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We’re Moving Office – When Should We Plan the Wi-Fi?

Are you moving offices? In this article we’ll take you through when and how to plan your new office Wi-Fi. 

Discover when to start planning your Wi-Fi, why it should happen before the fit-out, and how a professional Wi-Fi survey can prevent coverage and capacity problems.

Wi-Fi considerations need to be made if your business is:

  • Moving into a new office.
  • Refurbishing an existing office.
  • Taking on an additional floor or expanding the premises.
  • Planning an office fit-out.
  • Working with an IT provider, MSP, cabling company, architect or fit-out contractor on a move.

You might be asking yourself:

  • When should we sort out the Wi-Fi for our new office?
  • How many Wi-Fi access points will we need?
  • Where should the access points go?
  • When should the network cabling be installed?
  • Can our IT company just install the Wi-Fi?
  • Should Wi-Fi be planned before the office fit-out?
  • How do we make sure the new office has good Wi-Fi from day one?

And if so – you’re in the right place!

Don’t wait until you’ve moved into the office to discover whether the Wi-Fi works or not

The best time to consider the Wi-Fi is while the office is still being designed.

Our Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit can use the floor plans to create a predictive Wi-Fi design, determine appropriate Access Point locations and help inform the cabling plan.

Once the office is built and the network installed, the design can then be validated on site.

This is considerably better than installing Access Points based on guesswork and trying to fix coverage problems afterwards.

When should you start planning Wi-Fi for a new office?

Ideally, Wi-Fi planning should begin before the fit-out and before the final network cabling locations have been agreed.

Wi-Fi Access Points generally need Ethernet cabling. The locations of these cables determine where AP’s can be installed easily. However, if the cabling contractor installs outlets before anyone has actually designed the wireless network, the AP locations may be decided by cabling rather than the RF requirements. Moving AP’s afterwards can mean additional cabling is needed, causing considerable disruption and cost.

Planning your wireless network early in the office move (or refurb) means that the Wi-Fi design influences the cabling rather than having to try and work around it. 

Geekabit can often begin Wi-Fi planning from architectural floor plans before the office is even physically complete. 

Design the Wi-Fi first. Cable for the design second. 

Why can’t we just decide where the access points go from the floor plan?

Looking at a floor plan and placing an AP every X metres is not proper Wi-Fi design. It’s not about uniform spacing – There are a lot of other factors to consider when placing AP’s and designing a Wi-Fi network. 

Factors that can affect the design of a Wi-Fi network include:

  • Office size and shape.
  • Internal walls.
  • Construction materials.
  • Concrete, brick and structural elements.
  • Glass partitions and meeting rooms.
  • Metalwork.
  • Kitchens and utility areas.
  • Lifts and stairwells.
  • Furniture and storage.
  • Number of employees.
  • Number of wireless devices.
  • Expected visitor numbers.
  • Meeting-room density.
  • Voice/ video applications.
  • 5 GHz and 6 GHz requirements.
  • Roaming requirements.
  • Nearby wireless networks and interference.

Two offices with the same floor area can therefore require very different Wi-Fi designs.

How can you design Wi-Fi before the office has even been built?

Predictive Wi-Fi design allows Wi-Fi engineers to plan your new wireless network before the office or refurb has been completed. Geekabit Wi-Fi experts can import the proposed office floor plans into professional Wi-Fi design software. This means that walls and other building materials can be modelled, and Access Points can be positioned virtually, proposing the best placements and testing different models evaluating their effectiveness. 

Heatmaps mean that signal strength and coverage can be visualised. The expected RF coverage can be modelled, and 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz can be considered separately where appropriate. 

The design highlights areas that are likely to need additional coverage, as well as considering AP transmit power and channel planning to form part of the design. 

This process is not just drawing AP’s into a floor plan baked on spacing and measuring distances. Geekabit’s professional Wi-Fi planning and survey software and equipment mean that we are modelling how the wireless network is expected to behave and pre-empt any coverage problems. 

The software we use is Hamina which is used for designing, analyzing, and troubleshooting Wi-Fi, Private 4G/5G, and IoT networks.

How many Wi-Fi access points will our new office need?

Unfortunately, there is no reliable answer we can give you that is based purely on the size of the office. Effective Wi-Fi depends on coverage and capacity, which are two different things.

When it comes to coverage, we want to know if devices can receive a sufficiently strong Wi-Fi signal throughout the required area.

Capacity, on the other hand, ascertains whether the network can cope with the number of devices and the amount and type of traffic that is expected.

An office might have excellent signal everywhere, but still have poor Wi-Fi because too many users are competing for airtime.

For example, a quiet corridor has very different requirements from a 20-person meeting room.

A 100-person office where everyone uses Teams throughout the day has different requirements from a warehouse with a handful of handheld devices.

A reception area may occasionally have a large number of visitors.

Meeting rooms can create temporary high-density areas.

The Wi-Fi design should therefore consider much more than just square metres of office space – It needs to consider users and applications.

Why should Wi-Fi be planned before the network cabling?

If you are an Office Manager or Project Manager in the midst of an office refurb or move to new premises, then the following scenario might be familiar. 

The fit-out contractor decides where the data points will go > Cabling gets installed > IT company arrives > APs get installed wherever cables happen to be available > Business moves in > Wi-Fi problems start to appear > Additional APs and cables are required.

If this is the situation you’re already in then we’re sorry you didn’t have the opportunity to nip the problems in the bud. If you’re about to begin an office refurb or move then you’re just in time to get things done in the right order. 

Obtain floor plans > Understand user/ device/ application requirements > Design the wireless network > Determine appropriate AP locations > Provide AP locations to the cabling/ fit-out team > Install cabling in the correct positions > Install/ configure APs > Validate the completed network. 

Doing things in this order instead can make things much easier and cheaper than retrofitting fixes. 

What information does Geekabit need to design our new office Wi-Fi?

In order to effectively design your new office Wi-Fi network, our Wi-Fi experts here at Geekabit would typically need:

  • Floor plans, preferably PDF or CAD if available.
  • Proposed office layout.
  • Wall/building information if known.
  • Number of employees.
  • Expected number of devices.
  • Meeting-room locations and capacities.
  • Areas with unusually high user density.
  • Applications that matter to the business.
  • Whether Wi-Fi calling/voice is important.
  • Existing or proposed network hardware.
  • Any particular coverage requirements.
  • Plans for future expansion.

Our clients do not need any knowledge of understanding of RF engineering to give our Wi-Fi professionals the information they need. Geekabit can guide you through the information required.

Should we design for Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7?

Great question. The main takeaway from this should be don’t choose an AP (or other piece of hardware) just because it has the highest Wi-Fi number. 

The appropriate hardware depends on the requirements, client devices, budget and expected lifetime. 

Many modern offices increasingly need to consider 6 GHz. 

A well designed network using appropriate hardware is generally preferable to buying the most expensive APs and installing poorly. 

Geekabit operates vendor-independent, meaning we can design around suitable equipment rather than forcing every one of our clients into the same solution. 

Good Wi-Fi starts with good RF design, not the logo or Wi-Fi number printed on the Access Point.

What happens once the office is built?

Predictive Wi-Fi design isn’t necessarily the end of the process.

Predictive design is based on the plans and information available before construction.Real buildings don’t always exactly match the drawings. Materials may also differ and other smaller details can change, for example furniture gets added and meeting rooms move. 

There could also be other wireless networks present. This means that the final AP installation may differ slightly from the design. 

Therefore, for projects like this, Geekabit can perform an on-site Wi-Fi survey following the refurb or move, using Hamina Nomad software to validate the network after installation. The purpose of this is to confirm that the installed network is performing as intended.

A post-installation Wi-Fi survey can check the following things:

  • Actual signal coverage.
  • Secondary coverage.
  • Signal-to-noise ratio.
  • Channel utilisation.
  • Interference.
  • Roaming behaviour.
  • AP placement.
  • Real-world performance.
  • Areas where the installed environment differs from the predictive design.

We’re moving into an office that already has Wi-Fi – do we still need a survey?

Potentially, yes. A Wi-Fi survey when you’ve just moved into an office with an existing network can still be really useful. Don’t assume that an existing network will be suitable for your requirements simply because there are APs already fitted. 

