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Broadcom has some news that might give folks who already bought a Wi-Fi 7 router a hint of FoMO. The company today announced its second-generation chipset solutions for the Wi-Fi 7 standard, including the BCM6765, the BCM47722, and the BCM4390.
"Second-gen" because the chip maker shipped the first-gen more than a year ago, in April 2022, for which it released new special front-end modules a couple of weeks ago. The new chips add more options to the ecosystems.
Considering the current scarcity of Wi-Fi 7 devices, it's safe to say Wi-Fi 7 is still significantly under development, yet it has also evolved fast.
Three new and improved chips for all things Wi-Fi 7
Like the last time, Broadcom says its new chipset solutions span all applications, including Wi-Fi routers, residential gateways, enterprise access points, and client devices. They all add "additional functionality to a wider market" compared to the company's first-generation counterparts.
Broadcom's 2nd-gen Wi-Fi 7 release includes three system-on-chips (SoCs). They are little hardware components that play a crucial part inside an actual Wi-Fi 7 device, such as a router or a computer.
The first two, the BCM6765 and BCM47722, are for the broadcasting side (access points, routers, or residential gateway), and the third, the BCM4390, is for the receiving end -- Wi-Fi 7 clients.
New to Wi-Fi 7? The cabinet below will fill you in.
Wi-Fi 7 in brief
Wi-Fi 7 has four major improvements over existing standards.
1. The all-new 320MHz channel width
The first is the new and much wider channel width, up to 320MHz or double that of Wi-Fi 6/6E.
This new channel width is generally available on the 6GHz band, with up to three 320MHz channels. However, Wi-Fi 7 can combine portions of the 6GHz and 5GHz bands to create this new bandwidth -- more in the Multi-Link Operation section below.
Details of Wi-Fi channels can be found here, but the new channel width generally means Wi-Fi 7 can double the base speed, from 1.2Gbps per stream (160MHz) to 2.4Gbps per stream (320MHz).
So, in theory, just from the width alone, a 4x4 broadcaster 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 can have up to 9.6 Gbps of bandwidth -- or 10Gbps when rounded up. But there's more to Wi-Fi 7's bandwidth below.
Depending on the configuration, Wi-Fi 7 routers and access points will be available in different speed grades, including those offering bandwidths higher or lower than 10Gbps on the 6GHz band.
Wi-Fi 7 also supports double the partial streams, up to 16. As a result, technically, a 16-stream (16x16) Wi-Fi 7 6GHz band can deliver up to over 40Gbps of bandwidth, especially when considering the new QAM support below.
Like Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, initially, Wi-Fi 7 will be available as dual-stream (2x2) and quad-stream (4x4) broadcasters and dual-stream clients.
Going forward, the standard might have 8x8 broadcasters and single-stream or quad-stream clients.
Again, you need a compatible client to use the new 320MHz channel width. Existing clients will connect using 160MHz at best. In reality, the 160MHz will likely be the realistic sweet-spot bandwidth of Wi-Fi 7, just like the 80MHz in the case of Wi-Fi 6.
2. The 4K-QAM
QAM, short for quadrature amplitude modulation, is a way to manipulate the radio wave to pack more information in the Hertz.
Wi-Fi 6 supports 1024-QAM, which itself is already impressive. However, Wi-Fi 7 will have four times that, or 4096-QAM. Greater QAM means better performance for the same channel width.
As a result, Wi-Fi 7 will have a much higher speed and efficiency than previous standards when working with supported clients.
Wi-F 7 vs Wi-Fi 6/6E: The realistic real-world speeds
With the support for the wider channel width and higher QAM, Wi-Fi 7 is set to be much faster than previous standards.
The table below summarizes what you can expect from Wi-Fi 7's real-world organic performance compared to Wi-Fi 6E when working on the 6GHz.
| Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 | |
| Max Channel Bandwidth (theoretical/top-tier equipment) | 160MHz | 320MHz |
| Channel Bandwidth (widely implemented) | 80MHz | 160MHz |
| Number of Available Channels | 7x 160MHz or 14x 80MHz channels | 3x 320MHz or 6x 160MHz channels |
| Highest Modulation | 1024-QAM | 4096-QAM |
| Max Number of Spatial Streams (theoretical on paper / commercially implemented) | 8 / 4 | 16 / 8 (estimate) |
| Max Bandwidth Per Stream (theoretical) | 1202Mbps (at 160MHz) 600Mbps (at 80Hz) | ≈ 2.9Gbps (at 320MHz) ≈ 1.45 Gbps (at 160MHz) |
| Max Band Bandwidth (theoretical on paper) | 9.6Gbps (8x8) | 46.1Gbps (16x16) |
| Commercial Max Band Bandwidth Per Band (commercially implemented) | 4804Mbps (4x4) | 23Gbps (8x8) |
| Actual Available Max Real-word Negotiated Speeds(*) | 2402Mbps (via a 2x2 160MHz client ) 1201Mbps (via a 2x2 80MHzclient) | ≈ 11.5Gbps (via a 4x4 320MHz client) ≈ 5.8Gbps (via a 2x2 320MHz client or a 4x4 160MHz client) ≈ 2.9Gbps (via a single stream 320MHz client or a 2x2 160MHz client) ≈ 1.45Gbps (via a single stream 160MHz client or a 2x2 80MHz client) |
(*) The real-world sustained speeds depend on the client and environment and generally are much lower than negotiated speeds. Wi-Fi 6/6E has had only 2x2 clients. Wi-Fi 7 will also use 2x2 clients initially, but it might have 4x4 and even single-stream (1x1) clients.
