| Wi‑Fi 7 |
Introduced 2025 |
| Multi Link Operation (MLO) |
Enables multiple, independent connections from a station to an AP, to significantly increase available bandwidth and additionally provide redundancy of connection for interference avoidance. |
This can more than double available link bandwidth and offer both narrow band and wide band interference mitigation. |
High resolution imaging requires transfer of very large data sets, very quickly. Low latency of data has become a core requirement in the medical and industrial markets. |
| RU Puncturing |
Enables more devices to send more data in the same RF spectrum by allowing the AP to assign unused RU space to an different station that needs the bandwidth. |
This provides a higher level of RF spectrum usage for data delivery. |
Where there are a high count of medical devices in an emergency suite, it provides the opportunity for medical monitors to access the RF medium and deliver data with higher reliability and lower latency. |
| Extension to 320MHz channels |
Enables more bandwidth between the stations and AP |
This was 2X the channel width form WI-Fi 6/6E contributing to the overall improvement in link bandwidth.
There are 3 non-overlapping channels available in the 6GHz spectrum. |
High resolution imaging requires transfer of very large data sets, very quickly. Low latency of data has become a core requirement in the medical and industrial markets.
|
| Increase to 4K QAM |
More band width in the channel |
Provides a 10% improvement in channel capacity |
| Wi‑Fi 6E |
Introduced 2021 |
| 6GHz Spectrum |
Extends the available band width by 1.2GHz in the 6GHz band. |
Expanded channels:
20MHz x 59
40MHz x 29
80MHz x 14
160MHz x 7 |
Hospital wants patient data to avoid publicly used channels. The 6GHz channel offers a significant addition for clear space. |
| Wi‑Fi 6 |
Introduced 2019 |
| Extension to 160MHz channels |
Enables more bandwidth between the stations and AP |
This was 4X the channel width form WI‑Fi 5 contributing to the overall improvement in link bandwidth |
High resolution imaging requires transfer of very large data sets, very quickly. Low latency of data has become a core requirement in the medical and industrial markets.
|
| Increase to 1K QAM |
More band width in the channel |
Provides a 10% improvement in channel capacity |
| OFDMA |
Adds support for delivery of data to multiple stations simultaneously.
Enables higher link rate support (VHT).
|
Ability to deliver data to up to 6 stations simultaneously.
Improves maximum link rate to 9.6Gb/s.
|
Where latency of data to multiple robots is critical, OFDMA allows data delivery to multiple robots in parallel, with high data rates that reduce usage time of the RF space.
|
| Target Wake Time (TWT) |
Extends ability to turn off the Wi‑Fi radio for extended periods of time. |
Previous power save modes did not allow power save for applications that have extended periods of time (>10 seconds) between data delivery. TWT enables stations and AP's negotiate the optimum "off time" for the station to reduce it's operational time and use of RF media.
|
A environmental sensor that collects temperature data for a space. Can be "off" the network for seconds or hours or even days between sending data, meaning smaller batteries and extended periods of operation without battery changes.
|
| BSS Coloring |
Reduces interference between overlapping networks for associated stations. |
BSS Coloring allows overlapping AP coverage while meaning interference between the two networks for stations is minimized. This improves reliability of connection and latency for data delivery.
|
A facility using robots to manage inventory can have high density AP, on a per aisle basis, by assigning a BSS color to each of the AP, communication with the robots in the aisles can be focussed and even with coverage overlap between aisles meaning data latency can be guaranteed.
|
| Up Link/Down Link MU-MIMO |
Improved bandwidth and range |
MU-MIMO is now supported in both direction of the link, allowing the station to leverage the same advantages provided to the AP in Wi‑Fi 5.
|
In a facility where a group of robots are located at one side of the manufacturing floor, UL/DL MU-MIMO now allows more reliable, higher performance communication to the robots without impacting the RF environment away from the robots.
|
| WPA3 required |
Highest level of link level security |
WPA3 introduces a number of improvements over the previous generation of security WPA2.
It introduces Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), Protected Management Frames (PMF), 192bit key encryption, separate key protection, forward security and DPP.
|
Where privacy of patient data is critical. WPA3 provides the strongest level of link security currently available.
|
| Long Guard Interval |
This extends the window for listening for transmissions |
Improves reliability/ruggedness of connection |
In a noisy RF environment, like a warehouse or manufacturing floor, a long guard interval helps to mitigate the main interference contributors allowing for more reliable communication.
|
| Dual Carrier Modulation |
Delivers data to two locations within the same transition, improving reliability of data transmission by improving immunity to narrow band interference
|
Link reliability is improved. |
In a noisy RF environment, like a warehouse or manufacturing floor, where fast transient electrical switching introduces RF "spikes" DCM improves robustness of the communications link.
|
| Higher throughput |
Increased maximum link rate to 9.6 Gb/s |
Faster data delivery and more efficient use of the RF medium |
Security systems using high definition cameras for monitoring of secure areas, using the higher bandwidth enables ability to increase the number of supported camera transmissions, with better resolution and improved reliability of transmission and latency of image.
|
| Wi‑Fi 5 |
Introduced 2013 |
| Higher throughput |
Increased maximum link rate to 3.5 Gb/s |
Faster data delivery and more efficient use of the RF medium |
|
| Added 80 and 160MHz channel width |
Enables more bandwidth between the stations and AP |
This was 2X the channel width form Wi‑Fi 4 contributing to the overall improvement in link bandwidth |
High resolution imaging requires transfer of very large data sets, very quickly. |
| DL MU-MIMO |
Improved bandwidth and range |
MU-MIMO is supported from the AP to the station. |
The directed beam forming limits the RF activity to just the area needed for transmission leaving the rest of the area cleaner.
|
| Added VHT-OFDM |
Enabled higher link rate support |
Added maximum link rates to 3.5Gbps |
Higher throughput allows multiple camera streams without loss of resolution. |
| Increased to 256K QAM |
More band width in the channel |
Provides a 10% improvement in channel capacity |
|
| Adoption of 5GHz band |
More bandwidth and clear spectrum for connection |
Provided more channels in a cleaner spectrum than the increasingly crowded 2.4GHz band.
Faster data delivery and more efficient use of the RF medium. Provides spectral separation of networks to provide isolation of critical/private networks.
|
Wi‑Fi networks in medical facilities have mane types of traffic, that include both public (visitor traffic) and private (medical). With the addition of the 5GHz band it was possible separate public networks and medical networks, by placing one on the 2.4GHz and the other on the 5GHz.
|
| Wi‑Fi 4 |
Introduced 2009 |
| Higher throughput |
Increased maximum link rate to 600Mb/s |
Faster data delivery and more efficient use of the RF medium |
Faster delivery of records and critical firmware updates, along with new applications in video streaming for security, medical and industrial applications.
|
| Supports SU-MIMO with 4 spatial streams |
Allows multiple simultaneous transmissions to a single station. |
Higher link rates and bandwidth to stations |
| HT-OFDM |
Enabled higher link rate support |
Added higher link rates up to 600Mbps |
| Added 40MHz channel width |
Doubled the channel width. |
Enabled higher PHY rates to 600Mbps |
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