With Wi-Fi 7’s arrival, Wi-Fi is now a compelling alternative to cellular
Wi-Fi networks have become ubiquitous across city centers, campuses, hospitals and entertainment venues. Now Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6/6E, and Wi-Fi HaLow are expanding Wi-Fi’s applicability to devices requiring higher speeds, wider coverage and lower latency. These rapid advances in Wi-Fi’s capabilities are positioning it as a compelling alternative to cellular. As a result Wi-Fi now makes up 31% of IoT connections, and leads sectors such as smart homes, where it has a 40% market share. Each of Wi-Fi’s new variants presents different incentives to move beyond Wi-Fi 5. The question for innovators is now which to select for their next project.
Improved efficiency, performance in dense environments, and power management drove the evolution of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, which offer better coverage, improved node density and lower power consumption. The newest variant Wi-Fi 7 adds better interference resiliency and lower latency, ideal for AR/VR, industrial automation and cloud gaming. It also introduces multi-link operation (MLO), allowing transmission and reception across multiple frequency bands simultaneously. This significantly reduces network congestion and improves reliability, especially in environments with high interference.
The need for Wi-Fi 7’s enhanced capabilities will grow with increasing demand for ultra-fast connections, enabling significant innovation in the Wi-Fi ecosystem. Adoption of Wi-Fi 7 is likely to surpass that of previous Wi-Fi generations thanks to its critical role in providing next-generation connectivity for a wide range of applications, from edge computing to augmented and virtual reality.
Enhancements in WPA3 security across both Wi-Fi 6 and 7 also ensure stronger encryption and protection against cyber threats. This makes these technologies a secure choice for enterprise and industrial applications. Port and campus authorities are therefore now using Wi-Fi for safety cameras, traffic flows, tracking containers and worker safety applications. Wi-Fi HaLow meanwhile operates in the sub-1GHz spectrum band, offering extended range and better penetration through walls and obstacles. This makes it particularly suitable for applications requiring low-power, long-range connectivity such as agriculture, further pushing the boundaries of Wi-Fi’s applicability.
Relevant products
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth FGS060N
Standard Power 6GHz and Wi-Fi 7 are reigniting demand in the Wi-Fi market, which slowed in 2023 over saturation and implementation issues. An 8% CAGR is now expected for wireless LAN infrastructure shipments between 2023 and 2030, with total shipments jumping 71.3%. In 2024, Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 collectively captured 29% of the total market – this is expected to increase to 43% over 2025. Read our white paper to learn more about the growing versatility of Wi-Fi, and how Quectel’s vast portfolio of Wi-Fi antennas and modules can support applications from wearables and smart home appliances to critical infrastructure in factories, hospitals and stadiums.