3. Multi-Link Operation
Multi-Link Operation, or MLO, is the most exciting and promising feature of Wi-Fi 7 that changes the norm of Wi-Fi: Up to Wi-Fi 6E, a Wi-Fi connection between two direct devices occurs in a single band, using a fixed channel at a time.
In a nutshell, MLO is Wi-Fi band aggregation. Like Link Aggregation (or bonding) in wired networking, MLO allows combining two Wi-Fi bands, mostly 5GHz and 6GHz, into a single Wi-Fi network (SSID) and connection. The bonded link delivers higher bandwidth and reliability.
MLO only works at its full potential with Wi-Fi 7 clients, and in this case, it can be a game-changer in a wireless mesh network. We can potentially count on having no signal drop or brief disconnection. And it's also when seamless handoff (or roaming) can become truly seamless.
On top of that, on each band, a connection can also intelligently pick the best channel, or channel width, in real time. In other words, it can channel-hop, just like Bluetooth, though likely less frequently.
This new capability will help increase the efficiency of Wi-Fi 7's range, allowing all its bands to deliver faster speed over longer distances than previous standards.
In more ways than one, MLO is the best alternative to the existing so-called "Smart Connect" -- using the same SSID (network name) and password for all the bands of a broadcaster -- which doesn't always work as smartly as expected.
But MLO is not all perfect -- a few things to keep in mind:
- MLO only works with Wi-Fi 7 clients. Older clients, such as Wi-Fi 6 or 6E, will still use a single band at a time when connecting to a MLO SSID.
- MLO requires the WPA3 encryption method and generally won't work with Wi-Fi 5 or older clients.
- The reach of the combined link (of 5GHz and 6GHz) is as far as the range of the shorter band.
By default, the 6GHz band has just about 75% of the range of the 5GHz when the same broadcasting power is applied. That said, MLO can only be truly meaningful with the help of Wi-Fi 7's next feature, Automated Frequency Coordination.
4. Automated Frequency Coordination
Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) applies only to the 6GHz band, which is the fastest yet the shortest range compared to the 5GHz and 2.4GHz. It's an optional feature -- it's not required for the general function of a Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster.
At any given time, there can be existing applications already using the spectrum. For example, fixed satellite services (FSS) or broadcast companies might have already had called dibs on certain parts of the 6GHz band. A new Wi-Fi broadcaster must not impact those existing services -- a concept similar to DFS channels in Wi-Fi 6 and 5.
That's when AFC comes into play. The idea is that all new 6GHz broadcasters check with a registered database in real time to confirm their operation will not negatively impact other registered members. Once that's established, the broadcaster creates a dynamically exclusive environment in which it can operate without the constraint of regulations like the case of Wi-Fi 6E and older standards.
Specifically, the support for AFC means each Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster can use more power and better flexible antenna designs. How much more? That depends.
But it's estimated that AFC can bring the broadcasting power up to 36 dBm (from the current 30 dBm max) or 4 watts (from 1 wat). It's safe to say AFC will help the 6GHz band to have a comparable range to the 5GHz band -- about 25% more.
Before you get all excited, this feature requires certification, and its availability is expected to vary from one region to another. It won't be available in the US before late 2023, if not after. All hardware released before that is said to be capable of handling AFC, which can be turned on via firmware updates.
A crude AFC analogy
Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) is like checking with the local authorities for permission to close off sections of city streets for a drag race block party.
When approved, the usual traffic and parking laws no longer apply to the area, and the organizers can determine how fast traffic can flow, etc.
BCM6765: Built for residential access points (and home Wi-Fi routers)
According to Broadcom, the BCM6765 is a highly optimized residential access point. It enables the mass production of low-cost Wi-Fi 7 access points and repeaters.
The BCM6765's key features include the following:
- Integrated Quad-Core ARMv8 CPU with 10G Ethernet PHY
- Dual 2x2 Tri-band (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) radios that support simultaneous operation in any band.
- Integrated 2.4 GHz power amplifiers and support for Digital Pre-distortion (DPD) external FEMs for reduced power consumption.
- 4096-QAM modulation and 320 MHz channel bandwidth for an 8.64 Gbps PHY rate.
- Multi-link operation (MLO) with up to 3-link support on SoC and SpeedBooster support.
- Compliance with IEEE, WFA Wi-Fi 7, and Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) specifications.
