802.11be – the one that breaks the speed limit (Wi-Fi 7)

802.11be is not just an amendment – it’s the **beast**. aka Wi-Fi 7, it’s the next big thing after 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). released in 2024, this thing pushes everything to the limit: more spectrum, more antennas, more throughput, less latency, better everything. it’s not a facelift – it’s a rebuild.

developed by the official Task Group be inside IEEE 802.11. the goal? **Extremely High Throughput (EHT)** and ultra-responsive performance for things like 8K streaming, AR/VR, gaming, industrial comms, and all the bandwidth-hungry stuff we’re about to invent.

so what’s under the hood?

•  Throughput goal: >30 Gbps total. seriously.
•  Spectrum: works across **2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and full 6 GHz** band (Wi-Fi 6E started it, Wi-Fi 7 owns it)
•  Channel widths: up to **320 MHz** (802.11ac stopped at 160 MHz)
•  Modulation: supports **4096-QAM** – that’s 12 bits per symbol. wild, but sensitive to noise
•  MIMO: up to **16 spatial streams** (802.11ax did 8)
•  Multi-Link Operation (MLO): the biggest new trick. allows a device to use multiple frequency bands at once – **parallel links** across 5 + 6 GHz for faster, more reliable transmission
•  Enhanced OFDMA: makes resource scheduling even more efficient across devices
•  MAC enhancements: includes things like **restricted TWT**, **puncturing**, **preemption**, better **jitter control** – all the nerdy stuff for latency-critical traffic
•  Real-time QoS: optimized for gaming, AR/VR, and industrial control – stuff where delay = death

it’s still compatible with older Wi-Fi versions – so your dusty 802.11n printer will still connect. but don’t expect it to keep up.

802.11be takes Wi-Fi from fast to ridiculous. it’s not just about more bars – it’s about **solid low-latency multigig wireless** in messy, crowded environments. if Wi-Fi 6 was a sports car, Wi-Fi 7 is a high-speed bullet train that built its own track.