What Is Wi-Fi 7? All You Need to Know

Wi-Fi 7 is the newest generation of wireless networking, created for a world where 4K and 8K streaming, cloud gaming, video calls, smart homes and dozens of connected devices all operate at the same time.

As Singapore homes adopt faster fibre plans and more smart devices, older Wi-Fi standards struggle with congestion and lag. Wi-Fi 7 solves this by delivering much higher speeds, lower latency and more reliable connections, even in dense apartment environments.

If you are comparing Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 7, or wondering whether Wi-Fi 7 is worth upgrading to, this guide explains everything clearly and accurately.

📍 Wi-Fi 7 at a Glance

• Official Name: IEEE 802.11be EHT (Extremely High Throughput)
• Max Theoretical Speed: 46 Gbps (approx. 4.8x faster than Wi-Fi 6)
• Key Feature: MLO (Multi-Link Operation) — use multiple bands (2.4, 5, 6GHz) at once.

🤔 What is Wi-Fi 7? 

Wi-Fi 7 is the latest wireless technology standard that promises faster speeds, increased capacity, and improved connectivity, making it the next big leap in wireless technology. Officially known as 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), Wi-Fi 7 builds on the foundations laid by Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E but takes performance to a whole new level. 

Wi-Fi 7 offers up to double the bandwidth compared to Wi-Fi 6, enabling speeds and performance that are ideal for data-heavy activities like gaming, streaming, and working from home. With 320 MHz of bandwidth on the new 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi 7 can transmit more data simultaneously, providing faster and more reliable connections for your devices.

🚀 How Wi-Fi 7 Makes Your Internet Better

On top of the bigger figurative pipe for data described above, there are three other areas where WiFi 7 stands out from previous generations of wireless standards:
 

1. Faster Data Speeds with 4K QAM ⚡

Improving Transmission Efficiency for Faster Connections

💡How it Works?

Previous generations of Wi-Fi, such as Wi-Fi 6, use 1K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which transmits data in smaller chunks, making it comparatively less efficient, especially during activities like streaming or gaming.

Wi-Fi 7, on the other hand, supports 4K QAM (4096-QAM), allowing 4 times more data to be packed into each transmission. This higher-order modulation carries 12 bits per symbol (compared to Wi-Fi 6’s 10 bits), resulting in up to 20% faster peak transmission rates than its predecessors. 

If we were to imagine WiFi technology as a shipping company: WiFi 7 would use bigger boxes than WiFi 6, allowing more data to be packed into each shipment. This means faster deliveries and more efficient data transfers.

✨ Why It Matters to You?

Wi-Fi 7 can deliver speeds up to 2.4x faster than Wi-Fi 6, making activities like 8K video streaming, online gaming, and large file downloads noticeably quicker and smoother. For example, a 15 GB file could download in just 25 seconds, compared to a full minute on Wi-Fi 6.

2. Stable, Uninterrupted Connections with MLO 📶

Maintaining Uninterrupted Performance Across Multiple Channels

💡How it Works?

Wi-Fi 6 and earlier generations rely on a single channel to transmit data, meaning if one channel gets congested, it can cause slowdowns or interruptions - especially when multiple devices are connected.

Wi-Fi 7 introduces Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows devices to connect across multiple channels simultaneously, reducing congestion, improving stability, and ensures seamless performance even in demanding environments.

Bringing back the shipping analogy, MLO is like having multiple sea routes available. Instead of overcrowding a single route, deliveries are spread across different routes (frequency bands), ensuring that traffic flows smoothly and delays are kept to a minimum.

Plus, MLO enables dynamic switching and load balancing across channels, so if one path gets crowded, data can seamlessly shift to another, ensuring you stay connected without interruptions.

✨ Why It Matters to You?

MLO enables Wi-Fi 7 to maintain stable and fast connections even in busy environments, like crowded homes or offices with multiple devices. It minimizes lag in online gaming, video streaming, and video calls, providing a more reliable and responsive experience for everyone, no matter how many devices are connected.

3. Sidestep Network Congestion with Multi-RU Puncturing 🛣️

Maximizing Channel Efficiency for Better Throughput

💡How it Works?

With legacy Wi-Fi 6/6E, if any part of a large high-speed channel is being used by another device, the entire channel becomes unavailable, forcing devices to find an alternative. 

However, Wi-Fi 7 introduces Multi-RU Puncturing, which allows devices to utilize unused parts of the same high-speed channel. Even if the full 320 MHz channel isn’t available, Wi-Fi 7 devices can still operate on the portions that are free, making data transmission faster and more reliable.

Effectively, it’s like having a smart traffic management system for your shipping company—strategically timing deliveries across different routes ensures a smooth and efficient workflow, even during periods of heavy traffic.

✨ Why It Matters to You?

Multi-RU Puncturing in Wi-Fi 7 helps devices avoid traffic bottlenecks and improves efficiency in crowded environments. This results in more stable, high-speed connections even when multiple devices are using the network, improving activities like streaming, gaming, and file downloads.

🆚  WiFi 7 vs. WiFi 6/6E vs. WiFi 5

Confused about which Wi-Fi standard to choose? Here’s a quick breakdown of how Wi-Fi 7 compares to Wi-Fi 6E/6 and Wi-Fi 5:

🤩 Why Wi-Fi 7 is a Game-Changer for You

🏠 Everyone Can Be Online at the Same Time

In a typical home, one person is watching Netflix, another is on a video call, while others are gaming, scrolling or working online.

Older Wi-Fi struggles when too many devices are connected. Speeds drop, videos buffer and connections become unstable.

Wi-Fi 7 fixes this by using smarter technology that lets devices share the network more efficiently. This means everyone can stay online at the same time without slowing each other down.

⚡ Faster Uploads and Downloads

Whether you are streaming football, uploading work files, backing up photos or joining a Zoom call, Wi-Fi 7 moves data more efficiently across your home.

This means:

• Large files upload faster

• Videos start quicker

• The internet feels more responsive

When paired with fast fibre like StarHub 10 Gbps Broadband, Wi-Fi 7 helps you get more out of your connection.

🎮 Better for Gaming and Live Streaming

Lag and connection drops can ruin a game or live stream.

Wi-Fi 7 is designed to reduce delays and avoid wireless congestion, so gaming, video calls and streaming feel smoother and more reliable.

With a Wi-Fi 7 router like the TP-Link EB810v, you also get multiple high-speed ports for gamers who prefer a wired connection.

🛜 StarHub Wi-Fi 7 Router: TP-Link EB810v

Achieve Stellar Speed and WiFi Performance Across 3 Frequency Bands

🔥 How can I get WiFi 7 in Singapore?

Make no mistake, WiFi 7 introduces some truly remarkable changes, and the best part is that you’re only one step away from enjoying all that it has to offer!

To celebrate the launch of the WiFi 7 standard, StarHub is proud to present a whole new value bundle from just $$59.34/mth. Combining the unmatched speed of our proprietary 10Gbps Broadband and UltraSpeed Network with the cutting-edge TP-Link EB810v WiFi 7 router, it’s ideal for techies, gamers, and everyday homeowners alike.

Finally, if you’d like some entertainment to go with your shiny new router, you might also want to consider our WiFi 7-ready HomeHub+ UltraSpeed bundle!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ❓

Still got some questions about WiFi 7 left in the tank? Let's see if we can get them cleared up!