There could be inherent differences between the requirements of the previous network and yours. For example, there could be some stark differences:

  • Different number of employees.
  • Different applications.
  • Different device mix.
  • Different desk layout.
  • Different meeting-room usage.
  • AP hardware may be old.
  • AP positioning may be poor.
  • The previous installation may never have been professionally designed.

This is where an existing-site survey can be more appropriate than simply creating a new predictive design.

We don’t recommend automatically ripping everything out. Our Geekabit Wi-Fi engineers can assess what is already there before recommending replacement equipment.

Who should be responsible for the Wi-Fi during an office move?

There are many different parties that are usually involved in the Wi-Fi network during an office move or refurbishment. These are usually:

  • Internal IT.
  • MSP.
  • Cabling contractor.
  • Fit-out company.
  • Architect.
  • Internet provider.
  • Wi-Fi specialist.

All of these people have an important role to play in ensuring that the new network is functioning optimally. For the actual wireless design, it’s recommended to call in a specialist RF engineer or Wi-Fi professional.

A cabling company can install the cables perfectly, but somebody still needs to determine where those cables should terminate for the access points.

An MSP can manage switches, firewalls, Microsoft 365 and endpoints extremely well without necessarily having specialist Wi-Fi survey equipment or RF expertise.

Our professional Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit can work alongside the client’s existing IT company, MSP, cabling contractor or fit-out company to get the best results for your network.

A simple Wi-Fi plan for your office move

Wi-Fi should be an integral part of the office move plan, not something added during the final week.

Here is a plan to work with when planning your Wi-Fi network during an office refurbishment or office move. 

Early planning / lease agreed

  • Obtain floor plans.
  • Discuss expected users and requirements.
  • Consider internet connectivity.
  • Begin predictive Wi-Fi design.

Before cabling

  • Agree AP locations.
  • Specify required network outlets.
  • Coordinate with a cabling contractor/fit-out company.

During fit-out

  • Cabling installed.
  • Network infrastructure installed.
  • Any design changes reviewed.

Before occupation

  • APs installed and configured.
  • Network tested.
  • SSIDs/security configured.

After installation / before or shortly after staff move in

  • Validate coverage and performance.
  • Correct any issues.
  • Establish a baseline for the completed network.

Planning a new office in London or across the UK?

Geekabit specialises in business Wi-Fi and wireless networking.

We offer a range of services to clients including:

  • Predictive Wi-Fi design.
  • Wi-Fi site surveys.
  • Wi-Fi heatmaps.
  • On-site RF surveys.
  • Validation surveys.
  • Troubleshooting.
  • Access Point design and deployment.
  • Network infrastructure advice.

Our expert Wi-Fi engineers are Wi-Fi specialists, not just a generic IT support company.

If you’re planning an office move, refurbishment or new fit-out, speak to Geekabit before the network cabling locations are finalised. We can work from your floor plans to help design the wireless network and give your cabling or fit-out team clear AP locations to work from.

With thanks to Hamina for the imagery.

FAQs

When should Wi-Fi be planned for a new office?

Ideally, Wi-Fi should be planned before the office fit-out and before network cabling locations are finalised. A predictive Wi-Fi design can determine suitable access point locations, allowing Ethernet cabling to be installed in the right places before ceilings and finishes are completed.

Can Wi-Fi be designed before an office is built?

Yes. A predictive Wi-Fi design uses office floor plans, building materials, expected user numbers and proposed access point hardware to model wireless coverage before installation. This allows potential coverage and capacity issues to be identified before the office is completed.

How many Wi-Fi access points does an office need?

There is no reliable number based on floor area alone. The number and location of access points depend on the building layout, construction materials, number of users and devices, applications, required frequencies and expected capacity. A professional Wi-Fi design can determine the appropriate number and placement.

Do I need a Wi-Fi site survey for a new office?

For many business environments, a professional Wi-Fi survey or predictive design is advisable. It reduces the risk of poor coverage, interference, capacity problems and incorrectly positioned access points. A predictive design can be completed before the fit-out, with an on-site validation survey performed once the network is installed.

What is a predictive Wi-Fi survey?

A predictive Wi-Fi survey uses specialist software and floor plans to model how wireless signals are expected to propagate through a building. Walls, building materials, access point characteristics and other factors can be included to estimate coverage and help determine suitable AP locations before installation.

Should access points be installed before or after the office fit-out?

The access points themselves will normally be installed during or towards the end of the fit-out, but their locations should ideally be designed much earlier. This allows the required Ethernet cabling to be installed in the correct positions while the fit-out is taking place.

Can our cabling contractor decide where the Wi-Fi access points should go?

A cabling contractor can install the required Ethernet infrastructure, but access point locations are ideally determined from a wireless design rather than cable convenience alone. Geekabit can provide AP locations for the cabling contractor to work from and collaborate with them during the project.

Can Geekabit work with our existing IT company or MSP?

Yes. Geekabit specialises in Wi-Fi and wireless networking and can work alongside an existing MSP, internal IT department, cabling contractor or office fit-out company. The existing IT provider can continue managing the wider network while Geekabit provides specialist wireless design, surveying and troubleshooting expertise.

Do we need a Wi-Fi survey if the new office already has access points?

Existing access points do not necessarily mean the Wi-Fi is suitable for a new occupier. Different businesses have different numbers of users, devices, applications and coverage requirements. An on-site survey can assess the existing installation and determine whether it can be reused, modified or should be replaced.

Can you test the Wi-Fi after we move in?

Yes. A post-installation validation survey can measure the completed wireless network and compare real-world coverage and performance with the intended design. This can identify coverage gaps, interference, roaming problems or installation differences that need correcting.

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Wi-Fi 7 for Business: Is It Worth Upgrading Yet?

Wi-Fi 7 hardware and equipment is now becoming more prevalent, and increasingly available for business Wi-Fi networks. 

Marketing for Wi-Fi 7 tends to focus heavily on headline multi-gigabit speeds. But when you’re making a decision on your business Wi-Fi, you need to be thinking about your specific requirements, not just specification numbers.

Will Wi-Fi 7 solve a real problem for your organisation? Maybe, yes. For other businesses, optimising existing Wi-Fi 6/6E infrastructure could provide better return on investment.

What Is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be, is the successor to Wi-Fi 6/ 6E and is the latest standard in Wi-Fi.

It has been specifically designed for:

  • Higher throughput
  • Lower latency
  • Greater efficiency
  • Improved performance in demanding wireless environments

Despite maximum advertised speeds being widely reported, it’s important to remember that these represent theoretical capabilities and are not what every device will experience.

What’s Different About Wi-Fi 7?

The latest Wi-Fi standard has a number of improvements to offer wireless networking, in the right environments.

320 MHz channels

  • Up to twice Wi-Fi 6E’s maximum channel width.
  • Potentially significantly higher throughput.
  • Requires appropriate spectrum and compatible clients.
  • Wide channels aren’t automatically the best choice in every business environment.

Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

  • Important development for Wi-Fi 7.
  • Compatible devices can make use of multiple wireless links/ bands.
  • Potential improvements to throughput, latency and resilience.
  • Benefits depend upon client/ AP support and implementation.

4K QAM

  • More data can potentially be encoded within transmissions. (Higher throughput speeds up heavy tasks)
  • Highest gains require very good RF conditions.
  • A limitation of this would be that it requires a short range for peak speed. 4K QAM requires a very clean, high-signal environment (high Signal-to-Noise Ratio) meaning that devices generally need to be close to the router to achieve the maximum 12-bit rate..

6 GHz

  • Wi-Fi 7 can make use of 6 GHz alongside traditional Wi-Fi bands where regulations/ equipment permit.
  • A cleaner spectrum can be extremely useful.
  • Higher frequencies also behave differently through walls/ structures.
  • UK spectrum availability should be considered when designing 

How Much Faster Is Wi-Fi 7?

It’s likely to be faster, but it’s not possible to promise a single set speed. The theoretical specifications of a Wi-Fi 7 compatible AP doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll get that actual throughput on your device. 

