Avoid Challenges when Planning for Wi-Fi 7Avoid Challenges when Planning for Wi-Fi 7

Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker once said, "Proper preparation prevents poor performance."

When considering upgrades to Wi-Fi 7, or 802.11be, enterprises need to keep Baker's words in mind and look at more than commonly touted features to ensure a smooth deployment.

Wi-Fi 7 products offer improved performance and efficiency over Wi-Fi 6, especially in high-density environments common among enterprises. Wi-Fi 7 can better manage simultaneous traffic from multiple users and sometimes reduce the number of access points (APs) needed, simplifying network management and maintenance.

The IEEE standard 802.11be works with several radio frequency bands, including 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and, most recently, 6 GHz. It can deliver theoretical link speeds of up to 40,000 Mbps, depending on the configuration and environment. Wi-Fi 7 vastly improves the quality and resolution of video , thanks to 16 spatial streams and multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technology. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) enables multiple link adaptation and error correction to improve data reliability. Wi-Fi 7 devices are also compatible with their most recent predecessor, Wi-Fi 6E.

Do APs Support the 6 GHz Band?

For enterprises upgrading to Wi-Fi 7, it's important to determine whether the AP considered supports the new 6 GHz band. Support of the 6 GHz band is implied with a Wi-Fi 6E label; however, it is not a requirement with Wi-Fi 7.

Related:Tips for Enterprises Evaluating Wi-Fi 7

U.S.-based multinationals need be aware that some countries, such as India and China, do not allow Wi-Fi transmissions in the 6 GHz band. Enterprises in these countries can purchase Wi-Fi 7 APs that transmit and receive only in the legacy 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. However, enterprises in countries that do allow 6 GHz transmission should take advantage, according to Siân Morgan, research director at Dell'Oro Group, a telecom market research firm.

"Enterprises in countries that support part or all the 6 GHz band -- for example, all countries in North America, Europe as well as Brazil, Columbia and Argentina in South America -- should ensure that the AP model they are considering has a radio that can operate in 6 GHz," Morgan said.

If an AP supports 6 GHz, newer devices will connect using the 6 GHz band. This helps reduce interference in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, improving the overall Wi-Fi experience.

For a complete list of countries that support the 6 GHz band, Morgan suggested readers consult the Wi-Fi Alliance website.

Fast Data Speeds and Power Needs Affect Performance

With Wi-Fi 7's higher data rates and power requirements, existing network switches might cause bottlenecks in enterprise wireless LANs, due to their lack of support for links more than 1 Gbps. This can limit overall performance. The Wi-Fi 7 APs on the market today support 2.5 Gbps links -- or higher -- from the switch. In addition, APs might need more power to fully use the 6 GHz band, which can exceed the Power over Ethernet capacity of existing switches. Morgan said enterprises should consider potential workarounds.

"Enterprises should look carefully at the end-to-end network and consider the need to renew cabling and switch capacity," Morgan said. "If there's simply not the budget to upgrade Wi-Fi APs and switches at the same time, enterprises may consider purchasing Wi-Fi 7 APs that can be configured to operate at lower power, forgoing the use of 6 GHz temporarily."

Once enterprises upgrade the switching and cabling, they can reconfigure the APs to operate at full capacity.

Security Suggestions

Enterprises currently using Wi-Fi 5 with WPA2 security will benefit from the enhanced security of the WPA3 security certification, which has been mandated since Wi-Fi 6. WPA3 uses a new authentication method and cryptographic handshake to bolster security.

It's also critical for enterprises to stay current with the latest supported versions of Wi-Fi from their vendors to ensure they have access to the latest security es and features.

Time to Explore Campus Network as a Service

A Wi-Fi 7 upgrade might be a suitable time for network teams to simplify wireless LAN (WLAN) operations. Many vendors offer AI-fueled analytics to simplify installation, network configuration and troubleshooting. Enterprises can also consider campus network as a service (CNaaS), Morgan said.

"There is also an option for enterprises to eliminate the upfront cost and ongoing maintenance effort of their WLAN by moving to a CNaaS offering," Morgan said.

With this emerging type of service, either the equipment vendor or the managed service provider (MSP) delivers the network for a recurring fee, paid monthly, for instance. With CNaaS, the vendor or MSP also takes care of the installation, monitoring and problem resolution, Morgan added. Some of these offers include a service-level agreement, so the company can receive service credits if the network performance dips below a specified level.

Very Low Power Device Support -- TBD

At the end of 2024, the FCC adopted rules to allow Very Low Power devices to operate in the 6 GHz band. This could open a new ecosystem of devices that operate across short distances but require high connection speeds, such as AR/VR headsets or devices enabling in-car connectivity. But adoption remains to be seen, according to Morgan.

"Access to the new spectrum is interesting, but the success of Wi-Fi VLP will depend on ecosystem development -- that is, the number of devices and APs that are certified and the penetration of these inside enterprises and households," Morgan said.