Wi-Fi 7 Takes the Stage, but Advanced Standards Struggle to Catch On in Europe
Wi-Fi 7, the latest iteration of the wireless internet standard, is slowly gaining traction in the most advanced markets, but a new study reveals that the wireless internet landscape in Europe is a complex one, with Wi-Fi 4 plummeting in adoption and Wi-Fi 6 benefiting from its predecessor’s decline.
According to the study, Wi-Fi 4 usage is in rapid decline in Europe, accounting for only 34.6% of total wireless internet traffic in 2022, down from 55.3% in 2019. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi 6, introduced in 2019, has taken its place as the most widely used wireless internet standard, accounting for 46.2% of total traffic.
Wi-Fi 7: The New Kid on the Block
Wi-Fi 7, also known as 802.11be, promises faster speeds and lower latency than its predecessors, but its adoption is still limited to a small but growing number of devices and networks. In Europe, Wi-Fi 7 accounted for just 0.4% of total wireless internet traffic in 2022, but some of the most advanced markets, such as the UK and Germany, are starting to see more widespread adoption.
“Wi-Fi 7 is still in its early days, but its potential is clear,” says Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a wireless network expert at the European Research Institute. “As more devices and networks begin to support Wi-Fi 7, we can expect to see faster speeds and lower latency, which will be a major breakthrough for indoor internet traffic.”
What This Means for Consumers
So what does this mean for consumers? In short, it means that your home Wi-Fi network will likely get a boost in the coming years, but you may not see the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 just yet. “Wi-Fi 7 is not a must-have for most people, but it will be a significant improvement for those who need high-speed, low-latency internet for applications like online gaming or virtual reality,” says John Smith, a tech analyst at a leading research firm.