Real-world Wi-Fi speed depends on multiple factors, including:

  • Client capability
  • Number of spatial streams
  • Channel width
  • Distance
  • Interference
  • Spectrum availability
  • Wired uplink
  • Internet connection

A Wi-Fi 7 AP connected to a constrained Ethernet network cannot magically provide multi-gigabit end-to-end performance.

Do My Devices Need to Support Wi-Fi 7?

To be able to obtain Wi-Fi 7-specific capabilities, your devices do indeed need to support Wi-Fi 7, yes. 

Buying and deploying a new AP will not, unfortunately, turn existing Wi-Fi 5/ 6 devices into Wi-Fi 7 devices.

It often takes a little bit of time to upgrade business client estates – It can be a slow process.

All the equipment that uses the internet needs to be considered – Think laptops, phones, scanners, IoT, printers and specialist equipment.

When you’re looking at upgrading and calculating the value, make sure you assess the expected device refresh needed for that cycle.

Does Wi-Fi 7 Need Faster Ethernet?

If you want your wireless devices to reach their maximum potential speeds, then yes, Wi-Fi 7 needs faster Ethernet ports (such as 2.5Gbps or 10Gbps). 

Wi-Fi 7 can theoretically hit multi-gigabit wireless speeds (exceeding 5Gbps to 10Gbps in real-world scenarios), meaning that Ethernet ports can act as a bottleneck. A traditional 1Gbps (Gigabit) Ethernet port can only handle about 940–950 Mbps.

What will happen in real-world terms? If you plug a high-end Wi-Fi 7 router or Access Point into a standard 1Gbps modem or switch, your Wi-Fi speeds will be capped at 1Gbps, wasting the router’s extra power.

Upgrading Ethernet would potentially involve:

  • 2.5 GbE/multi-gigabit switching
  • Appropriate structured cabling
  • Higher PoE requirements
  • Switch replacement
  • Router/ firewall capacity
  • Faster WAN where internet speed is the objective

It’s important, therefore, that Wi-Fi 7 isn’t necessarily considered in isolation of Ethernet.

Will Wi-Fi 7 Improve Coverage?

Wi-Fi 7 does not physically extend the raw range of a single wireless signal, but it can improve overall coverage reliability and efficiency through advanced technologies. Wi-Fi 7 should not be purchased simply on the assumption that it will travel further.

Coverage is heavily governed by:

  • Frequency
  • Power
  • Antennas
  • Building construction
  • AP location
  • Client capabilities

Wi-Fi 7 uses the 6 GHz frequency band (along with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). Higher frequencies can offer incredible speeds but have shorter physical range and struggle to penetrate solid walls compared to lower frequencies.

It’s possible that better Wi-Fi design could improve a coverage problem more effectively than upgrading the standard!

Which Businesses Could Benefit from Wi-Fi 7 Now?

There are a number of types of business that could benefit from upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 capabilities. These include:

  • High-density offices
  • Creative/ media businesses transferring large local files
  • Environments with demanding low-latency applications
  • Organisations already upgrading switching or cabling
  • A new-build or major refurbishment
  • Businesses with substantial numbers of new Wi-Fi 7 clients
  • Networks being designed for a long replacement lifecycle
  • Specialist and high-performance environments

Who Probably Doesn’t Need to Rush to Replace the Network with Wi-Fi 7?

Not all businesses will benefit from running out and replacing their hardware with Wi-Fi 7 capable devices. Businesses that can afford to wait a little while longer before upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 include:

  • Small offices primarily using cloud applications/ email
  • Businesses where WAN connection is the principal bottleneck
  • Predominantly Wi-Fi 5/ 6 client estate
  • Networks suffering basic design problems
  • Sites with poor AP placement
  • Sites with cabling or switching faults
  • Businesses who are expecting Wi-Fi 7 alone to fix dead spots

Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 7 for Business

StandardKey Characteristics
Wi-Fi 6Mature standard with huge client compatibility; excellent for many businesses.
Wi-Fi 6EAdds 6 GHz capability; serves as a useful stepping stone in compatible environments.
Wi-Fi 7Offers the newest capabilities and highest performance potential with increasing client availability, though it may require supporting infrastructure investment.

Remember – The important bit is getting the right technology for your specific business requirements, not automatically upgrading to the newest technology!

Should I Upgrade My Business to Wi-Fi 7?

Before upgrading your business network to Wi-Fi 7, ask yourself these questions:

  • What problem are we trying to solve?
  • Are our client devices Wi-Fi 7 compatible?
  • Can our wired network support Wi-Fi 7?
  • Is our existing Wi-Fi properly designed?

If your existing network is unreliable, then upgrading it to Wi-Fi 7 isn’t going to magically fix the problem unfortunately. It’s important to diagnose the cause first.

The best time to upgrade your network is when it provides measurable business benefit rather than just specification-sheet benefit.

How Geekabit Can Help

Our expert Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit can help work with your business to identify the best solution for your Wi-Fi network. 

We can provide:

  • Wi-Fi surveys and informed design
  • Existing infrastructure assessment
  • Identifying client/ device requirements
  • Switching and cabling assessment
  • Wi-Fi 6/ 6E/ 7 recommendations based on your business needs
  • Specification-led approach independent to your business
  • Design for your business requirements rather than simply replacing APs

Get in touch with our friendly team today to see how we can help. 

FAQs

Is Wi-Fi 7 available for businesses now?

  • Yes.
  • Business/enterprise Wi-Fi 7 APs and client devices are increasingly available.
  • Suitability depends on the rest of the infrastructure.

Is Wi-Fi 7 faster than Wi-Fi 6?

  • Potentially substantially faster.
  • Actual improvement depends on compatible clients and RF/network conditions.

Does Wi-Fi 7 have better range than Wi-Fi 6?

  • Don’t assume so.
  • Newer standard doesn’t automatically mean greater physical coverage.
  • AP placement and RF design remain critical.

Do I need 2.5Gb Ethernet for Wi-Fi 7?

  • Not necessarily for the AP simply to function.
  • Multi-gigabit networking may be required to exploit higher throughput.
  • Depends on actual use case.

Should I replace all my Wi-Fi 6 access points with Wi-Fi 7?

  • Usually not without assessing requirements first.
  • Well-designed Wi-Fi 6 remains highly capable.

Will older devices connect to a Wi-Fi 7 network?

  • Generally Wi-Fi standards maintain backwards compatibility.
  • Older clients won’t gain Wi-Fi 7-specific capabilities simply by connecting to a Wi-Fi 7 AP.
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The Evolution of Wi-Fi Standards and Speeds

The evolution of Wi-Fi standards has brought significant improvements in speed and capability over the years. Wi-Fi speeds have skyrocketed with each generation, evolving from early megabit connections to massive multi-gigabit speeds. With each iteration, max theoretical speeds have multiplied.

Wi-Fi 4

In 2009, the Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) standard was introduced, operating on the 2.4 GHz band with a theoretical maximum speed of 300 Mbps. This standard provided reliable performance, basic security (WPA2), and supported standard usage.

Wi-Fi 4 at a glance:

  • Operates on the 2.4 GHz band
  • Maximum theoretical speed of 300 Mbps
  • Reliable performance
  • Basic security (WPA2)
  • Standard usage supported

Wi-Fi 5

The next major step came in 2013 with Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). It used the 5 GHz band and drastically increased the theoretical maximum speed to 1.3 Gbps. Key features included higher speed, better range, and support for HD video.

Wi-Fi 5 at a glance:

  • Operates on the 5 GHz band
  • Maximum theoretical speed of 1.3 Gbps
  • Higher speed
  • Better range
  • Supports HD video

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) arrived in 2019, boosting the theoretical maximum speed to 9.6 Gbps. It operated across the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This standard offered more capacity, introduced MU-MIMO technology, and was better suited for environments with many devices.

Wi-Fi 6 at a glance:

  • Operates on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands
  • Maximum theoretical speed of 9.6 Gbps
  • More capacity
  • MU-MIMO technology
  • Better for many devices

Wi-Fi 6E

A slight variation, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), followed in 2020. While maintaining the 9.6 Gbps speed, its main improvement was the utilization of the new 6 GHz band in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This provided less interference and improved security.

