhancement: Doubles the number of spatial streams compared to Wi-Fi 6 (8×8), supporting more devices in parallel and reducing airtime contention.
3. Protocol Layer Optimizations
- Adaptive OBSS-PD Thresholds: Dynamically adjusts energy detection thresholds based on channel bandwidth (e.g., -82 dBm for 320 MHz) to minimize false collision detection.
- Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) Support: Provides deterministic low-latency transmission (microsecond-level) for industrial automation and other critical applications, ensuring priority delivery for key traffic.
WiFi 7 Compatibility with WiFi 6
- Full Backward Compatibility
Wi-Fi 7 devices fully support Wi-Fi 6/6E and are compatible with all legacy IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax devices. - Automatic Operation Mode Adaptation
When a Wi-Fi 7 device detects a Wi-Fi 6 client, it automatically adjusts its operating mode to ensure connectivity while maintaining network stability. - Considerations
- Performance Impact: In mixed networks, Wi-Fi 7 cannot achieve its peak performance. For example, connecting a Wi-Fi 6 device may prevent the network from using 320 MHz channels.
- Feature Restrictions: Some vendors may limit access for legacy devices via firmware, e.g., reserving the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi 6E/7 devices only.
Summary: Wi-Fi 7 devices are fully compatible with Wi-Fi 6, but to fully leverage the new standard’s capabilities, it is recommended to gradually upgrade client devices.
Asterfusion High-Performance WiFi 7 AP with OpenWiFi
- Our AP7030 represents our company’s first WiFi 7 access point with OpenWiFi integration, achieving full IEEE 802.11be compliance ahead of the upstream community’s official release. This accomplishment demonstrates our advancing R&D capabilities in wireless technologies.
- The OpenWiFi architecture enables seamless integration with Asteria Campus Controller, providing unified management of wired and wireless infrastructure with comprehensive network visualization capabilities.
- Engineered for next-generation high-density deployments, the solution excels in VR/AR environments, stadium venues, industrial IoT applications, and smart office implementations.
- Optimized roaming implementation achieves sub-10ms average handoff latency, significantly outperforming conventional 50ms benchmarks while ensuring seamless connectivity for real-time applications.
- Hardware-accelerated WMM ensures QoS prioritization while Target Wake Time technology reduces IoT device power consumption by up to 7x compared to standard implementations.
Conclusion
802.11be delivers a generational leap in WLAN performance, offering multi-gigabit throughput, increased capacity, and deterministic low latency. Adopting 802.11be enables robust support for high-density environments and latency-sensitive applications including 8K streaming, immersive AR/VR, and industrial IoT.
