Wi-Fi 7 and the Digital Era: How Emerging Tech is Shaping the Future of Work and Connectivity
I read many reports, studies, and white papers in the course of researching for this monthly segment on trending digital technologies impacting the power grid. I think of it as a way to increase my digital literacy and keeping up with the transition into the digital era. With the December shopping season, it’s easy to keep track of the latest technological gizmos. My virtual inbox is full plus there are pop-ups from online searches. This month I decided to catchup on Wi-Fi and wireless networking for my virtual office, which meant digging into Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be).
Of course I got sidetracked by a study from Dell and the Institute for the Future. As I read the report, one thread caught my eye. It said that 85% of the jobs that will be available in 2030 haven’t been created yet. Wow, given the short timeframe, that doesn’t seem possible, but thinking over the past few years it’s feasible. It wasn’t that long ago when the remote workplace was a niche item. Just a short time ago generative-AI was unheard of, today it’s part of our smartphones along with our cutting-edge software.
The Genie Is Out of the Bottle
Without realizing it, we have become ensnared in the digital era. Interestingly some have embraced it, others are apprehensive, while many try to ignore it. For those who have come to terms with the digital era, it’s best to stay on the high-side of the learning curve. That’s why improving my digital literacy scores are high on my priority list. It’s also why the quest to understand more about Wi-Fi 7 started. Wi-Fi 7 is enmeshed in the off-site office, but my probe led me to some news stories about employers pushing to end the remote workplace.
More exploration into this complicated issue revealed several studies that determined between 25% to 30% of workforce who can work remotely do. In addition, between about 53% to 57% of the remainder of workforce are hybrid workers (working on- and off-site). They also noted the virtual office is still defining itself. Also, both sides of the issue are benefiting too much to stop, so the best thing is to stay informed about the technology.
Wi-Fi’s wireless connectivity plays an important element in both our virtual offices and the digital era’s transition. A report from the Wi-Fi Alliance projected that 4.1 billion Wi-Fi devices will ship in 2024 and by the end of the year there will be about 21.1 billion Wi-Fi devices in use. All of those devices used in the digital era transition need standards like IEEE 802.11be. By the way, the folks at IEEE are busy laying the groundwork for 802.11bn, which will probably be known as Wi-Fi 8, but that’s a story in development right now.
It Slices, It Dices
The standards and spec-sheets that define Wi-Fi 7 technology show it’s a solid upgrade with significant advancements over its predecessors. Keeping it simple, today’s Wi-Fi 7 is faster and more stable than ever before. It also boosts extremely low latency (the time it takes for data to travel). And it’s ability to manage massive numbers of connected devices is incredible. Its data management abilities are extraordinary with multi-link operation and wider channels, but there are plenty of in-depth reviews if you want more information.
There is, however, one negative trait of Wi-Fi 7 that has been getting more attention than it deserves. When Wi-Fi 7 was first introduced it was expensive, especially when compared with Wi-Fi 6E devices, but that’s changing. With holiday shopping taking place, the retailers have already started making Wi-Fi 7 routers competitive with Wi-Fi 6E. That’s important because routers are usually the first step in upgrading our wireless networks.
In addition, pricing for Wi-Fi 7 compliant laptops is starting to soften. It’s a good bet that as the December holiday spending heats up, both online retailers and the bricks-and-mortar segment will offer bigger discounts. One of the nice things about technologies like Wi-Fi 7 is they tend not to be disruptive. Rather, they’re quietly advancing the digital era’s transition. It may be redefining everything, but it’s still comfortable.
It's a good time to be working with emerging digital technologies. We’re constantly learning, relearning, and in some cases unlearning as we work to stay current. Think back, at one time virtual meetings were very uncomfortable, but today they’re part of the tech-landscape. Understanding technologies takes work, but what doesn’t?