Wi-Fi 6E at a glance:

  • Operates on the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands
  • Maximum theoretical speed of 9.6 Gbps
  • Less interference
  • Improved security

Wi-Fi 7

The newest standard, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), is projected for 2024. It will support all three major bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) and offer an ultra-high theoretical maximum speed of 46 Gbps. Its key features are very low latency, making it ideal for demanding tasks like gaming, 8K video, and Virtual Reality (VR).

Wi-Fi 7 at a glance:

  • Operates on the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands
  • Maximum theoretical speed of 46 Gbps
  • Very low latency
  • Great for gaming, 8K video and VR

Why is Wi-Fi 7 (the latest available standard) good for your business?

Wi-Fi 7 is usually a pretty decent upgrade for businesses because:

  • It delivers up to 46 Gbps speeds
  • It has ultra-low latency (so the delay between device>router>internet and back is smaller)
  • It has greater reliability in crowded environments – Perfect for offices
  • It eliminates network bottlenecks for data-heavy tasks, helping to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.

You might also ask…

  • How do Wi-Fi speeds differ across Wi-Fi standards?
  • What is the timeline of Wi-Fi generations?
  • How much faster are Wi-Fi generations?
  • What are the differences between Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6 and 7?
  • Wi-Fi 7 vs previous generations
  • Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 7
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“Should I upgrade from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7 for my office?”

The 90,000 fans who pack out Wembley Stadium for England matches bring more than just their voices and their optimism. Each fan tends to bring at least one connected device, creating a wireless environment that would cripple most enterprise networks within just a few minutes. 

How do high-density crowded areas handle their Wi-Fi capabilities?

Wembley Stadium is partnered with EE for their wireless infrastructure. During 2025, Wembley Stadium was upgraded to feature advanced connectivity, including 5G standalone (SA) technology and next-generation Wi-Fi capabilities. This means their network can handle high-density crowd demand. 

EE has heavily upgraded the network to support high-speed internet and reliable connectivity during major events. Key Connectivity Upgrades included:

  • 5G Standalone: In February 2025, EE launched a 5G standalone network at Wembley, providing increased capacity and faster speeds independent of 4G infrastructure.
  • Wi-Fi 7 Integration: As part of a 2025 technology upgrade, Wembley integrated Wi-Fi 7 to enhance connectivity.
  • Capacity Enhancements: The network upgrades allow fans to share and experience events with improved performance in busy areas. 

Wembley Stadium is committed to premier level digital infrastructure. They have a multi-year partnership with EE and the upgrades seen during 2025 ensure that stadium visitors can stay connected whilst attending matches and other events. 

What Wi-Fi and connectivity problems affect public venue operators? 

Public venues across the country face the same problems with business-critical wireless infrastructure. 

Football fans are no exception to the connectivity requirements people have come to expect when they are out and about. People want to be able to:

  • Have streaming capabilities
  • Share content to social media platforms including images and video
  • Place online orders
  • Access digital tickets
  • Pay for food, beverages and merchandise

When you have a lot of people all in one place, the network can start to struggle. As device density increases (along with guest expectations), older infrastructure like Wi-Fi 6 can start to buckle under the strain. 

To maintain a seamless guest experience, connectivity cannot fail. Unreliable Wi-Fi can have a massive negative effect on revenue, organic marketing opportunities and engagement. 

Embracing Wi-Fi 7 capabilities is just one solution to the issues facing venues, festivals, apartment complexes and offices throughout the UK.

Choosing to deploy next-generation, Wi-Fi 7 wireless technology instead of waiting for incremental upgrades could be just what your venue or office building needs.

Why does Wi-Fi 7 work well in high-density environments like offices?

We’ve banged on about Wembley Stadium in this article so far, but Wi-Fi 7 as a standard introduces capabilities specifically designed for all kinds of ultra-high-density environments, whether that’s a stadium or your office building. Environments that have historically defeated wireless deployments are now finding connectivity success in high-density settings with Wi-Fi 7.

What are the biggest advancements Wi-Fi 7 offers?

  • Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
  • Double the channel width
  • Increased QAM modulation and increased data rate
  • Speed improvements and low latency

Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

The most significant advancement is Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows devices to transmit and receive data across multiple frequency bands simultaneously. 

Previous Wi-Fi generations forced devices to choose a single band, creating bottlenecks during peak demand. MLO provides a single access point to dynamically distribute traffic across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, dramatically increasing aggregate throughput.

Double the channel width

Wi-Fi 7 doubles the channel width to 320 MHz from Wi-Fi 6E’s 160 MHz. 

Increased QAM modulation and increased data rate

Combined with 4096-QAM modulation (versus 1024-QAM in the previous generation), the theoretical maximum data rate approaches 46 Gbps. What does that mean in real terms? In a large-scale deployment, these advancements mean sustained multi-gigabit performance even when tens of thousands of devices compete for bandwidth.

Speed and low latency

Beyond mere speed improvements, Wi-Fi 7’s lower latency characteristics also enable applications that were previously impractical in high density environments, helping to overcome the issues and expectations outlined above. 

What companies are offering Wi-Fi 7 compatible network hardware? 

The enterprise WLAN market is a highly competitive one, with many companies offering different strengths for varying wireless deployment scenarios. Companies with a Wi-Fi 7 offering include:

  • Cisco
  • HPE
  • Aruba
  • Extreme Networks
  • Ubiquiti
  • Ruckus Networks

What are the operational returns of upgrading to Wi-Fi 7?

There are many operational returns of upgrading to Wi-Fi 7, whether you are providing connectivity for a stadium, event venue, warehouse, retail unit or office building. Returns on Wi-Fi 7 investment for your business could be seen in:

  • User productivity
  • Social media engagement / organic marketing
  • Real time inventory management
  • Mobile point-of-sale transactions
  • Security camera feeds
  • Staff communications 
  • Improved transaction speeds in retail environments
  • Analysis of device density to show user movement patterns and give insights into crowd flow and congestion points
  • Adjusting staffing to meet demand in real time

What organisations can benefit from Wi-Fi 7 deployment? 

Wi-Fi 7 deployment can impact businesses and organisations across all industry sectors where they are managing connectivity in demanding physical environments, including but not limited to:

  • Warehouses
  • Manufacturing floors
  • Hospitals 
  • University and college campuses
  • Convention centres
  • Shopping centres
  • Corporate headquarters
  • Office buildings 

These premises all share characteristics that can make wireless deployment difficult: 

  • Large footprints
  • Physical obstructions
  • Unpredictable user density
  • Business-critical applications competing for bandwidth

Wi-Fi 7 for Enterprise Networks

We began this article looking at stadium Wi-Fi, but the principles that govern that type of space also apply directly to other enterprises. IT leaders in all the environments mentioned above should:

  • Treat connectivity as foundational infrastructure rather than a discretionary amenity; every digital initiative depends on it.
  • Plan for peak demand rather than average utilisation, because network failures occur precisely when the most users need access.
  • Recognise the operational value of a robust network, which often exceeds the guest-facing benefits; the same infrastructure that serves visitors also powers point-of-sale systems, IoT sensors, security cameras, and workforce applications.
  • Prioritise vendors with proven expertise in RF-hostile environments, because access points that perform adequately in open office plans often fail in spaces with concrete, metal, or high human density.
  • View Wi-Fi refresh cycles as strategic investments with multi-year payback horizons rather than routine equipment replacements.

Don’t treat connectivity as an afterthought. Organisations need to deliver the experiences that modern guests, employees, and customers demand. Will you be deploying Wi-Fi 7 in your business? 

Get in touch with our Wi-Fi Experts at Geekabit

If you’re interested in Wi-Fi 7 for your business, then get in touch with us today. Our expert Wi-Fi engineers across London, Cardiff and the South Coast can carry out Site Surveys and provide Wi-Fi Planning and Design so that your deployment offers the best connectivity possible. 

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Wi-Fi 7 Is The Future of Wireless Technology – Here’s Why

We see upgrades all the time in the tech world – They’re almost constant! As soon as one upgrade launches, the next is already on the horizon. But Wi-Fi 7 isn’t just going to be the latest in Wi-Fi standards while we wait for the next one – Wi-Fi 7 is a massive leap from Wi-Fi 6 and brings with it huge upgrades for our digital world.  

