Wi-Fi 7, who can compete?
If you want to understand the above question
We must understand Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be, is the upcoming next-generation Wi-Fi standard with extremely high throughput (EHT). How high is ultra-high? Up to 30 Gbps, about 3 times that of Wi-Fi 6 (9.6G). It is said that some major manufacturers have achieved 2.4 times the application demonstration.
Moreover, Wi-Fi 7 can provide lower latency and smaller phase jitter than Wi-Fi 6, making it more suitable for applications that are sensitive to latency, such as online games, immersive VR/AR, and real-time medical treatment. These improvements are due to the use of higher bandwidth, higher-order QAM modulation, and more-order MIMO technology in Wi-Fi 7.
From the previous description, it seems that Wi-Fi 7 is not designed to compete with Wi-Fi 6, but to enhance the performance of Wi-Fi 6/6e to make up for the shortcomings of Wi-Fi 6/6e in speed and latency. So what enhancements does Wi-Fi 7 have for Wi-Fi 6?
First of all, Wi-Fi 7 is based on Wi-Fi 6 and is backward compatible. Compared with the 160MHz bandwidth and 1024QAM modulation of Wi-Fi 6/6e, it introduces 320MHz bandwidth and 4096 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).
At the same time, technologies such as multiple resource units (RU), multi-link operation (MLO), and enhanced multi-user multiplexing have been added. MIMO technology has been upgraded from 8x8 to 16x16. There is also the so-called multi-access point (AP) coordination technology. With these cutting-edge technologies, Wi-Fi 7 provides higher data transmission rates and lower latency than Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 7 will theoretically support up to 30 Gbps throughput, which is about 3 times that of Wi-Fi.
In fact, with twice the bandwidth, 4096QAM modulation and 16x16 MIMO technology, the theoretical rate of Wi-Fi 7 should be ~46Gbps, so why does the industry say it is 30G? Interested friends can leave a message to discuss. We will select the wonderful messages and give away small gifts.
Since Wi-Fi 7 is not "killing each other" with its brothers, will Wi-Fi 7 pose a threat to 5G or 6G? When Wi-Fi 6/6e was first launched, we analyzed whether Wi-Fi 6 would pose a threat to 5G networks.
In fact, Wi-Fi 6/6e and 5G each have their own market applications, and they are complementary and competitive. What about Wi-Fi 7? The data throughput is improved, and the latency is reduced (according to the goal, Wi-Fi 7 will control the latency below 5ms, which remains to be verified), which is closer to 5G, but it is still aimed at the last mile access application.
Speaking of competition, there are still some points. The first is the diversion of mobile data services by Wi-Fi terminals. This has been around for a long time. That is, Wi-Fi terminals mostly access fixed networks through wireless routers, not 5G mobile networks. However, this is not introduced because of the emergence of Wi-Fi 7. Another is the conflict of spectrum resources. Like Wi-Fi 6e, Wi-Fi 7 will also use the unlicensed frequency band of 6G (5.925G-7.125G), which is the basis for Wi-Fi 7 to use 320M continuous bandwidth. Europe and America, as well as some Asian countries, have fully or partially opened the frequency band to Wi-Fi 6e (those interested can read our previous WeChat articles about Wi-Fi 6/6e); but in China, this frequency band is not currently open to Wi-Fi 6E, but may be used for 5G networks in the future.
So how does Wi-Fi 7 compare to the future 6G? In fact, Wi-Fi 7 is even less competitive with the future 6G network; because one of the main goals of 6G is to emphasize 100% full coverage, that is, all areas of land, sea, and air, wherever there are people, even in remote areas; in addition, the THz frequency band used by 6G, that is, the 300G~3THz frequency band, has a communication rate 10~20 times that of 5G, and also emphasizes mobility; while the rate of Wi-Fi 7 is only 3 times that of 5G. Obviously, Wi-Fi 7 and 6G networks cannot compete.
On the contrary, compared with 5G and Wi-Fi 6/6e, Wi-Fi 7 may be more friendly to the future 6G network. Because the data rate of Wi-Fi 7 can reach 30Gbps, and the rate of 6G network can reach 100G~200Gbps, imagine that Wi-Fi 7, as the access technology of the last mile, can use CPE to access the 6G network and give full play to the role of the 6G network, just like the current Wi-Fi 6 access to the fixed network.
Although all countries attach great importance to the research and development of 6G and continue to move forward, it is still a long time before commercial use. The industry estimates that it may have to wait until 2030. It is still in the stage of exploring standards. However, Wi-Fi 7 is different. In May 2021, IEEE has released the Draft 1.0 technical standard for Wi-Fi 7, and plans to release the draft 2.0 standard in March 2022. Commercial products may appear in 2024. Some large manufacturers even claim that they will demonstrate Wi-Fi 7 products at this year's 2022 CES in the United States. CES has just ended. I don’t know whether the demonstration of Wi-Fi 7 products was successful, but at least it shows that Wi-Fi 7 is not far from us. In addition to chip manufacturers, manufacturers who intend to make modules or terminals must now consider how to get a share of the Wi-Fi 7 field, otherwise it will be a bit late.
As a major test and measurement company, Keysight Technologies is not far behind. It closely follows the test standards and has developed software and hardware solutions for Wi-Fi 7 draft1.0 standard testing. It also continuously upgrades the corresponding test solutions as the standard is presented. Currently, we have provided:
Keysight's vector signal generator and analyzer test solutions for R&D or NPI testing:
VSG Series Signal Generator + X-Series Signal Analyzer + PathWave N7617C + PathWave N9077EM2E
PXIE-based RF transceiver series and E6680E wireless tester for production or NPI testing:
M9415A + PathWave SG N7617C+ PathWave SA N9077EM2E
Click the button below to watch Keysight's demonstration video on Wi-Fi 7 signal generation and testing and download related technical documents. Don't forget to leave us a message!
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Demo 1: Using Signal Studio and N9077EM2E X-app to generate and analyze WLAN 802.11be EHT PPDU, 320 MHz & 4096QAM modulation signals
Demo 2: Using Signal Studio and N9077EM2E X-app to generate and analyze WLAN 802.11be EHT trigger-based PPDU signal
Demo 3: Generation and analysis of WLAN 802.11be 2x2 MIMO signals using the E6680E
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