Wi-Fi 7: Redefining Wireless Connectivity

1. Media and Entertainment WHITEPAPER Wi-Fi 7: Redefining Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi 7: The Catalyst for New Market Opportunities and Global Connectivity

2. Wi-Fi 7: Redefining Wireless Connectivity Overview As of March 2023, Wi-Fi 7 was still in the development phase and is expected to be launched in the next few years. Wi-Fi Alliance first announced Wi-Fi 7 in 2020 with the goal to address the increasing demand for faster and more reliable wireless connectivity. The primary motivation for the development of Wi-Fi 7 was to address the challenges faced by its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6, such as limited range, penetration capabilities, and potential interference issues. The data rates offered by Wi-Fi 6 are considered underwhelming compared to the previous Wi-Fi standards. While Wi-Fi 5 achieved a significant 1000% increase in data rate compared to its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6 only managed a modest increase of less than 50% compared to Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 7 is poised to deliver significant improvements in bandwidth and peak data rates compared to its predecessor. With a maximum theoretical throughput of up to 40 Gbps, Wi-Fi 7 is more than four times faster than Wi- Fi 6, thanks to its use of a maximum channel width of 320MHz that leverages additional spectrum resources in the 6GHz band. This new technology is expected to provide features such as deterministic low latency and multi- link operation, thereby meeting the growing demand for high-speed and low-latency connectivity in various settings. However, consumers may not have access to Wi-Fi 7 until 2024 as manufacturers continue to refine features built around the new standard. Unlocking the Power of Wi-Fi 7: Overcoming Interim Challenges and Advancing the Deployment for High-Speed Connectivity As companies prepare to transition to Wi-Fi 7, updating network infrastructure and compatibility with existing devices may pose some interim challenges. For instance, the process of upgrading to Wi- Fi 7 for a network infrastructure can present challenges in terms of cost and time due to the need for new hardware, software, and potentially new cabling infrastructure to support the new technology. However, many companies are already taking steps to overcome these challenges by developing pre-standard Wi-Fi 7 equipment and carefully planning for a smooth transition. The table below presents a summary of the historical deployment of companies operating in the Wi-Fi industry, showcasing its launch of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 devices. ensuring backward 2

3. Wi-Fi 7: Redefining Wireless Connectivity Enterprise Category Legacy Roadmap Roadmap to Wi-Fi 7 Broadcom Hardware 2020: Launched a range of Wi-Fi 6 chips for deployment in access points, routers, and other wireless networking devices. 2022: Launched Wi-Fi 7 chipsets and related System-on-Chips (SoCs). Intel Hardware 2020: Launched its first wireless card—the Wi-Fi 6E AX210. 2022: Announced plans to incorporate the Wi-Fi 7 technology into devices by 2024. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Hardware 2020: Developed Wi-Fi 6+ that supports 160MHz channel bandwidth, along with the company’s proprietary dynamic narrowband technology. 2022: Released an enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 7 access point to offer faster speeds, higher capacity, and improved efficiency for businesses. MediaTek Technology Hardware 2021: Developed Wi-Fi 6E modules to power laptops and desktops in collaboration with AMD. 2023: Demonstrated devices with Wi- Fi 7 at CES 2023, featuring a 320MHz channel bandwidth and 4096-QAM modulation. Rohde & Schwarz Hardware 2021: Collaborated with Broadcom to test Wi-Fi 6/6E chipsets. 2023: Collaborated with Broadcom to validate the R&S CMP180 radio communication tester for use with Broadcom Wi-Fi 7 chipsets. Keysight Technologies Software PROPSIM Channel Emulation Solutions to enable performance testing of Wi-Fi 6. PathWave VSA software offers advanced troubleshooting tools for analyzing legacy and new wireless signals, including Wi-Fi 7 modulation analysis. Sources: Company Press Releases, Industry Publications, Trade Shows and Conferences (CES) Another challenge for Wi-Fi 7 is the availability of spectrum and regulatory approval in some countries. According to a survey, only 25 countries have explicitly granted the use of Wi-Fi 7, while 200 lack clear policies. However, Wi-Fi 7 access points can switch to 5GHz and work with multiple radios, overcoming these challenges. The limited commercial use of Wi-Fi 7 APs is expected between 2023-2024, while Wi-Fi 6 is predicted to remain the dominant technology for the next 1-2 years due to its industry maturity. 3

4. Wi-Fi 7: Redefining Wireless Connectivity Unleashing the Full Potential of Wireless Connectivity: Explore the Exciting Use Cases Enabled by Wi-Fi 7 According to a survey conducted by the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), 61% of the respondents identified services such as high-definition video streaming, AR, VR, and potential metaverse applications as key revenue opportunities. The increasing demand for data-intensive and low-latency applications, such as smart cities, immersive technologies like the future metaverse, and Industry 4.0, is driving the development of Wi-Fi 7. The technology is expected to significantly improve home, office, and industrial networks, offering better streaming and applications, video conferencing, and IoT connectivity. Some of the critical use cases of Wi-Fi 7 in business and consumer settings are listed in the table below. supporting cloud-based B2B B2C Industrial Automation and Robotics: Improve optimization and enable cost reduction in factories. Home Entertainment: Seamless high-quality connectivity for video streaming, gaming, and smart homes. Healthcare: Enables real-time patient data connection with medical devices. Smart Homes: Allow users to control their homes remotely and securely. Travel & Tourism: Enhances guest experience with high-speed connectivity in hotels and travel destinations. Remote Learning: Enhances collaboration by offering high-quality multimedia content. Sources: Industry Publications, TechTarget, PCMag, IoT Business News As we analyze the above table, we can observe that the development of Wi-Fi 7 holds great promise in delivering an abundance of features and capabilities for both consumer and enterprise use cases. However, it is important to recognize that Wi-Fi 6E is the current generation of Wi-Fi that leverages the 6GHz spectrum, which serves as the foundation for future Wi-Fi generations. Wi-Fi 7 is expected to leverage the 6GHz spectrum, but its full potential may take time to realize. It is prudent to consider Wi-Fi 6E as the foundational generation of Wi-Fi and monitor the potential of Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 8. Finally, the development of Wi-Fi 7 is a complex and dynamic process that involves collaboration among governments, research institutions, and private companies across the globe. Countries like the US, South Korea, Japan, China, and Germany are likely to lead with their proven track record of innovation. 4

5. Wi-Fi 7: Redefining Wireless Connectivity About the Author Shikha Chouhan • Analyst TMT Shikha is a seasoned market research professional with over four years of experience in the ICT and telecom sectors. She is highly skilled in conducting comprehensive primary and secondary research to derive valuable business insights. Shikha has worked with various market research and consulting companies where she developed industry reports, analyzed company profiles, estimated market size, and forecasted industry trends. Disclaimer This document makes descriptive reference to trademarks that may be owned by others. The use of such trademarks herein is not an assertion of ownership of such trademarks by SG Analytics (SGA) and is not intended to represent or get commercially benefited from it or imply the existence of an association between SGA and the lawful owners of such trademarks. Information regarding third-party products, services, and organizations was obtained from publicly available sources, and SGA cannot confirm the accuracy or reliability of such sources or information. Its inclusion does not imply an endorsement by or of any third party. Copyright © 2023 SG Analytics Pvt. Ltd. www.sganalytics.com GET IN TOUCH Pune | Hyderabad | Bengaluru | London | Zurich | New York | San Francisco | Amsterdam | Toronto 5