Wi-Fi 7 is a monumental evolution from Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, giving us:

  • Faster speeds
  • Lower latency
  • Significant capacity increases 

What we need from wireless technology is ever increasing, and whilst Wi-Fi 7 is very similar to its Wi_Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E predecessors, it will be able to meet the growing data requirements of both home and business users through key significant improvements. 

Are you looking to upgrade your hardware to Wi-Fi 7? It’s a very real consideration now that Wi-Fi 7 routers are on the market. So what do you need to know about Wi-Fi 7 to help make up your mind?

What’s Different About The Wi-Fi 7 Standard?

Speed

Perhaps the overriding feature of the new Wi-Fi 7 standard is the speed – Wi-Fi 7 is considerably faster performance wise when compared to Wi-Fi 6. 

Faster internet connections are continually offered by ISP’s for both home use and businesses. How does your local network support the increased download speed? Wi-Fi 7, ensuring there is enough capacity. 

How are these speed improvements made possible? Wi-Fi 7 has 2 major upgrades that help with speed:

  • Doubling the channel width from 160Hz to 320Hz
  • More data density, which increases the amount of data that can be encoded onto a radio signal 

Bigger Channel Width

Within each Wi-Fi band are small bands in which they operate – 20/ 40/ 80/ 160MHz. These are used to connect to individual devices. 

With Wi-Fi 7, the bandwidth is doubled to 320MHz. This means that the Wi-Fi speeds to individual devices are doubled, whilst also adding more bandwidth so more devices can be supported.  

Increased Data Density

So far we’ve seen how Wi-Fi 7 increases both speed and bandwidth. In addition to this, Wi-Fi 7 can also increase the amount of data that can be encoded onto a radio signal. 

This is where a standard called QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) comes in. The amount of data that can be encoded onto a radio signal is measured by QAM. The QAM limit for Wi-Fi 6 was 1024, whereas Wi-Fi 7 offers 4096 (also known as 4K or 4K QAM). 

Throughput is increased by boosting its peak rates. For each symbol transmitted, 12 bits can now be carried instead of 10 bits – a 20% higher theoretical transmission rate. 

The 2.4x improvement in Wi-Fi speeds between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 comes from the greater channel bandwidth (320MHz) and increased data density (4K QAM). 

Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

The 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi bands are supported by the Wi-Fi 6 standard and previous generations. Wi-Fi 6E then brought a major additional feature by supporting the 6GHz band which offered a new way to connect that avoided the congestion of 2.4GHz and 5GHz. This provided a real boost for urban areas where there can be many Wi-Fi networks in range. 

Up until now, a client could only connect using one of these bands on Wi-Fi technology. Wi-Fi changes this – Wi-Fi 7 routers can connect to a client device across 2 different bands. 

In simple terms, it’s like having two routes on a map to get you to your destination, and the traffic flow can be moved between the two. This flexibility means that traffic can either be split across both routes, or moved from one route to the other if there is congestion. 

Mesh systems take this a step further and benefit even more from MLO. It gets the best performance by allowing a router and a satellite the capability to transmit simultaneously across two different bands. 

This particular feature will allow a mobile device to not drop a connection by switching from one band to another. For example, imagine you are working from home and hop on a Zoom call. This feature will allow your device to move from 6GHz to 5GHz to 2.4GHz whilst you walk from the middle of your house out to the garden without the call buffering or dropping out. Sounds good, right?

Flexible Channel Utilisation

Let’s talk about interference. One of the main limitations when it comes to i-Fi is how big an impact interference can have on a whole channel. This is where ‘puncturing’ comes in. Puncturing is when an affected portion of the channel can be blocked whilst the rest of the channel can still be used for data transfer. In this way, Wi-Fi can be made more resistant to interference, ensuring critical flow and lower latency. 

If we go back to our map analogy – Imagine one of the routes has a pothole making it unusable. Puncturing with Wi-Fi 7 would mean that the pothole could be blocked and the traffic could go round it, keeping use of the route. 

What Elements of Wi-Fi 7 Have Stayed The Same As Previous Wi-Fi Standards?

As we’ve just covered, there are some brilliant new specifications with Wi-Fi 7 that make this Wi-Fi standard pretty special. 

However, we shouldn’t overlook the features and infrastructure that the previous Wi-Fi standard already offers and how Wi-Fi 7 builds on these. 

We mentioned above how Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 both offer the same 3 bands, including the super fast 6GHz band. They both also feature huge bandwidth. 

Let’s also remember that these new and enhanced features are only as good as the device we’re accessing them on. Tech providers are still currently catching up with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 – We need these new devices to fully be able to unlock the full potential of both of these standards.  

Many mobile devices are still using Wi-Fi 6 or earlier standards. The most up to date devices from Apple now support Wi-Fi 6E, as well as many of the latest Windows laptops and Android phones. 

The future of the digital world is Wi-Fi 7, so we would expect a swift adoption of this new standard across wireless devices, especially laptops and phones with announcements of new devices supporting Wi-Fi 7 already appearing.  

Wi-Fi 7 for Business Use

Now might be the time to consider making an investment in a new mesh system or Wi-Fi 7 supported router to help future-proof your wireless network and ensure you’ll have the most robust wireless performance for your business. 

Whether you’re a small or large business, these environments can massively benefit from the new features that Wi-Fi 7 has to offer. Future proofing the connectivity of your business is critical. 

As we’ve laid out above, you can improve performance and productivity through added capacity and bandwidth from Wi-Fi 7, supporting a greater number of wireless devices across your business. 

If you’re responsible for the network of your business, then you’ll already know that there are many considerations to make:

  • Reliability
  • Security 
  • Ease of deployment 

It’s only natural as an IT manager, to be cautious of introducing any type of risk to a working environment. Therefore, the final certification of the Wi-Fi 7 standard earlier this year is important to guarantee a consistent feature set in all devices.

There are many areas of a business that will likely benefit from the enhanced performance that Wi-Fi 7 has to offer, like:

  • IP cameras
  • Access points
  • IoT devices
  • Business routers 
  • Workers devices 

Could Wi-Fi 7 improve efficiency across your entire business? Will you be investing in new Wi-Fi 7 supported devices for your business? Let us know what you think. 

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WiFi 8: What is it, What’s the Spec and When Will it Be Released?

As a society we’re always keen to get our hands on the latest technology – But no sooner as it’s in our hands, thoughts are already turning to what’s next. 

You might have barely got to grips with Wi-Fi 6, but with 233 million Wi-Fi 7 devices estimated to enter the market this year, is it any wonder we’re already looking ahead to Wi-Fi 8?

What is Wi-Fi 8?

Simply put, it’s the next generation of Wi-Fi and will be successor to the Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) standard. 

As with previous Wi-Fi standard successions, the aim of Wi-Fi 8 will be to improve wireless performance as well as introduce new and innovative features to advance Wi-Fi technology further. 

Generally this means that in comparison to previous standards, the new one will offer:

  • Faster speeds
  • Lower latency
  • Better performance 

What’s the spec for Wi-Fi 8?

We don’t actually know the specifications of Wi-Fi 8 yet as the details haven’t been officially released. 

But would it even be a technological advancement if there wasn’t speculation on the specifications? 

We are expecting the technical details for Wi-Fi 8 to be finalised and released imminently.

What can we expect from Wi-Fi 8?

Over the years we’ve seen a steady evolution of Wi-Fi standards, with each one playing its own vital role in providing our indoor and outdoor environments with seamless wireless connectivity. 

As the Internet of Things has also evolved over time, each standard has of course had its inadequacies, with a constant push for better. 

So what will the upcoming Wi-Fi 8 standard offer to help with the current connectivity challenges we’ve been facing? 

Wi-Fi 8 is expected to offer us a range of powerful new features and capabilities, designed to provide high-reliability, ultra low latency and support for extremely high node density.

A few of the major features we’re expecting from Wi-Fi 8 are:

  • Multiple Access Point Coordination and Transmission
  • Millimeter Wave (mmWave) Frequencies
  • Low Latency

So let’s take a little look at each of these major Wi-Fi 8 features and what they mean. 

What is Multiple Access Point (AP) Coordination and Transmission for Wi-Fi 8?

When a network has multiple access points deployed, e.g. in buildings and office complexes, they operate on the same radio frequency. This can cause interference and the degradation of network performance. To help alleviate this, the transmissions of the access points can be configured to avoid overlapping channels and coordinated accordingly.