BCM47722: Built for enterprise access points
The BCM47722 shares similar characteristics as the BCM6765 above while simultaneously supporting IoT wireless standards, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, Thread, and Matter protocols. Broadcom says this SoC "addresses the growing needs of Internet of Things (IoT) applications in the enterprise Wi-Fi market."
The BCM47722's key features include the following:
- Integrated Quad-Core ARMv8 CPU with 10G Ethernet PHY
Dual 2x2 tri-band (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) capable radios that support simultaneous operation in any band. - Integrated 2.4 GHz power amplifiers and support for Digital Pre-distortion (DPD) external FEMs for reduced power consumption.
- 4096-QAM modulation and 320 MHz channel bandwidth for an 8.64 Gbps PHY rate.
- Multi-link operation (MLO) with up to 3-link support on SoC and SpeedBooster support.
- Integrated dual radio Bluetooth Low-Energy, Thread, Zigbee, and Matter Support. Compliance with IEEE, WFA Wi-Fi 7, Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) specifications, Bluetooth 5.4 standard, and future draft specifications such as Channel Sounding.
BCM4390: A chip for 2x2 Wi-Fi 7 client
The BCM4390 is a low-power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 combo chip designed Wi-Fi 7 receiver, such as handsets and tablets. It supports 160 MHz Dual-stream (2x2) Wi-Fi operation, dual Bluetooth, and IoT standards (Zigbee, Thread, and Matter) to service a broad set of mobile applications.
Its key features include the following:
- Dual radio that supports simultaneous 2-stream 2.4 GHz and 2-stream 5GHz/6GHz Wi-Fi 7 operation.
- 4096-QAM modulation and 160 MHz channel bandwidth for a 3.2 Gbps PHY rate.
- Integrated Bluetooth Classic and Low-Energy, Thread, and Zigbee Support
- Client multi-link operation (MLO) and SpeedBooster support.
- Compliance with IEEE and WFA Wi-Fi 7. Supports Bluetooth 5.4 and future draft specifications such as Channel Sounding.
This chip is significant since it determines the actual connection speed of a Wi-Fi 7 device which, in this case, maxes out at 3.2Gbps. That's half the ceiling speed of the previous first-gen 320MHz-capable chip -- the BCM4398 -- but still significantly faster than 2.4Gbps of Wi-Fi 6/6E and, after overhead, will likely at over 2Gbps, enough to qualify as multi-Gigabit.
Additionally, the BCM4390's new support for IoT wireless standards and Bluetooth means its real-world usage will be versatile and flexible. Wi-Fi 7 is just part of what it can do.
Availability and the takeaway
Broadcom says it's sampling these second-generation Wi-Fi 7 chips to OEM hardware makers. Chances are, devices with them on the inside will be available sometime later this year.
So far, Wi-Fi 7 has enjoyed rapid adoption thanks to its increased bandwidth and valuable features, including multi-link operation (MLO) and Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC). And that's a good thing.
These new chips don't render Broadcom's first-gen chips obsolete -- they are actually inferior in some aspects. Instead, they fill in more slots to make the company's Wi-Fi 7 ecosystem more complete. And the practical support for IoT connectivity is a sensible touch.
In this “race to bottom” with overpriced Wifi7 hardware, this chip launch is a welcome relief. $600-700 for a Wifi7 router is a crime. Then the CEOs will go on cringe press releases that people on this planet are not worthy enough to buy their overpriced devices and how they will have to announce layoffs and take cut in yearly bonus.
Sarcasm aside, Give me a Wifi7 router with 2×2 streams 320 Mhz channel width and two 10G Ethernet/SFP+ combo WAN/LAN ports and for $300. I am sick of dumb names like GT-BE10000000000000000 and that big number has no bearing on actual 2×2 stream devices 99.99% people have.
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I’ll take a 4 stream router anytime – despite clients being 2 stream there can be MANY of them 🙂
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Well, real world speeds in a brick, two-story house for a Wifi 6 , 3 routers network are so close to Wifi 5 Wave 2 speeds, and the difference in price from the previous standard is so ridiculously high that I discarded plans to jump to Wifi 6, let alone 7. With the price of one good Wifi 6 router (say, TP-Link AX6000) one can buy 3 3-stream AC2300 routers and use link them as AP or through WDS.
Besides, to my disappointment I found that Wifi 6 and 7 weren’t meant to increase speeds for one particular user, but to solve some congestion issues when MANY users were connected. QAM over 256 is useless in average homes (yes, even 1024, let alone 4096) and 160 hz channels usage is almost snake oil.
Add to this doubling in power usage and huge price increases and things are pretty clear : the average dude that just wants stable 866 Mbs link rate at his phone or 300 Mbs on 2,4 Ghz when he’s in the attic will save his money and stay with his Wifi 5 Wave 2 routers.
Great information as always. The BCM6765 chip is important to me because I’m 100% WiFi, no wires. Before buying a mesh system, I’ll wait for them to add this chip.
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