What is Wi-Fi 7? Speed, features and how it works

If your fast Wi-Fi connection struggles to keep up with modern digital demands, Wi-Fi 7 might be the upgrade you are looking for. The latest evolution in wireless networking, Wi-Fi 7, not only promises faster data speeds but also lower latency and improved reliability. From cloud gaming, 8K video streaming, to smart home networking, and remote work, Wi-Fi 7 promises to deliver a wireless upgrade that turns connected living into a reality.

What is Wi-Fi 7?

Officially called IEEE 802.11be, Wi-Fi is marketed by the Wi-Fi Alliance as the next major wireless networking standard that follows Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 6 was a major upgrade, and Wi-Fi 7 builds on those advances by improving performance, throughput, and efficiency.

The draft development of the Wi-Fi 7 standard began in 2021, and the final standard was published in July 2025. In January 2024, the Wi-Fi Alliance also launched its Wi-Fi Certified 7 certification to ensure interoperability among devices supporting this technology.

The standout feature of Wi-Fi 7 is the support for ultra-wide 320MHz channels on the 6GHz band, which is double the maximum channel width of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. This support allows more data to move through the network at once, and combined with 4096 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (4K-QAM), which enables 20 per cent higher theoretical transmission rates, Wi-Fi 7 achieves significantly higher throughput and efficiency than previous standards.

Dubbed Extremely High Throughput (EHT), Wi-Fi 7 delivers theoretical peak speeds up to 46 Gbps and adds support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO), a feature that allows communication across multiple bands instead of a single channel. This should reduce network congestion, improve reliability, and lower latency, which is key for applications such as cloud gaming, real-time video conferencing, and AR/VR experiences.

Wi-Fi 7: Key features to know

While support for 320MHz channels and Multi-Link Operation are the distinct features of Wi-Fi 7, it does bring a few other innovations to enable less interference and smarter resource use.

Wi-Fi 7 introduces spectrum puncturing, which allows Wi-Fi 7 to work around interference in busy environments by activating only certain subchannels. This means Wi-Fi 7 devices will be able to maintain a strong and stable connection even in dense spaces with many networks.

There is also backward compatibility with older Wi-Fi standards, meaning existing devices based on Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 standards will continue to connect but won’t benefit from new performance or reliability improvements. In order to take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7 features such as multigigabit speeds and ultra-low latency, you will need both a Wi-Fi 7 router and compatible client devices.

Every new generation of Wi-Fi standard claims to be a significant leap in wireless networking, but not every standard delivers on that claim. Wi-Fi 7, on the other hand, could become an exception not because of its faster throughput, better handling of crowded networks, and advanced features but because of its intent.

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With Wi-Fi 7, the Wi-Fi Alliance is addressing the need for a wireless standard that allows users to worry less about latency and focus on their activities. From smarter homes with numerous smart devices connected to businesses demanding reliability for cloud workflows, digital transformation, and AI development, Wi-Fi 7 aims to make that possible, and it is only a matter of time before it starts showing up in your personal devices.