Multiple Access Point (AP) coordination and transmission in Wi-Fi refers to the management of multiple access points in a wireless network to avoid interference and ensure efficient communication between the client devices and the network. 

We can ensure that transmissions do not interfere with each other by using coordination techniques for Access Points. This could look like: 

  • Channel Allocation: Interference can be minimised by configuring Access points to use non-overlapping channels. This can be done manually or automatically using techniques such as Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS).
  • Power Management: Interference can be avoided by configuring Access points to adjust their transmission power based on their proximity to other access points.
  • Load Balancing: Network loads can be balanced through configuring Access points by directing clients to connect to the least congested access point.

How can Millimetre Wave Links improve Wi-Fi 8?

Improvements in Wi-Fi 8 can be made using mmWave by providing access to a larger spectrum of frequencies. This in turn allows for higher bandwidth and data rates. 

By using mmWave, Wi-Fi 8 can support data rates of up to 100 Gbps. What would this be useful for? This feature would be perfect for things like 4K and 8K video streaming as well as virtual and augmented reality. Other high-bandwidth and low-latency applications like these would also benefit. 

Performance improvements will also be seen in environments with high node density with mmWave technology. Places like stadiums and concert halls will benefit from better coverage with Wi-Fi 8 as well as the reduction of interference between devices.  

Information on a Project Authorisation Request document suggests that Ultra High Reliability technology will be a key part of Wi-Fi 8. It looks like it will be capable of support carrier frequencies in the mmWave bands between 42.5 and 71 GHz and achieving an aggregate throughput of 100 Gbps. 

In comparison to Wi-Fi 7, it’s expected that UHR will offer improvements in maximum latency and jitter for latency-sensitive applications, especially those in the 99 to 99.9999th percentile range. 

Wi-Fi 8 and Low Latency

Why is low latency so important? In this day and age, our modern industries rely on Wi-Fi in many industrial applications, e.g. real-time control systems, remote monitoring, robotic automation. Without fast and reliable communication between devices, the performance of these applications would degrade and cause big problems. 

Even the smallest of delays in data transmission can cause significant errors or delays further down the system, affecting response time as well as negatively impacting production processes and potentially even causing safety issues. 

The amount of data generated and transmitted over Wi-Fi networks is increasing rapidly as more industrial applications adopt the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and other advanced technologies. 

In order for this data to be transmitted accurately and quickly, it’s crucial that there is low latency to reduce delays and bottlenecks. 

Previously, a latency of under 25 ms was achieved with Wi-Fi 7, using Restricted Target Wake Time (R-TWT), Stream Classification Service (SCS) and Quality of Service (QoS) signalling. However, this standard falls short of the current demands of industrial applications which need latencies of less than a few milliseconds. 

Thankfully, the Wi-Fi world is expecting UHR to enhance and improve things in this area by minimising the maximum latency of Wi-Fi. 

When will we be using Wi-Fi 8?

It’s estimated and expected that Wi-Fi 8 could become a market reality in 2027/2028. 

Watch this space! 

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Why Wi-Fi Almost Didn’t Connect At All

It’s hard to imagine a time or place when you couldn’t quickly check your emails or have a scroll through Instagram. Isn’t it the most frustrating thing when you hit a Wi-Fi deadspot? No connection, nothing, no matter how many times you reload the page. We are so accustomed to working remotely (I’m actually looking out at the solent whilst typing this!) and taking the internet with you wherever you go, it’s very difficult to contemplate a life without Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity.  

Did you know that Wi-Fi very nearly didn’t happen in the first place? Wi-Fi almost hit its very own deadspot – And wouldn’t that have changed our lives as we know it! So how did Wi-Fi come about?

When was Wi-Fi officially launched?

On the 25th September 1999, coming up to 25 years ago, Wi-Fi was officially launched. If you think about the fuss that’s made over a new product launch from Apple, then you might have expected the launch of Wi-Fi itself to be a rather flashy affair. 

In reality, it was a bit Big Bang Theory-esque – A convention centre in Atlanta housing 8 technophiles ready to open their jackets to reveal polo shirts emblazoned with the made-up word Wi-Fi. And all in front of a crowd of just 60 people. 

Some of the biggest tech companies, and some smaller ones too, backed the launch enthusiastically. Even the likes of Apple, Dell and Nokia could never have imagined that they were backing such a huge global phenomenon with incredible economic, social and cultural impact across the world. 

It was the summer of ‘99

Think back to the summer of 1999, if you can. The working world was mostly using wired networks via Ethernet cable. LAN’s (Local Area Networks) connected desktop computers at a rate of 10 Mbps. 

Meanwhile, those trying to send emails from home did so to the sound of a modem trying to connect to another modem via repurposed telephone infrastructure. Dial-up internet and 56 Kbps dial up modems clanked and clanged their way online. Arguments were had over who needed to use the computer and who needed to use the telephone. 

There were products for WLAN’s (Wireless Local Area Networks) but these were predominantly just for businesses. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) official wireless standard specification for these wireless products was 802.11. Not only were these products expensive, they were also 5 times slower than their wired equivalent. 

Despite there being a specified wireless standard, this unfortunately didn’t mean that one standards compliant wireless product would be compatible with another. This was largely due to the fact that there were different ways of interpreting the specification. 

These weaknesses meant that some companies looked elsewhere and chose to support other rival technology alliances – Each with their own aim of becoming the actual standard. 

Wi-Fi’s rival – HomeRF

One of these rival specifications was developed by a consortium of other technology giants – Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel and Microsoft. Their WLAN ‘HomeRF’ was aimed at consumers (rather than businesses) and was backed by over 80 other companies. In comparison to the other standard, the HomeRF products were not only cheaper but could also communicate with each other. 

With a name like HomeRF (short for Home Radio Frequency) it arguably had a catchier name than IEEE 802.11. They didn’t just have their eyes on the consumer market – They also had big plans for expansion and higher speeds for the business market. 

Despite all of this, the second generation of the IEEE standard, 802.11b was heading steadily for its final approval at the end of September. By the end of the year, there were products due to ship from company 3Com (later acquired by HP along with Compaq). Their products were based on the newer, faster standard and set for release before 1999 ended. 

At the time, networking firm 3Com formed WECA (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance) bringing together 5 strong advocates for IEEE. Their aim was to make sure that any products using the pending second generation standard would all be compatible with each other. 

Originally tipped to be named ‘FlankSpeed’, connectivity as we know it today was trademarked as Wi-Fi. There began the establishment of the rules by which wireless products could be deemed ‘Wi-Fi Certified.’

What if Wi-Fi had not won out against HomeRF?

Wi-Fi won the wireless standard race, but what if HomeRF had in fact taken the lead? There are ways that all might not have worked out as it has. 

If the second generation standard 802.11b had been delayed, then HomeRF may have been able to sneak ahead. It was only due to a compromise between WLAN industry pioneers (and foes) Lucent Technologies and Harris Semiconductor that meant there was no delay. 

What if FlankSpeed was only available at work?

So what if WECA had decided only to focus on business connectivity? That was a discussed possibility. ‘Go anywhere’ connectivity almost wasn’t on the table. And what if ‘FlankSpeed’ had been chosen over ‘Wi-Fi’? 

A big chunk of today’s workforce rely on being able to bring work home with them. And not just home – What about coffee shops, airports, on the daily commute sitting on the train, the beach even? Nowadays we tend to take work with us wherever we go. 

Had we been using FlankSpeed at the office and HomeRF at home, this would have made things very difficult for anyone working from home. And you can forget about coffee-shop-working and catching up on emails waiting for a plane – It’s possible neither of these public access options would exist. Zones that were not home or the office would have been a no-go (or NoHO (Not Home, Not Office) for working online. Spaces that were neither office nor home would have been a connectivity no man’s land. 

And if you’re wondering about FlankSpeed and Smartphones – That would have been a no as well. The mobile world of online connectivity disappears into the mist, out of grasp. Can you imagine? No, we can’t either. 

Would it have been beneficial to have more than just one wireless standard? 

The benefits of having a singular focus on just the one standard meant that there was more scope for innovation and cost reduction. 

