The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has announced the results of Wi-Fi 7 industry trials in enterprise scenarios.
The trials were carried out in collaboration with AT&T, CommScope (RUCKUS Networks) and Intel.
The trials, designed to evaluate Wi-Fi 7’s real-world performance, demonstrated significant improvements in throughput, efficiency and latency, highlighting Wi-Fi 7’s ability to support mission-critical enterprise applications such as XR, AI, cloud computing and industrial IoT.
The WBA Wi-Fi 7 trials focused on assessing rate versus range performance in enterprise settings, comparing Wi-Fi 7 with Wi-Fi 6E across the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. The tests which were conducted in live enterprise environments, revealed that Wi-Fi 7 delivers:
• Almost double the throughput of Wi-Fi 6E at 5 GHz using 40 MHz channels.
• Sustained 1 Gbps+ throughput up to 40 feet away from the access point (AP) in the 6 GHz band with 160 MHz channels.
• Lower latency and improved efficiency, supporting next-gen applications such as AR/VR, video conferencing and automation.
• Greater network reliability, helping enterprises manage high-density environments with thousands of connected devices.
The trials assessed Wi-Fi 7’s capabilities in both controlled and real-world enterprise environments, focusing on throughput, latency, and signal range across different frequencies and channel widths.
At 6 GHz with 160 MHz channels, Wi-Fi 7 achieved almost 2 Gbps downlink throughput at close range, maintaining more than 1 Gbps up to 40 feet away. In high-density enterprise settings, where APs must support thousands of simultaneous connections, Wi-Fi 7’s enhanced spectral efficiency and multi-link operation provided more stable, reliable connectivity, mitigating network congestion even in heavily loaded conditions.
These findings demonstrate Wi-Fi 7’s ability to address key connectivity challenges in smart offices, manufacturing, healthcare and immersive digital environments. Enterprises that rely on real-time collaboration, video conferencing, AI-driven automation and AR/VR applications will benefit from Wi-Fi 7’s lower latency and higher throughput, ensuring seamless user experiences without performance bottlenecks.
The trials also confirmed that Wi-Fi 7 delivers significant improvements in 5 GHz networks, where many legacy devices still operate, ensuring backward compatibility and an easier transition for enterprises upgrading their infrastructure.
Tiago Rodrigues, president and CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said, “Wi-Fi 7 is not just an evolution, it’s a game changer for enterprise connectivity. These trials prove that Wi-Fi 7 offers real-world improvements in speed, reliability, and efficiency that businesses need to support the next generation of applications.
“As adoption accelerates, enterprises will see tangible benefits in everything from hybrid work and immersive experiences to AI-driven automation. The WBA is committed to ensuring the industry has the data and insights needed to maximize Wi-Fi 7’s potential.”
Following these successful trials, the WBA will continue to collaborate with industry leaders to accelerate Wi-Fi 7 adoption, refine implementation strategies and support enterprises in making the most of Wi-Fi 7’s full potential.