WiFi 7 Architecture and Its Benefits : A Comprehensive Guide
Wi-Fi 7, based on the IEEE 802.11be standard, represents the next evolution in wireless networking, aiming to deliver extremely high throughput (EHT), lower latency and enhanced efficiency for a broad range of applications. Its architecture integrates significant advancements at both the physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers, building on the features introduced in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and pushing the boundaries of wireless performance.
WiFi 7 Architecture Overview
The key Components or features of WiFi 7 Architecture are depicted in the figure. Let us understand each of these features.
• Physical Layer (PHY) Enhancements:
• Supports up to 320 MHz wide channel bandwidths which almost double than maximum channel width of WiFi 6.
• Supports modulation up to 4096-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) compared to the 1024-QAM used in WiFi 6.
• Supports Enhanced OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access).
• Supports preamble puncturing: Allows exclusion of specific subcarriers affected by interference, optimizing channel use without
significant loss in performance.
• Medium Access Control (MAC) Layer Enhancements:
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Allows devices to use multiple frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz)
simultaneously, enhancing throughput and providing greater reliability by aggregating links.
• Improved Multi-User Capabilities: Enhanced MU-MIMO and MU-OFDMA, supporting more users simultaneously with better allocation of resources.
• Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN): Introduces low-latency scheduling and prioritization mechanisms to support time-critical applications.
• Enhanced Power-Saving Features: Implements advanced power management techniques like Target Wake Time (TWT) to reduce energy consumption
for devices, particularly in IoT and mobile scenarios.
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO):
A central feature of Wi-Fi 7, MLO allows devices to simultaneously connect over multiple frequency bands,
optimizing data transmission by dynamically distributing traffic across these bands. This leads to higher aggregated throughput,
reduced latency and improved network reliability.
• Advanced Resource Management:
Wi-Fi 7 enhances resource management through better scheduling and coordination, allowing more flexible
and efficient use of available spectrum resources. This is particularly useful in dense environments with many devices, such as smart homes and offices.
• Backward Compatibility:
Wi-Fi 7 maintains compatibility with previous Wi-Fi generations, ensuring that existing devices can still connect and operate effectively
within the new network infrastructure.

Benefits of WiFi 7
Wi-Fi 7 offers numerous benefits that address the growing demands of modern wireless networks,
including higher data rates, reduced latency, and better spectrum efficiency. Below are some of the key advantages.
➨Wi-Fi 7 aims to deliver data rates up to 46 Gbps, significantly higher than Wi-Fi 6, making it ideal for bandwidth-intensive applications
like ultra-HD video streaming, cloud gaming, and VR/AR experiences.
➨Features such as Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) reduce latency, providing a better user
experience for applications that require real-time communication, such as online gaming and virtual reality.
➨Enhanced OFDMA, wider channels, and features like preamble puncturing allow Wi-Fi 7 to use the spectrum more efficiently,
especially in environments with overlapping channels and high interference.
➨The ability to use multiple links simultaneously through MLO increases network reliability.
If one link experiences interference or congestion, traffic can be shifted to another link, maintaining stable connections.
➨With improvements in MU-MIMO and MU-OFDMA, Wi-Fi 7 can handle more devices simultaneously without degrading performance,
making it suitable for environments with a high density of connected devices, such as smart homes, offices, and public venues.
➨Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) ensures that Wi-Fi 7 can meet the stringent requirements of applications needing guaranteed
low latency and jitter, such as industrial automation, telemedicine, and live broadcasting.
➨By leveraging the 6 GHz band and supporting wider channels, Wi-Fi 7 offers increased capacity and coverage, reducing congestion
and improving performance in crowded areas.
➨Advanced power management techniques like Target Wake Time (TWT) help extend battery life for mobile
and IoT devices, making Wi-Fi 7 ideal for battery-operated devices in smart homes and wearable tech.
➨Wi-Fi 7 ensures that legacy devices can still connect to the network, providing a seamless transition
and protecting existing investments in Wi-Fi technology.
Use Cases Enabled by Wi-Fi 7
WiFi 7’s enhanced capabilities make it well-suited for a variety of new and emerging use cases as follows.
➨High-Resolution Video Streaming: Supporting 4K/8K video with minimal buffering or latency.
➨Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: Providing the low latency and high throughput needed for immersive VR/AR experiences.
➨Smart Homes and IoT: Enhancing the performance and battery life of connected devices in smart home environments.
➨Enterprise and Industrial Applications: Supporting time-sensitive networking for industrial automation, robotics, and other enterprise
use cases requiring low latency and high reliability.
Conclusion
The architecture improvements of WiFi 7 and its benefits make it a powerful solution for addressing the demands of next-generation wireless networks, paving the way for more robust, high-performance and efficient wireless connectivity.
WiFi 6 Resources as per IEEE 802.11ax
WiFi 7 Resources as per IEEE 802.11be
Useful Links to Legacy WLAN Standards
Other Standard wireless physical layers
11b physical layer
11a physical layer
fixed wimax physical layer-OFDM
mobile wimax physical layer-OFDMA
11n physical layer
GSM Physical layer
TD-SCDMA Physical layer
GPRS physical layer
LDACS1 Physical layer
10,40,100 Gigabit Ethernet Physical layer
Zigbee Physical layer
WCDMA Physical layer
Bluetooth Physical layer
WLAN 802.11ac Physical layer
WLAN 802.11ad Physical layer
LTE Physical layer