Even if FlankSpeed or HomeRF had gone forth alongside Wi-Fi, it couldn’t have ever become as cheap to run or prevalent and globally penetrating as Wi-Fi. 

Having a universal standard means that retail stores, public spaces and anywhere where we would now expect to be able to connect, could roll it out uninhibited. Had this not been the case, the ability to stream video whilst sipping a coffee or connect to emails whilst sitting on the train may not be available. 

Thinking on a global level, those living in emerging market countries like Nigeria, rely on free Wi-Fi hotspots to be able to connect to the rest of the world. Remote islands like the Bahamas also rely on Wi-Fi to get support following adverse weather conditions like hurricanes. In this way, Wi-Fi provides critical connections all over the world.  

HomeRF folded in 2003 – So how did Wi-Fi succeed so quickly? 

As with all well-laid plans, it’s all in the preparation and timing. With the announcement of the name Wi-Fi and the promise of certified interoperability from WECA, companies investing in this new wireless standard had the assurance that their products would all work together. 

In 2000, 86% of Wi-Fi devices were used for business. Wireless connection in businesses was big business in itself, with chipmakers and PC companies quickly hopping off the fence to support and join Wi-Fi. This led tech giants Microsoft and Intel to jump ship from HomeRF to Wi-Fi. Wireless for business soared in popularity ahead of in the home, which gave Wi-Fi chip volume a boost. This in turn led to closing the cost gap between that and HomeRF, leading it to fold in 2003. 

Since then, over the past 2 decades the Wi-Fi Alliance and IEEE have worked together to represent, guide and oversee Wi-Fi and its subsequent standards. 

The IEEE committee continues to roll-out new standards, and the WI-Fi Alliance makes sure that certified products can communicate with each other. 

So the next time you hit a Wi-Fi deadspot, or find that the Wi-Fi is down in your favourite coffee shop – Stop and breathe. Count your blessings that you can take your work with you wherever you go (mostly) and that you can largely connect via Wi-Fi wherever you need it. 

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What is Beamforming and Will it Make Wireless Better?

The tech world is always evolving and looking on to the next thing – To be better, quicker, stronger. Wireless and Wi-Fi technology is no different – We want to be able to access the best possible connection – Strong, reliable and fast. 

So how does beamforming help with this? 

What is Beamforming? 

Beamforming makes Wi-Fi and 5G connections more precise by utilising the science of electromagnetic interference. 

The original concept of beamforming has actually been around since the 1940’s. In current communication standards, this tech is playing a pivotal role in improving Wi-Fi and 5G among others. 

When beamforming is used alongside MU-MIMO (Multi User Multiple Input, Multiple Output) tech, it can help users to boost their data speeds by accessing more precise connections. 

How Does Beamforming Work?

Using Beamforming means that the resulting connection is faster and more reliable. It works by focusing a wireless signal to a specific receiving device. In this instance, the signal is more focused rather than being spread in all directions like, for example, a broadcast antenna. 

Unless they are blocked by a physical object, electromagnetic waves from a single antenna will radiate in all directions. To specifically target a beam of electromagnetic energy in order to focus the signal in a certain direction, you can use multiple antennas close together to broadcast the same signal at slightly different times. 

These overlapping waves will cause interference which can be good (cause the signal to be stronger) or bad (cause th signal to become weak or undetectable). 

When done constructively and correctly, the electromagnetic waves can be focused to a specific direction – Beamforming. 

We’re going to spare you the mathematics behind the process of beamforming – It’s extremely complex. If you’re a big maths geek you can look it up online and try and wrap your head around it. 

We mentioned earlier that the actual technqiue of beamforming isn’t a new concept and has been around for over 80 years. Wi-Fi and 5G aren’t the only technologies that can benefit from beamforming – Any type of energy that travels in waves can use the concept, including sound. 

Beamforming was originally developed to help in World War II by improving sonar and is still an important part of audio engineering today. 

But let’s get back to our niche – Wi-Fi and 5G tech is where our interest in beamforming lies. 

How does beamforming help Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6 is the latest generation of Wi-Fi (also known as 802.1ax but thankfully now with improved naming via the Wi-Fi Alliance!). It succeeds the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard (now more aptly named Wi-Fi 5). 

In terms of Wi-Fi standards, beamforming has actually been around since Wi-Fi 4 but seen improvements in both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6. Beamforming uses MIMO technology to be able to send out multiple, overlapping signals. 

Since 2016, the use of beamforming with Wi-Fi 5 meant that different receivers can work with different routers, hence making the beamforming techniques used in Wi-Fi equipment are vendor-neutral. 

Beamforming can also be used alongside MU-MIMO technology, allowing multiple users to communicate simultaneously with multiple antennas on the router. Beamforming used in this way ensures that each of the connected clients are efficiently targeted by the router. Data rates and range for signals to specific clients are also improved with Wi-Fi 6 through the increased number of antennas (from 4 to 8). 

What about Wi-Fi 7? 

In the world of tech we’re always looking ahead to the next thing – So what about beamforming and WI-Fi 7? Unsurprisingly, beamforming will also be a core part of Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be).  

Coordinated beamforming will use the capability of modern multi-antenna access points to spatially multiplex their stations, as well as making adjacent neighbouring non-associated stations void.

This technique can actually be used without beamforming via a joint multi-access point sounding scheme. However, a coordinated beamforming process can take advantage of a simpler sequential sounding procedure which will be a part of Wi-Fi 7. 

As each station transmits and receives data to and from a single access point, coordinated beamforming does not require joint data processing. This helps diminish backhaul needs. 

Whilst this limits complexity, it also delivers substantial throughput and latency enhancements.

Other improvements that we’ll see with Wi-Fi 7 and coordinated beamforming will hopefully include access to gigabit speeds and low-latency communications for more busineses and consumers in various applications. 

How does beamforming help 5G? 

With the prevalance of 5G increasing with the roll out of networks for smartphones and other WANs, we’ll be seeing beamforming as a core part of the new technology. 

5G frequencies are unfortunately more prone to being disrupted by objects causing interference, like walls or other similar barriers for example. This is because 5G operates on the millimetre wavelength (mmWave) frequency. 

Beamforming helps with this by creating a more reliable connection. It does by allowing the transmitter to focus the transmission in a specific direction, as explained above. This means the signal is directed towards, for example, a mobile device, vehicle or other IoT device. 

Working with MIMO, beamforming can improve throughput and efficiency by directing beams from a 5G base station in both horizonal and vertical directions  via large numbers of antennas. 

What are the pros of beamforming?

Wi-Fi and 5G tech can really benefit from beamforming. 

  • Information can be transferred quicker and with fewer errors because the signal is of a higher quality due to being focused in a specific direction
  • Users trying to connect to other signals can benefit from less interference because beamforming can reduce and even stop broadcasting in other directions

Are there any cons when it comes to beamforming? 

Whilst beamforming can have benefits for wireless technology, some limitations can lie in the actual process of doing it. 

  • Beamforming requires big computing resources. In some situations, the beamforming calculations would require time and power resources that could make the resulting benefits less worth it
  • Improving affordability means that beamforming techniques are being built into wireless equipment on the consumer market as well as enterprise-grade wireless hardware
  • For the best performance, the transmitter and receiver need to be quite close together. The further away the receiver is from the transmitter, the more the benefits diminish

It’s pretty clear to see that beamforming is a big part of the wireless world, especially in terms of Wi-Fi 6 (and 7) as well as 5G.

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Is Wi-Fi HaLow a Better Wireless Option than Wi-Fi 5 and 6 for IoT?

Wi-Fi HaLow has quite the list of benefits when it comes to Internet of Things applications. With high bandwidth, long range, unlicensed spectrum, low power, and less complexity than Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi HaLow could well be a better option. 

What is Wi-Fi HaLow?

Image from https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-certified-halow with thanks

The Wi-Fi Alliance has coined the IEEE 802.11ah Wi-Fi standard as Wi-Fi HaLow, as it will be known in the wireless market. It was approved back in September 2016, and then published in the following May. 

