The next generation of wireless networking has been around close to a couple years now. Wi-Fi 7 (officially known as IEEE 802.11be) was set to redefine what’s possible in connected devices, from enterprise routers and industrial gateways to consumer IoT and AR/VR hardware.
But while its promises of multi-gigabit throughput and ultra-low latency are headline-grabbing, for device designers, the real question is: are you ready for the leap? Because even though Wi-Fi 7 offers enormous potential, its success depends on one critical design component, the antenna.
What is Wi-Fi 7 and how does it differ from Wi-Fi 6/6E
Wi-Fi 7 builds on the foundations of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, extending the use of the 6 GHz spectrum first opened with 6E and pushing performance boundaries in three key ways:
- Wider channel bandwidths: Wi-Fi 7 doubles the maximum channel width from 160 MHz (Wi-Fi 6/6E) to 320 MHz. This effectively increases the amount of data that can be transmitted simultaneously, enabling multi-gigabit speeds well beyond 5 Gbps in ideal conditions (ideal being the keyword).
- Higher modulation (4096-QAM): Compared with 1024-QAM in Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7’s 4096-QAM packs more bits into each symbol, further improving throughput by around 20% without increasing channel width.
- Multi-Link Operation (MLO): This new feature allows devices to transmit and receive data across multiple frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz) simultaneously. MLO improves bandwidth aggregation and dramatically reduces latency, which is a critical benefit for AR/VR and time-sensitive industrial applications.
Together, these advances make Wi-Fi 7 a transformative upgrade for high-performance connectivity and bring new design challenges.
Designing for Wi-Fi 7 - evolution rather than revolution
The good news for engineers is that Wi-Fi 7 is backward-compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and 6E. This means devices designed for the 6 GHz band can also support Wi-Fi 7 without the need for entirely new hardware.
All Wi-Fi 6/6E antennas are capable of operating effectively across the 6 GHz range (5.925–7.125 GHz) used by Wi-Fi 7. So from an RF perspective, the “leap” to Wi-Fi 7 doesn’t demand a radical new antenna design but it does require more precise attention to integration, tuning and layout.
The real differentiators in Wi-Fi 7 device design are:
- Isolation and coexistence: With MLO using multiple bands concurrently, antenna isolation is even more important to prevent self-interference.
- PCB layout and ground plane management: Wider bandwidths demand cleaner RF paths and tighter impedance control.
- Thermal and power considerations: Higher modulation rates increase component density and power draw, which can indirectly affect antenna performance.
Practical considerations for wireless device designers
To take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7, engineers should focus on optimising antenna placement to maintain efficiency across all active bands and conducting early-stage simulation/OTA testing to validate performance under real-world MLO conditions. On top of this, they should ensure compatibility with legacy networks, since Wi-Fi 7 devices will need to operate in mixed 6/6E environments for the foreseeable future.
Early integration support from antenna partners can significantly shorten design cycles and help maintain compliance with the Wi-Fi Alliance’s upcoming Wi-Fi 7 certification requirements.
Ensuring your device is ready for Wi-Fi 7 and beyond
Wi-Fi 7 represents a major step forward for wireless connectivity, but it’s more about evolution than revolution. The technology brings new capabilities and tighter design tolerances, yet the foundation of great wireless performance remains the same: a well-integrated, high-efficiency antenna.
Antenova’s range of high-performance embedded antennas for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E already provide full 6 GHz coverage, exceptional efficiency, and compact form factors ideal for next-generation IoT, smart home and industrial devices. Because Wi-Fi 7 operates across the same frequency bands, these antennas are fully compatible, making them a seamless choice for device designers looking to future-proof their products without redesigning from scratch.
Each Antenova solution is engineered for fast integration, short design cycles, and superior performance across complex PCB layouts. With expert support for tuning and coexistence management, you can confidently step into the Wi-Fi 7 era knowing your antenna design is already ready for the leap.
