With the recent launch of the seventh generation of wireless network standards, network administrators are wondering if they should upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E, upgrade to Wi-Fi 7, or hold off altogether. While there are pros and cons to each decision, here are some reasons you might want to consider skipping Wi-Fi 6E and upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 now.
- Increased network stability
If it’s not standardized tests where all students need to be on the network at the same time, it’s a video that requires streaming without buffering or digital curriculum that needs to be accessed in a timely manner. Let’s face it: Students, staff and faculty just want their Wi-Fi® to work when needed. And Wi-Fi 7 technology delivers on these expectations.
While both Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 utilize three different frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz) to prevent network congestion, only Wi-Fi 7 offers multi-link operation (MLO), which allows devices to transmit and receive data simultaneously over multiple links to offer the strongest connectivity possible. In addition, only Wi-Fi 7 employs ultrawide 320 MHz channels on the 6 GHz band, which significantly increases the potential speed of data transfer.
- More speed and capacity
Speaking of speed, Wi-Fi 7 was explicitly designed to deliver extremely high throughput (EHT) compared to previous versions. But its speed comes from more than MLO and the wider channels. Wi-Fi 7 also packs more data into each signal transmission than previous Wi-Fi generations. For example, Wi-Fi 6E uses 1K quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), while Wi-Fi 7 employs 4K QAM. This translates to more capacity plus nearly 20% faster downloads, uploads, and network responsiveness when working with apps and programs in the cloud, such as ClassDojo, Kahoot!, Seesaw, and, of course, any AI detector.
- Better network resiliency with less interference
With the advent of wider channels and MLO comes the possible specter of interference. Fortunately, Wi-Fi 7 anticipated this and offers Preamble Puncturing. This allows Wi-Fi 7 to work around any signal that’s in the middle of any channel by using as much of the spectrum before and after the channel interference. In previous Wi-Fi generations, any unused bandwidth in a channel remained unused.
This technology is valuable for maximizing spectrum usage. It also allows your facilities to take advantage of internet of things (IoT) devices throughout your campus without worrying if they will burden your network. Now, with this new network, you can work on making your institution more sustainable by deploying IoT devices such as leak sensors, automatic temperature, and light-dimming controls.
- Robust data security and improved real-time response
Another justification for upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 today is its stringent data security protocols. Employing the latest Wi-Fi Protected Access® (WPA™) standard—WPA3™ defends against hackers trying to infiltrate your network while on your campus with tools such as KrACK or FragAttacks. WPA3 provides a significant data encryption security upgrade to WPA2™ available in earlier Wi-Fi versions.
Plus, with a more modern network comes lower latency transmission, which means your administration can monitor and protect your campus in real time using your network. Now, your school can tie security cameras, IoT door and window locks, as well as alarms and panic buttons to your network and feel confident that they will respond instantly in case of an emergency.
- Futureproofing and leaving no device behind
With each passing school year, the number of devices that want to connect to your school’s network is certain to grow. If it’s not tablets and laptops, it’s smartphones that can run on many new or legacy operating systems.
Wi-Fi 7 is not only backward compatible with legacy devices; it also helps them operate more effectively. By transmitting on all available frequency bands, Wi-Fi 7 can offload traffic from the most crowded frequency to the lesser-used ones to promote higher free-flowing connectivity. What’s more, only Wi-Fi 7 features Target Wake Time (TWT), which reduces the time legacy devices will spend actively searching for signals and, hence, helps save battery life.
Furthermore, Wi-Fi 7 allows all Wi-Fi 6E devices to benefit from the 6 GHz channel. Plus, all major manufacturers are already selling Wi-Fi 7 devices. With over 233 million Wi-Fi 7 devices estimated to come online by the end of the year and 2.1 billion devices expected to be in use by 2028, upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 provides your staff, faculty and students with a network that supports digital learning today and tomorrow.
How can you get the most from your Wi-Fi 7 upgrade?
One of the best ways to maximize your wireless upgrade is by working with RUCKUS® Networks. Not only was RUCKUS selected by the Wi-Fi Alliance® to set the standard for Wi-Fi 7; RUCKUS was also the first to introduce an AI-driven Wi-Fi 7 access point (AP) to the market.
In addition to the cutting-edge features that come with the seventh generation of Wi-Fi, RUCKUS APs also provide a patented smart antenna system with BeamFlex+® technology as well as added security by combining Dynamic PSK™ (pre-shared keys) technology with WPA3 to create DPSK3™. Plus, it comes with a dedicated staff ready to help you decipher the E-Rate maze.
Whether you’re seeking to improve your esports facility or revamp your entire K-12 campus, RUCKUS has the experience and solutions that can help you transform your existing Wi-Fi into a reliable, scalable and easy-to-manage network. To learn how RUCKUS can help transform your network, visit RUCKUS online.
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