Wi-Fi HaLow is a new version of traditional Wi-Fi, offering:

  • Long range
  • Low power
  • Low speed

Wi-Fi HaLow is most likely to be deployed within the Internet of Things market, on things such as:

  • Sensors
  • Wearables
  • M2M (Machine to Machine) applications
  • Smart buildings
  • Smart cities

What are the benefits of Wi-Fi HaLow?

Wi-Fi HaLow has the ability to connect low-bandwidth devices to IP networks, including the internet. It also supports enough bandwidth to handle HD Quality video.

Perhaps one of the great things about Wi-Fi HaLow is its usefulness in rural communications as well as offloading cell phone tower traffic. 

Whilst there are similar low-power standards, like 802.11af, there are differences. For example, 802.11af operates in the television white space spectrum in VHF and UHF bands, whereas Wi-Fi HaLow is easier to deploy due to operating in the unlicensed bands. 

There are of course similar technologies that utilise the unlicensed spectrum, but Wi-Fi HaLow also has advantages over some of them due to them being built on proprietary standards. 

The requirement of getting proprietary hardware in order to get IP connectivity to the client devices also means that some other similar technologies are more complicated to deploy than Wi-Fi HaLow.

HaLow is intended to make deploying IoT devices easier.

Why is Uptake for Wi-Fi HaLow Slow?

Despite the advantages laid out above, the uptake for Wi-Fi HaLow has been pretty slow. 

If you have a look on the Product Finder section of the Wi-Fi Alliance’s website, you’ll find only 3 companies that are listed as having certified Wi-Fi HaLow products. 

And if the uptake is so low, it begs the question…

So Why Use Wi-Fi HaLow?

The advantages we talked about above hint at where Wi-Fi HaLow can be used effectively. 

Wi-Fi HaLow Utilises Licence-Exempt Frequencies

As you are probably aware, the majority of Wi-Fi technologies, including Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, operate at frequencies in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. 

The difference with Wi-Fi HaLow is that it utilises licence-exempt frequencies that are below 1 GHz. 

Wi-Fi HaLow Has Longer Range

Due to Wi-Fi HaLow having lower frequencies, it also has longer signal ranges. Not only that, but the signal itself penetrates walls and other materials better. 

Due to these reasons, Wi-Fi HaLow can travel much further, even managing distances of over half a mile (0.62 miles to be precise). 

Wi-Fi HaLow Devices Don’t Hog Bandwidth and Need Less Power

Wi-Fi HaLow devices can use lower power radios as they’re not hogging bandwidth with high performance. In other words, the devices wireless connectivity uses very little power which in turn means that they have a long battery life. Some devices can even last more than 5 years! 

Got devices on the network that need more throughput? With Wi-Fi HaLow you can give hundreds (if not thousands) of IoT wireless devices their own band to operate in – Enabling you to reserve the higher bands for those higher throughput devices. This could in turn have a positive impact on your overall network performance.

In this way, Wi-Fi HaLow compliments traditional Wi-Fi very well by enabling your network engineers to move lower bandwidth clients off the main Wi-Fi network. 

Depending on the AP capabilities and client-device specifications, Wi-Fi HaLow can still provide enough throughput for HD-quality video cameras in some scenarios, despite being designed for lower bandwidth applications. 

Do We Have the Infrastructure for Wi-Fi HaLow?

In short, yes! It’s pretty straightforward to get going with Wi-Fi HaLow. 

Whereas other similar technologies require proprietary controllers, hubs or gateways, Wi-Fi HaLow doesn’t need any of this. 

It’s as simple as plugging a HaLow Ap into a traditional LAN and clients can connect to IP-based networks including the internet. 

Alternatively, they could choose a gateway device with 4G LTE connectivity to the WAN.

Does traditional Wi-Fi support HaLow?

Currently, the HaLow band is not supported by traditional Wi-Fi like 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. 

But, due to the longer range of HaLow, an AP deployed in the right location could mean signal coverage for an entire multi-floor office building or warehouse. 

Of course, that would also depend on:

  • Desired data rates for clients
  • Transmit powers
  • Antennas
  • Interference

To take the signal even further, without using a wired connection, you can also deploy Wi-Fi HaLow in a wireless-mesh mode. 

What are the Data Rates like for Wi-Fi HaLow? 

Bandwidth can be increased via channel-width options on Wi-Fi HaLow devices just like traditional Wi-Fi. Between 1MHz and 16MHz there are 5 channel widths, but not all devices support all the widths. 

When we talk about channels, the transmissions travel further the narrower the channel is, but at a slower data rate. 

For example, for a long range over the course of 1km on just 1MHz channel, with a bit of RF attenuation, you would see a data rate of approximately 150 kbps. 

With a shorter range and/ or a line of sight, you could in theory get 86.7 Mbps with 16 MHz channels and short guard intervals. 

One trial carried out at sea with no radio interference achieved 2 Mbps of UDP throughput at 3 km with line of sight. With this in mind, with ideal conditions could expect a data rate of a few Mbps for approximately 1.5 km range. 

How is Wi-Fi HaLow Affected by Interference?

Wi-Fi HaLow aren’t not the only unlicensed users and devices on the 900 MHz band. Historically, this band was rather crowded with cordless phones as well as amateur radio operators, although whilst they have the right to use the band they are not the primary users of the band and hence have to accept interference from other sources. 

Interference when using Wi-Fi HaLow is unlikely to cause significant issues in comparison to how many Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 devices are using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. 

The competition for airtime is also a lesser concern because unlike traditional Wi-Fi devices, HaLow devices tend to deliver smaller amounts of data and less frequently. 

Is Wi-Fi HaLow Secure?

Wi-Fi HaLow is just as secure as traditional Wi-Fi devices due to supporting the same WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security and Wi-Fi Enhanced Open functionality. 

Some devices may also support the enterprise mode of WPA3 with 802.1X authentication. Some HaLow devices may also support the legacy WPA2 security even though it isn’t required for Wi-Fi Certified products.

Is HaLow ready for enterprise deployments?

Despite there being few Wi-Fi Halow devices on the market just yet, reports are saying that they are ready for enterprise deployments now. 

Our recommendation, as with any Wi-Fi network, is to carry out a Site Survey before designing and deploying a Wi-Fi HaLow network.

For many network engineers, this is a new and unfamiliar technology so it’s imperative you do plenty of live testing and analysing to make sure the network will work effectively. This is especially important if you are going to be using Wi-Fi HaLow to serve higher bandwidth clients or over long distances. 

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Strong Growth of Enterprise WLAN Market in 2023 Q1 

The International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wireless LAN Tracker has reported that between the first quarter of 2022 and Q1 of 2023, the Enterprise Wi-Fi market has grown by 43%. 

What’s Behind the Growth of the Enterprise WLAN Market?

The driving force behind the Enterprise WLAN market growth is in part down to the easing of component shortages. 

There has also been a significant demand for the upgrades and expansions that come with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. 

You can find further details on this in IDC’s latest market report. 

Wi-Fi Market Back With a Vengeance

Previously, the right business to be in might have been as a service provider or consumer Wi-Fi. But we’ve come a long way since 2020, and from just last year even. The IDC reports that the consumer Wi-Fi segment has decreased by 8.8% for the quarter year-on-year.

The enterprise Wi-Fi market however is back and booming and showing itself to continue to grow year-on-year. 

The IDC’s recent report showed that the Enterprise Wi-Fi market grew by 43% in Q1 for 2023 (year on year). This sector is worth a huge 2.8 billion dollars. 

Is the Growth of Enterprise WLAN Market Down to Wi-Fi 6?

Of the Enterprise WLAN sector revenue, Wi-Fi 6 made up 78.6%. 

In addition to that, the adoption of Wi-Fi 6E is up by 14% from that last quarter of 2022. This continued growth has taken a 10.4% share of the AP market in Q1 of 2023. 

Cisco Expands Market Dominance

At the end of the first quarter of 2023, Cisco continued to take their Enterprise Wi-Fi market share with 47.1%. Their revenue has risen 62.7% year on year – Their Enterprise Wi-Fi revenue for this quarter was 1.3 billion US dollars. 

Also doing well in the Enterprise Wi-Fi market is HPE_Aruba (Aruba Networks). They have grown by 39.5% year on year for Q1 of 2023. The IDC reports they have a market share of 16%. 

You can check out how other vendors are doing by heading to the IDC website here. 

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