80211be

802.11be, commonly referred to as Wi‑Fi 7, is the IEEE standard for wireless local area networks that succeeds 802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6/6E). It is designed to deliver higher throughput, lower latency, and more efficient use of spectrum through a set of enhancements to both the physical (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers, collectively called Extremely High Throughput (EHT).

Key features include support for wider channel bandwidth up to 320 MHz, the use of higher-order modulation such as 4096‑QAM, and enhancements to multi-link operation (MLO) that allow simultaneous data transmission over multiple channels or bands. These capabilities aim to increase aggregate throughput and reduce contention. Additional improvements to OFDMA and MU‑MIMO scheduling, as well as more advanced beamforming, contribute to higher efficiency in dense deployments and better performance for real‑time applications.

Performance expectations indicate a theoretical maximum PHY throughput around the mid‑tens of gigabits per second, with practical gains varying by environment, device capabilities, and regulatory restrictions. Wi‑Fi 7 also targets lower latency and improved support for time‑sensitive applications such as online gaming, augmented/virtual reality, and other real‑time services.

Deployment and compatibility: the standard is marketed by the Wi‑Fi Alliance as Wi‑Fi 7 and is supported by devices beginning in the mid‑2020s, with backward compatibility to earlier 802.11 generations. Operation is possible in 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands where permitted, with regulatory bodies governing channel availability. Realizing the full benefits of 802.11be depends on device support, network architecture, and spectrum access.