Intel at the WBAWGC conference he underlinedas the development of a new generation of wireless Wi-Fi continues. He confirmed that these are no longer just crazy ideas in the minds of engineers, but that the first drafts are already being created – draft specifications.
Version 1.0 is expected to be ready next year in May, the final specification of the standard will arrive three years later. However, the first real products will probably arrive in the meantime. We know from historical experience that Wi-Fi routers often use early technology in the form of a draft. But enough paperwork, what can we really expect?
Wi-Fi 7 will be based on IEEE standard 802.11be and builds on existing versions of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, against which it adds speed and functionality. The theoretical maximum speed of Wi-Fi 6 (E) is 9.6 Gb / s, Wi-Fi 7 gets up to 46.1 Gbit / s, or 4.8 × more.
This increase is due to three main innovations. The channel width is doubled to 320 MHz, the number of simultaneous data streams is doubled to 16, and the more efficient 4096-QAM modulation is used, which can transmit 25% more information per Hertz than the current 1024-QAM .
| name | Standard | Bands | Width | Fluxů | Modulation | Permeability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 1 | 802.11b | 2.4 GHz | up to 20 MHz | 1 | 64-QAM | 11MB / s |
| Wi-Fi 2 | 802.11a | 5 GHz | up to 20 MHz | 1 | 64-QAM | 54 MB / s |
| Wi-Fi 3 | 802.11g | 2.4 GHz | up to 20 MHz | 1 | 64-QAM | 54 MB / s |
| Wi-Fi 4 | 802.11n | 2.4 + 5 GHz | up to 40 MHz | 4 | 64-QAM | 600MB / s |
| Wi-Fi 5 | 802.11ac | 5 GHz | up to 160 MHz | 4 | 256-QAM | 3.5 GB / s |
| Wi-Fi 6 | 802.11ax | 2.4 + 5 GHz | up to 160 MHz | 8 | 1024-QAM | 9.6 GB / s |
| Wi-Fi 6E | 802.11ax | 2.4 + 5 + 6 GHz | up to 160 MHz | 8 | 1024-QAM | 9.6 GB / s |
| Wi-Fi 7 | 802.11be | 2.4 + 5 + 6 GHz | up to 320 MHz | 16 | 4096-QAM | 46.1 GB / s |
Maximum values but we will only achieve this in the laboratory, actual products generally do not meet “to the core” specifications. Sixteen streams means 16 antennas. The best routers would slowly switch from spiders to centipedes. In addition, higher modulation levels are not always the best solution as they require a better signal and therefore have a lower range.
However, where the speeds can really be multiplied, there are wider channels. Wi-Fi 7 will work like 6E in the new 6 GHz band, where there are enough frequencies for such games. The problem is that only the United States has released the group for unlicensed use so far. As of this spring, Americans can have 1200MHz of bandwidth in the 5925-7125 MHz band.
The old continent is still awaiting its liberation. The European Commission would probably open it within the next year. However, the allocation will not be as generous as in the US, only 500 MHz will be released between the frequencies 5925 and 6425 MHz. However, this will suffice for a “seven” channel 320MHz.
How do Wi-Fi speeds 4, 5 and 6 differ in practice?
Little Brother Wi-Fi
In addition to Wi-Fi, there is technology WiGig. It operates in the 60 GHz unlicensed band and is based on the standard IEEE 802.11ad. In Europe, it has four very wide channels (2.16 GHz), with which a throughput of up to 7 Gb / s can be achieved, but conventional hardware generally offers “only” 4.6 Gb / s. . The problem is that even this common material is a great rarity. Unfortunately, WiGig hasn’t made its way home, support for routers, computers, and smartphones is very weak.
Such high frequencies will allow fast communication, but over short distances and without obstacles in the form of walls. Nevertheless, such a router in the room could quickly connect, for example, a NAS, a desktop computer and a TV, in order to keep the classic Wi-Fi bands for mobile phones, laptops and other portable devices.
However, WiGig has found another application for mobile phones. Asus uses it on phones (like the ROG Phone 3) to connect the wireless docking station. The Essential Phone, which had already disappeared, was then used for an external camera. It used magnetic pins to connect to the phone and draw power from it, but the data transfer was wireless.
| Zoned | Frequency | Width | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | 2400 to 2483.5 MHz | 83.5MHz | inside and outside |
| 5 GHz | 5150 to 5350 MHz | 200 MHz | interior |
| 5470 to 5725 MHz | 255 MHz | inside and outside | |
| 5725 to 5875 MHz | 150 MHz | indoor and outdoor with limited performance | |
| 6 GHz | 5925 to 6425 MHz | 500 MHz | interior and exterior, not yet harmonized |
| 60 GHz | 57 GHz to 66 GHz | 9 GHz | inside and outside |
| * the band is not out yet | |||
WiGig is also evolving. A new standard will likely be approved next year 802.11ay. It should use channels up to four times as wide, introduce MIMO with eight streams and yet more efficient modulation. The result should be permeability up to 176 Gbit / s. In addition, the range of the network will drop from units of meters to tens of meters lower. It would be an interesting technology for fast whole household networking, but also for wireless and lossless transmission of images and sounds for VR glasses. Perhaps, thanks to its properties, this group will finally gain ground.
Moreover, it has already gained ground in another area. A year ago, CTU released the 60 GHz spectrum for outdoor use, and regional operators are already delivering internet speeds of several hundred megabits per second. Wi-Fi will not reach such speeds outdoors and networks are already full of them. There is no risk of interference with narrow 60 GHz “beams”.
How to speed up Wi-Fi at home?
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