Intel and Broadcom: First Wi-Fi 7 demonstration reaches 5 Gbps

Wi-Fi 7 leverages new features including wider 320 MHz channels in unlicensed 6 GHz spectrum and higher order 4K QAM data modulation. It's deterministic operation enables new product classes, including augmented and virtual reality and ultra-high-definition 16K media streaming.

Wi-Fi 7, like Wi-Fi 6E, has three bandwidths of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz, however, the bandwidth is doubled to 320 Hz. Aside from increasing the modulation system from 1024QAM to 4096QAM, multi-link operation, which allows simultaneous connections between multiple bands and efficient channel utilization, will allow for even more speed. A demonstration was carried out by combining a laptop PC equipped with an Intel Core processor that supports the Wi-Fi 7 solution and a Broadcom access point that launched an SoC that supports Wi-Fi 7 in April of this year, with a maximum speed that surpasses 5 Gbps. Take note of the transfer rate.

Today, Intel Corporation and Broadcom Inc. showcased the industry's first cross-vendor Wi-Fi 7 demonstration, with over-the-air speeds greater than 5 gigabits per second. The trial used an Intel Core processor-based laptop with a Wi-Fi 7 solution connected to a Broadcom Wi-Fi 7 access point.

"We are proud to highlight how next-generation Wi-Fi 7 can make new mobile PC experiences possible. Industry collaboration is essential to ensure we deliver on the promises of this new wireless technology. We would like to thank our colleagues at Broadcom for their great technical cooperation, which helped enable this unprecedented, first-of-its-kind demonstration of ultra-high speed and ultra-low latency Wi-Fi 7," said Carlos Cordeiro, Intel Fellow and Wireless CTO, Client Computing Group, Intel.

Vijay Nagarajan, vice president, Wireless Connectivity Division, Broadcom, said, "Today's milestone sends a clear message: the ecosystem is ready and Wi-Fi 7 is here to deliver extraordinary capacity and blazing fast speeds to extend gigabit broadband. The reliable, low latency communication provided by Wi-Fi 7 is a key element of Broadcom's vision for connecting everything as the Internet evolves to its next iteration replete with immersive experiences. Industry collaboration is key to making this unprecedented connectivity a reality and we were delighted to work with Intel to achieve another industry first."

Wi-Fi 7 is the platform for the next 10 years of wireless experiences, which require higher speeds, lower latency, improved reliability and greater capacity. Wi-Fi 7 leverages new features including wider 320 MHz channels in unlicensed 6 GHz spectrum, higher order 4K QAM data modulation, simultaneous connections across multiple bands with multi-link operation and improved channel utilization efficiency with multi-resource unit puncturing.

Wi-Fi 7's deterministic operation enables new product classes, including augmented and virtual reality, ultra-high-definition 16K media streaming, and super-responsive and reliable gaming, while supporting large numbers of connected devices in the home or office. And with Wi-Fi 7's greatly increased speeds, broadband subscribers will get full value from their multi-gigabit internet plans.

"Wi-Fi 7 is the most powerful and capable Wi-Fi protocol yet and will allow Wi-Fi to continue to serve the most demanding applications in the consumer and vertical markets with the highest level of determinism yet," said Phil Solis, Research Director, Connectivity at IDC. "Interoperability testing between Intel and Broadcom will enable the development of products that can be used in the test beds for official Wi-Fi Alliance certification testing."

Intel and Broadcom provide the full network that is essential to help maximize Wi-Fi 7's potential and deliver end-to-end experiences to the wider Wi-Fi marketplace.

"As longtime WBA board members, Broadcom and Intel have been instrumental in pioneering Wi-Fi 6 and 6E. Now they're leading the way again with Wi-Fi 7, which leverages the rapidly growing availability of 6 GHz spectrum in multiple countries across APAC, EMEA, Latin America and the U.S. Their successful trial is a milestone toward bringing Wi-Fi 7's double-digit gigabit speeds, ultra-low latency, carrier-grade resilience and other next-generation capabilities to consumers and businesses worldwide. Enterprise and residential networks will also greatly benefit from the advanced capabilities of Wi-Fi 7," said Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance.

Today's achievement is proof that Wi-Fi 7 has arrived, and Broadcom and Intel will continue to show the additional capabilities of Wi-Fi 7.

Visit the Intel Wi-Fi 7 page and Broadcom Wi-Fi 7 page.