Wi-Fi 7: The State of the Market

Wi-Fi is the most commonly used wireless communications technology and the primary conduit of global Internet traffic. In the early part of this decade, Wi-Fi traffic roughly quadrupled over a four-year period, vastly exceeding the volume of traffic carried over wired connections.

Currently, the Wi-Fi market is at a major transition point. Last year, certified Wi-Fi 7 products burst onto the scene. This next generation of wireless technology promises to deliver additional performance enhancements and other improvements than previous Wi-Fi generations of products.

Points to Consider About Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi technology is a core part of our coverage at Network Computing. Below are some of our top Wi-Fi 7 articles of the last year, with a brief summary of each article.

1) Why Businesses Should Watch Wi-Fi-7 Closely

Wi-Fi 7 is poised to offer dramatic improvements in speed, capacity, and latency that can support the growing demands of modern enterprises. With features like multi-link operation, which enables simultaneous use of multiple frequency bands, and improved spectrum efficiency, Wi-Fi 7 is ideal for handling high-density environments and latency-sensitive applications such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and real-time collaboration tools. Additionally, adopting Wi-Fi 7 can enhance network resilience, improve user experiences, and future-proof infrastructure for increasingly connected operations. However, careful planning is essential to balance deployment costs with long-term benefits.

2) Tips for Enterprises Evaluating Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7 promises enhanced speed, lower latency, and better support for high-density environments, but adoption should be guided by a clear understanding of organizational requirements and ROI. Features like multi-link operation and wider channel bandwidths can benefit high-demand applications like real-time collaboration. However, enterprises must assess the readiness of their existing infrastructure, compatibility with legacy devices, and potential deployment costs. Strategic planning and phased rollouts can help ensure a smooth transition while maximizing the benefits of this next-generation wireless standard.

3) Wi-Fi Alliance Wi-Fi Certified 7 Program to Drive Deployment

The Wi-Fi Alliance's launch of the Wi-Fi Certified 7 program marked a critical milestone in advancing enterprise connectivity, providing IT managers with a clear path to adopting this next-generation wireless standard. The certification ensures interoperability and performance consistency across devices, reducing deployment risks. As such, IT leaders should look for certified products and follow the Wi-Fi Alliance’s guidance as more devices earn the certification over time.

4) Wi-Fi 7 Picks Up Speed: New Devices Accelerate Enterprise Adoption

Wi-Fi 7 adoption is gaining momentum as new devices (e.g., chipsets, adapter cards, endpoint devices, routers, access points, etc.) reach the market. For IT managers in large enterprises, Wi-Fi 7 products present an opportunity to future-proof network infrastructure while addressing challenges such as high-density environments and critical application reliability. Evaluating the readiness of compatible devices, network upgrades, and strategic deployment plans will be key to unlocking the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 in enterprises in the coming years.

A Final Word on the State of Wi-Fi

Enterprise connectivity demands are on the rise. The growing use of video, exploding data volumes, and the increased adoption of bandwidth and latency-depended apps require new infrastructure.

The availability of Wi-Fi 7 products in mass quantities offers a way for enterprises to support their users and deliver the connectivity performance their businesses need to operate.