Commencement of Wi-Fi 7 Certification by Wi-Fi Alliance

The Wi-Fi Alliance has initiated the certification process for Wi-Fi 7, marking the commencement of a groundbreaking era in wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 instills confidence in end-users, assuring them of the advantages derived from new features designed to elevate performance and connectivity across diverse environments.

The latest evolution of Wi-Fi boasts significant advancements tailored to meet the demands of emerging technologies, including multi-user augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR). The certification, a product of extensive collaboration within the Wi-Fi Alliance, guarantees global interoperability and a resilient device ecosystem.

Wi-Fi 7 is set for swift adoption, with an anticipated 233 million devices entering the market in 2024 and a remarkable projection of 2.1 billion devices by 2028. Early adopters encompass smartphones, PCs, tablets, and access points, with customer premises equipment and AR/VR equipment gaining momentum.

Key features include:

• 320 MHz channels, enabling ultra-wide channels for multigigabit speeds
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO), facilitating simultaneous data transmission and reception over multiple links
• 4K QAM, achieving a 20 percent increase in transmission rates compared to its predecessor
• 512 Compressed block-ack, enhancing efficiency and reducing overhead
• Multiple RUs to a single STA, improving spectrum efficiency through enhanced spectrum resource scheduling flexibility
• Triggered Uplink Access to accommodate latency-sensitive streams
• Emergency Preparedness Communication Services (EPCS) for seamless emergency service experiences

Wi-Fi 7’s introduction has garnered support from industry leaders, with companies such as Broadcom, CommScope, RUCKUS Networks, Intel, MaxLinear, MediaTek, and Qualcomm forming the testbed for certification. This ensures that Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 devices adhere to the highest standards.

Kevin Robinson, President and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, stated, “This certification underscores our relentless commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology that redefines the way users experience Wi-Fi.”

As the Wi-Fi 7 ecosystem expands, companies like Airties, Boingo, Broadcom, RUCKUS Networks, Intel, MaxLinear, MediaTek, and Qualcomm are taking a leading role in the certification process.

Metin Taskin, Co-CEO of Airties, emphasized the potential of Wi-Fi 7 to support broadband service providers’ plans and enhance the overall user experience: “Wi-Fi 7 provides unprecedented capacity and spectrum efficiency to support far more connections and immersive applications. By embracing smart Wi-Fi software that is truly standards-based, open-source, and hardware-agnostic, ISPs can gain maximum flexibility and control over subscribers’ home broadband experience.”